USB HDD Will Not Disconnect

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I have several USB HDDs connected to my ‘puter that I use to back things up. The one that I use for my daily backups has recently decided that it does not want to disconnect when I tell it to. Originally it would disconnect just fine. Then it would take a few tries to get it to disconnect. Now I have to shut down the computer, turn the USB drive off and reboot my machine. There’s got to be a better way! Anyone else have this problem, and what did you do to fix it?

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I’ll assume that you have a desktop computer since you’re able to connect more than one USB device, unless you’re using a USB hub.  First thing that comes to mind is to try another USB port.  Also, try disconnecting the other HDD’s and see if that makes any difference.  The fact that things have gradually gotten worse indicates that something is wearing out.  Hopefully its not your hard drive.  You’ve apparently got Windows 10 so maybe someone else familiar with it can help you out better than I can.

Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you recognize a mistake as soon as you make it again.

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OscarCP

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I have had this problem, now and then, for a long time, going back long enough that I do not think it is because something is wearing out.

When this has happened, in spite of my repeated suggestions to the wayward external drive to get lost, I have been known to unplug it anyways, to some horrified protests from the computer software. So far, the three of us, the computer, the drive and I, have survived somehow.

But if someone comes up with advice involving a solution that does not require major software or hardware surgery, or installing some script, or some application I’ve never heard of, I’ll be happy to read about it, and even might try following it.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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As you have a MAC I can’t see how this advice is relevant to the OP.

cheers, Paul

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Well, I go by the title of the thread, which in this case speaks only about an issue of common interest to personal computer users — of which Macs are one kind — and says nothing else.

I don’t think that this site is only for commenting on whatever operating system the person who starts a thread and makes the first comment is using, when the subject, according to the thread’s title,  is one of general interest about something that happens often to users of other operating systems. As this one happens to be.

If someone wants people with the same operating system, or whatever other qualification, to answer, then the title of the thread should indicate this clearly. As it very often does.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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The Topic is under the Windows 10 version 21H2 Forum. That doesn’t apply to Macs in any way.
There is a MacOS Forum on this site with information about Macs.

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So one has to start a separate thread for the same topic but for a different OS? OK, but this strikes me as inefficient.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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Not a separate thread – but in the correct Forum. MacOS is off-Topic for the Win10 v20H2 Forum.

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PK: Understood, because that is what I meant. If someone starts a thread on the reliability of SSD as a storage medium and and says nothing about the particular OS, which I believe is quite OK, but posts it in the Window 8.1 forum, let’s say, then to discuss a topic having a Mac one has to start a new thread on exactly the same thing in the forum for Macs?

And another for Linux Mint? Ubuntu? Arch?

That is what strikes me as inefficient.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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MacOS doesn’t belong in a Win10 Forum. Period.

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Then, shouldn’t this thread which is about hardware, be in one of the Hardware forums?

Instead of moving me out of here, why not move “here” to a more suitable forum?

I don’t think this is a problem because of where the thread has been posted, incorrectly, in my opinion, but of how this is managed.

I have had comments moved to a different forum by someone before, so moving things around is possible here.

Ex-Windows user (Win. 98, XP, 7); since mid-2017 using also macOS. Presently on Monterey 12.15 & sometimes running also Linux (Mint).

MacBook Pro circa mid-2015, 15" display, with 16GB 1600 GHz DDR3 RAM, 1 TB SSD, a Haswell architecture Intel CPU with 4 Cores and 8 Threads model i7-4870HQ @ 2.50GHz.
Intel Iris Pro GPU with Built-in Bus, VRAM 1.5 GB, Display 2880 x 1800 Retina, 24-Bit color.
macOS Monterey; browsers: Waterfox "Current", Vivaldi and (now and then) Chrome; security apps. Intego AV

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Oscar, have you checked #2431044 below?

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Check what processes are using the USB disk.
Fire up MS Process Monitor. Add a filter for Path = the disk letter, e.g. D:

cheers, Paul

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wavy

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DaveH52 wrote:

I have several USB HDDs connected to my ‘puter that I use to back things up. The one that I use for my daily backups has recently decided that it does not want to disconnect when I tell it to.

I have the same situation on my Win7 (soon to be retired) PC and multiple different external HDDs that always are only connected one at a time. The HDDs all are USB 3.0 but the PC is only USB 2. I never found a clear explanation of why this disconnect behavior occurs.

In my case this behavior most often occurs when a large amount of data is being written from the PC to the HDD and it seems to keep the activity lights blinking in proportion to the amount of data being copied\written. Once the lights stop blinking Win7 doesn’t complain when I disconnect.

So I just let the lights blink as long as they want to before I disconnect. I figure maybe there’s some writing from a buffer stuff going on, or maybe re-indexing after copy\write.

 

 

 

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I run into this issue (bug) a few times each week after doing backups. Usually, I make sure I close any open Explorer windows and apps that might be using the file system (e.g. Notepad ++). If I still can’t disconnect the USB HDD, then I restart Explorer which works 100% of the time:

1) Right click Taskbar and select “Task Manager”
2) Select the “Processes” tab in Task Manager
3) Highlight “Windows Explorer” in the list
4) Click the “Restart” button on the bottom right

Let me know if this works for you.

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WCHS

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Both of my Win10/Pro laptops (both now running 21H2) have always behaved this way. Most of my external HDDs are Western Digital devices. WD’s answer is always “Just wait until the system finally realizes that the HDD is no longer in need of access.” Sometimes the wait has been very long, even though all relevant apps are closed, File Explorer is closed, the light has stopped blinking, etc. The wait is much longer on my older laptop than it is on my newer one. So, my usual remedy has been to power down, unplug the USB HDD, and power back up.

This post is a relief!!

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Dave, have you checked #2431044 below?

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#2431044 did the trick!

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