the unremoveable usb hard drive

[wpeng]

I recently got a SignatureMini 500gb hard drive (Hitachi 2.5") and I am having the darnedest time ejecting the thing from Windows XP and 7. I have downloaded virtually every usb "ejector", "unlocker", and "remove" software there is, and none of them work! My most recent one is LockHunter, and it shows a System process with g:\$extend\$RmMetadata\$TxfLog\... that I can't close. Sometimes svchost.exe is accessing it as well. I can't close that or "unlock" it either. Any suggestions? I hate restarting/shutting down every time I want to remove my usb hard drive.

 

[sivart]

You mean when you physically pull the cable it still shows in "My Computer"?

I have never used the "remove hardware" button. I just make sure no data is being written to the device and pull the cable.

 

[wpeng]

Sorry if I wasn't clear, but I mean the "remove safely" dialogue thing. It won't let me "remove safely" because there are still processes accessing it.

 

[The Merg]

I have some devices that are that way as well. As sivart mentioned, I just make sure that any data that I am reading/writing to/from the device is completed before I turn it off and/or disconnect it.

- Merg

 

[piasabird]

Just shut it down and then remove it after unplugging the computer.

Granted not an ideal situation.

 

[gsaldivar]

Do you use Windows Search (formerly called "Windows Desktop Search")?

Try disabling that service and see if you can safely remove the drive.

 

[RoConno]

Make sure you're not "Exploring" the drive and "My Computer" window is closed. Those services are accessing the drive and will make it so you can't "Safely remove" the device.

 

[corkyg]

Also, disable Indexing on that drive. Make sure you have no system files on it.

 

[tynen]

I know you've tried several "ejecting" utilities. But I've had a lot of luck with EjectUSB.

http://lifehacker.com/399172/ejectusb-forces-program-to-let-go-of-your-thumb-drive

If you find that EjectUSB works for you you can put the following lines into your autorun.inf file so that EjectUSB is added to your shell extention (you can rightclick the drive to use EjectUSB)

Shell\EjectUSB=EjectUSB
Shell\EjectUSB\command=PortableApps\ejectUSB\EjectUSB.exe