Problems with external HD

Dogboy73 · 17 Aug 2006 at 02:56

When I try to remove my external HD using 'safely remove hardware' I get the message above. I don't understand why it's saying that a program is still accessing it! What program?! Been getting the same thing for hours now (long after I'd finished backing up my files). This nearly always happens as well. I usually just wait until I've powered down the PC & then just turn it off. But why doesn't 'safely remove hardware' work on this drive? Any ideas?

Cheers.

rpstewart · 17 Aug 2006 at 08:41

There's basically some background process or other which has an open file on the external drive. It's a real pain in the <bleep> to work out what it is normally but if you go looking for a program called Process Explorer that'll help.

Basically it allows you to, amongst other things, see what processes have what files open - simply search by the drive letter of your external and it'll let you know what's still open. You can then decide how to go about how to deal with it.

However as a first port of call make sure that the indexing service and system restore are turned off on the drive.

Dogboy73 · 17 Aug 2006 at 11:28

Cheers, I'll check that out when I get home later.

rpstewart said:
However as a first port of call make sure that the indexing service and system restore are turned off on the drive.

Right click, properties on the external HD icon?

rpstewart · 17 Aug 2006 at 11:48

Dogboy73 said:
Right click, properties on the external HD icon?

For the indexing service, yes. For system restore it's right clight and properties of My Computer.

Dogboy73 · 21 Sep 2006 at 20:45

Tried those things. The problem is still there. I tried process explorer but I couldn't really make out what was going on there. I need someone who can look at that stuff & know what's what. Next time I start up my external HD if the problem happens again i'll take a screen grab & post it on here ....... Unless anyone has any other ideas about what might be going on.

wizardmaxx · 22 Sep 2006 at 06:14

Most likely that write caching is the culprit. Its like a fail safe device so u dont loose data. Id disable it and see if that helps.

Dogboy73 · 22 Sep 2006 at 19:46

wizardmaxx said:
Most likely that write caching is the culprit. Its like a fail safe device so u dont loose data. Id disable it and see if that helps.

How do I do that.

cheers.

Dogboy73 · 17 Oct 2006 at 20:02

Just seen this on the drive properties;

Am I right in thinking that according to this I can just switch the drive off without having to safely remove it at all?!

Dogboy73 · 18 Oct 2006 at 20:17

Anyone? I'm thinking now I can just switch the thing off without the need to safely remove. I don't like the idea of that but that's what it's saying in the dilog I posted a screen grab of above.