Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device "This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again."

Anonymous
2011-03-23T03:39:03+00:00

Original title:Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device

When I try to safely eject my external hard drive safely I get an error message with this title telling me that "This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again." I have done this. I have also tried closing every program running on the computer and it does not help. I have also tried restarting the computer and this also does nothing. If anyone has any ideas that would be helpful please let me know.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2011-03-24T03:24:11+00:00

Hi A. Cook,

1)       How long have you been facing this issue?

2)       Is this issue confined to any specific USB device?

This behavior can occur if there are open handles with any files in the USB (Universal Serial Bus) Mass Storage Device are in use by another program.

Method 1:

a)       Download Process Explorer from the link below

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653

b)       Click Find, Find Handle or DLL (Dynamic Link Library) in the tool menu.

c)       Type the drive letter of the USB device in the Handle or DLL substring textbox, and press Search Button.

d)       Find the process and its PID (Process Identifier) in the following box.

e)       In system process tree view, find the process according to the Find Handle or DLL dialog box.

f)        Press Ctrl + H to show Handles in Lower Pane View.

g)       Find the File according with the drive letter, and right click it, choose Close Handle.

Reference:

Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Devicehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/555665

Note: Using Third Party Software, including hardware drivers can cause serious problems that may prevent your computer from booting properly. Microsoft cannot guarantee that any problems resulting from the use of Third Party Software can be solved. Using Third Party Software is at your own risk.

**Method 2:**You may refer the steps provided by Diana D in the link below

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows\_vista-hardware/problem-ejecting-usb-mass-storage-deviceits-in-use/fd56805c-ed8e-491f-8a2b-39ed1c988a71

Method 3: Run an online scan for any threat and try to fix them

**http://onecare.live.com/site/en-Us/center/cleanup.htm**

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-11-15T22:51:56+00:00

    The problem is widely reported.  Thousands of times! It is maddening. It does not matter which USB storage devise is used and it may not be consistent even what the USB device. The point is that some program is using the device and even in task manager you have NO way of knowing which process because nothing in  Task Manager even suggests is it associated with that or any drive. "Only connect" but you can't . Shut down every program running and it will not help. So something in the background is running and GOOD luck trying to sleuth that out.

    The so-called solutions are maddening! The instructions are very badly communicated. The download Process Explorer program suggested? No help.  I get a list of no less than 98 items associated with that drive (which, in this case, is designated as E:) and none of them show up on the task manager. Moreover the instructions on what to do when you find them are incomplete. Not a clue on what to do with those items or how to terminate them. WHO writes this stuff?!  I already have a career!

    So it does not matter what kind of device and the problem will probably not exist every time you use that device. It is not device related but a matter of that device being used by a program and there is no way I can find to connect that device to any program, process, service, etc., that clearly points   to that USB device.

    To terminate whatever is using that device just  reboot the computer. Unless it is a program that loads on boot (which is unlikely) that reboot will terminate whatever item is in operation related to that drive. Then try again and you will be able to eject the device.

    This may be a nuisance but it takes a LOT less time than the hours you will squander going through a bzillion google hits (with as many 'solution' that don't seem to work!) and downloading (possibly malicious) software programs you can't figure out.  Get a Life! You do not need new career. In my case I suspect that whatever Windows process I  used to copy items to the USB device remained in play after the job was done and I could find no way which one was associated with that  drive.  If it's not a program or process that loads on boot it will probably not be active after a reboot.Save the grief. You have WORK to get done. Don't waste more time. Just reboot and then eject.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-11-15T21:40:37+00:00

    Look at the results and note the processes. They will tell you what's currently using the drive, so you can terminate it/them

    This is VERY unclear. I have the same problem with my Passport which I use like a flash drive.

    The "results are a list of 98 items. You do not give em a clue on how to terminate them.

    Like everyone else here I find this totally maddening.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-11-13T06:26:13+00:00

    I'm no expert here, but just wanted to give my 2 cents.  When I right-clicked the bottom right hand corner of the screen to safely eject, it never worked.  However, when I went to "my computer" and right-clicked the drive I wanted to eject and selected "eject" it worked perfectly.  Hope this helps someone.  GL!

    -CC

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-10-29T07:48:58+00:00

    I downloaded Process Explorer, but I could not find the tools menu.  I have been using USB devices since 2006 and this Sandisk USB since March 2014, but this is the worst problem I have had in ejecting the USB, just so I can copy my file on my other computer.

    One file is a book on Big Data and the financial Crisis-- 127 pages and counting. Really need to back that Up! Any advice you can give me will be appreciated.

    Robert Del Rosso

    (347) 874 -- 4246

    ******@yahoo.com

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