Windows Defender stopping me from ejecting harddrive

Anonymous
2020-05-26T06:39:44+00:00

After uninstalling Norton (as it came preinstalled after on my computer) I started to experience an issue, whenever I would try to eject my hard drive I would get an error, after looking in event viewer I saw an error talking about how msmpeng.exe was stopping it from ejecting. After researching I found out that this task was windows defender.

However I have tried everything to stop this from happening to no avail, Ive gone into its settings to turn it off and yet it still runs in the background still blocking be from ejecting my hard drive, attempting to close msmpeng.exe in task manager gives me an error that I dont have permission (with no way to change this) I have then followed guides about going into edit to make a file called disablelivespywareprotection (something like that) and now Im out of answers, Am I now forced to just unplug it unsafely or something? please help

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-08-04T05:50:02+00:00

    @fg2001

    I use Windows 10 Pro - Version 1909 - OS build: 18363.959 and this Windows Defender problem also occurs on my PC.

    Jose, 

    The quick removal for external drives is already set as default. That is not the issue, when eject is issued they should first stop the activity of windows defender on the drive and then eject correctly.

    If you see the problem also with 1909, that means that they introduced the bug with some recent changes of the defender also in 1909.

    I had 1909 for over a year and never had any problems with eject.

    It all started for me with v 2004 in 5 different machines.

    Also I don't get the problem with any insider development build up to build 20180.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-11-25T09:54:34+00:00

    I have the same problem

    Windows Defender\Platform\4.18.2009.7-0\MsMpEng.exe

    October 2020

    Doesn't Microsoft have a testing team??

    Fix it!!

    Unfortunately, MS is not doing anything to fix this, I have seen the same issue with Insider build 20236.1005.

    The only way around for me now is by adding the external device or devices on the exclusion list for windows defender.

    Assuming the device assigned letter(s) are the same each time you plug in the external device.

    You would think that Windows system could release the device from defender when it needs to be ejected, but with recent changes it does not, it is really silly !😜

    I also tried including the disk folder (E:) as you suggested, but still, Windows did not allow me to eject the hard disk. The only solution I have for this is to restart the laptop, but that is not a solution. Moreover, I am concern about what could happen with the data in the hard disk, as although I restart the computer I still have doubts if some data might be corrupted.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-19T00:06:18+00:00

    "...The only way around for me now is by adding the external device or devices on the exclusion list for windows defender.

    Assuming the device assigned letter(s) are the same each time you plug in the external device..."

    [Machine Translation]

    @fg2001,

    Good idea to work around the problem!

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-18T12:33:37+00:00

    I have the same problem

    Windows Defender\Platform\4.18.2009.7-0\MsMpEng.exe

    October 2020

    Doesn't Microsoft have a testing team??

    Fix it!!

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    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2020-05-26T07:00:06+00:00

    I used programs and features

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