Can't Stop External Hard Drive

[Robert Lee]

I have a Western Digital 250 gb external hard drive connected via USB port.
I am also running Outlook 2007, which I believe has a function
searchindexer.exe that searches all my drives to index the files on them.

I want to be able to unplug the drive without first turning off my computer.
But I get messages saying that the drive can't be stopped. It used to be
that if I stopped searchindexer.exe, I could stop the drive. But that's
stopped working.

Here are two questions:

1. What is preventing me from stopping the drive?;

2. What is the worst that can happen if I remove it without stopping it
first?

Thanks.

 

[Unknown]

Do you have the 'safely remove hardware' icon in your tray?

 

[Terry R.]

On 3/13/2010 10:11 AM On a whim, Robert Lee pounded out on the keyboard

I have a Western Digital 250 gb external hard drive connected via USB port.
I am also running Outlook 2007, which I believe has a function
searchindexer.exe that searches all my drives to index the files on them.

I want to be able to unplug the drive without first turning off my computer.
But I get messages saying that the drive can't be stopped. It used to be
that if I stopped searchindexer.exe, I could stop the drive. But that's
stopped working.

Here are two questions:

1. What is preventing me from stopping the drive?;

2. What is the worst that can happen if I remove it without stopping it
first?

Thanks.

Hi Robert,

I have one drive that does that. Have you tried right clicking on the
drive in Explorer and selecting "Eject"? Works for me.




Terry R.

 

[Rey Santos]

It could be your antivirus or antispyware tools scanning your drive. Try
turning them off first.

Use Process Explorer:
Why do I get "device ... cannot be stopped right now" trying to safely
remove my USB drive?
http://ask-leo.com/why_do_i_get_dev...now_trying_to_safely_remove_my_usb_drive.html

Use your Task Manager to end suspected running programs accessing the drive.

 

[Robert Lee]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Rey, you were right: if I turn off my
Norton Antivirus, I'm able to stop the drive.

Terry, I don't have an "Eject" option when I click on the external hard
drive using Windows Explorer.

Also, what's the worst that can happen if I unplug the drive without getting
the "Safe" message?

 

[Robert Lee]

Thanks to everyone who responded. Rey, you were right: if I turn off my
Norton Antivirus, I'm able to stop the drive.

Terry, I don't have an "Eject" option when I click on the external hard
drive using Windows Explorer.

Also, what's the worst that can happen if I unplug the drive without getting
the "Safe" message?