External USB drive can't be stopped

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

I have a generic PC running XPHomeSP2 and I have two external USB hard
drives. If I want to stop them before turning them off....they tend to
run "warm" so I don't run them all the time...the message is that the
device cannot be stopped now, try later. If I just turn them off, I
get a write error about some file and data being lost. I also have to
turn them on and reboot before windows recognizes them again. Not sure
why this behavior is occurring.

What is the best way to use the external USB devices? run all the
time? Stop before turning them off? Just turn them off? The message
about lost data doesn't seem to be true in any practical sense as far
as I can tell.

Thanks for the help.

Henry
 
I have a generic PC running XPHomeSP2 and I have two external USB hard
drives. If I want to stop them before turning them off....they tend to
run "warm" so I don't run them all the time...the message is that the
device cannot be stopped now, try later. If I just turn them off, I
get a write error about some file and data being lost. I also have to
turn them on and reboot before windows recognizes them again. Not sure
why this behavior is occurring.

What is the best way to use the external USB devices? run all the
time? Stop before turning them off? Just turn them off? The message
about lost data doesn't seem to be true in any practical sense as far
as I can tell.

Thanks for the help.

Henry
Click to expand...

Rright-click "My Computer", Properties, "Hardware" tab, Device Manager, expand (+) "Disk
Drives", right-click the USB drive, select "Properties", click the "Policies" tab, and check the
box, "Optimize for quick removal" and OK your way out.

Do the same for the other USB drive.
 
I have a generic PC running XPHomeSP2 and I have two external USB hard
drives. If I want to stop them before turning them off....they tend to
run "warm" so I don't run them all the time...the message is that the
device cannot be stopped now, try later. If I just turn them off, I
get a write error about some file and data being lost. I also have to
turn them on and reboot before windows recognizes them again. Not sure
why this behavior is occurring.
Click to expand...

Usually an open file handle to a file on the drive prevents
the preparation for save removal.

To discover who has an open handle to the drive get Sysinternals
ProcessExplorer
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/ProcessExplorer.html

Start the ProcessExplorer. Go to 'Find'->'Find Handle' and enter
the root path (like U:\) of your drive. Click 'Search'.
Then it lists all processes that hold open handles to your drive.

But sometimes nothing is found. This may be caused by software
that hooks deep in the system like anti virus or anti spyware
tools.
What is the best way to use the external USB devices? run all the
time? Stop before turning them off?
Click to expand...

If possible, yes. At least do SYNC before:
http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/sync.html


Uwe
 
I had tried that and it had not worked. Went back and found one had
"reverted" to the other setting. Put both on the quick removal setting
and it worked OK. Apparently, if both are not set to the quick removal
mode, both are held open by...a handle of some sort??

Anyway, all working OK for now and I thank you.

Henry
 
Interesting applications...both of them. Not sure how to use them,
though.

Sync, for instance, when I execute the *.exe, the cmd window flashes
open and then shuts, so the command line you indicate on the web site
cannot not be used. It does not stay resident so is not recognized
under cmd windows.

As for the Sysinternals application, neat all the info that is
available. Too much, though, and I don't know what to do with it
anyway. I cannot link either a handle or dll to the two USB drives to
figure out what process might have been holding them open. I solved
it, though, by using the suggestion to set bot as quick disconnect
options...both have to be set or neither will close.

Thanks, though, for responding.

Henry
 
You've received good answers to your problem. Another thing you can do is
to power your external USB drives through a multiple outlet surge protected
power supply that has an On/Off switch. I have devices that I don't use all
the time powered through that switchable power supply and leave it Off
unless there's something I wish to use. My USB printer, scanner, DVD
burner, and 2 large USB drives are all plugged in to it and I only turn
power on when I need to use one of the devices. In addition, both of my
external drives and the DVD burner also have their own power switches which
I leave in the Off position except when I need to use them. That way my
drives are seldom started so they don't need to be stopped using the icon on
the Task Bar.

This also serves to protect my USB drives from virus contamination. I use
the 200 GB USB drive to hold images of my internal hard drive and that
provides some additional protection.
 
Do you mean you use a powered hub for your USB devices? That's the
only way they are powered AFAIK.

For some reasons, the powered USB hubs don't supply enough power. The
PC USB ports usually do supply the necessary power.

Turns out my solution was short lived. After a a few hours, I am now
unable to stop the drives...even though the quick stop policy is still
active for both drives.

I am stumped.

Henry
 
The solution was short lived...a few hours. Even with the proper
policy, I cannot stop either drive. Any other ideas...you seem to be
on the right track, but for some reason it is not a persistent
solution.

Henry
 
Back
Top