Can't Eject Maxtor External HD

[bezu]

When I try to disconnect my Maxtor 3100 External HD by "Safely Removing
Hardware" I get the message "The device Generic volume cannot be
stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later.

I am using the drive to simply store docs and pics...what will happen
if I simply pull out the plug?

I am concerned about overheating if I simply let it stay connected.

Thanks for any help.

Please reply to (e-mail address removed)

 

[Kevin Buffardi]

When I try to disconnect my Maxtor 3100 External HD by "Safely Removing

Hardware" I get the message "The device Generic volume cannot be
stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later.

Shut down the computer, then remove it. Is this just a one-time error,
or does this happen every time you try to remove it? If it's
reoccurring, then it may be a driver problem.

I am using the drive to simply store docs and pics...what will happen
if I simply pull out the plug?

Probably nothing. But if it's really using the disk, then you might
cause some problems. I wouldn't take that risk though. Just shut down
the machine and remove it. Restarting it should also free up the device.

I am concerned about overheating if I simply let it stay connected.

See above.

Thanks for any help.

No prob.

Please reply to (e-mail address removed)

Please check comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage instead =]

//Kevin

 

[bezu]

I have restarted with no change. I think it may be Norton related or
some such issue. If I leave it connected for days at a time will it
hurt it? It seems a bit warm but not much different then other small
devices (MP3's etc) when you are charging them.

I moved all my music to this drive and plan to listen to my music off
of it rather then using up room on my HD.

But the real reason I installed it is that I had the blue screen , had
to repair my operating system and want to be ready if I need to
reformat.

 

[Colonel Blip]

Hello, (e-mail address removed)!
You wrote on 8 May 2005 20:26:11 -0700:

Not unusual - I get the same message with my Maxtor in an external case (3rd
party). I leave it running (actually unconnected the fan because of noise
and took the top of the enclosure off to dissipate drive heat and it stays
cooler than internal drives in my computer case). As long as you are not in
the process of writing to the drive, you can pull the plug or s/d the power
switch and you shouldn't have a problem.

If you have a decent enclosure letting it run shouldn't be a problem either.

Thanks,

Colonel Blip.
E-mail: (e-mail address removed)

b> When I try to disconnect my Maxtor 3100 External HD by "Safely Removing
b> Hardware" I get the message "The device Generic volume cannot be
b> stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later.

b> I am using the drive to simply store docs and pics...what will happen
b> if I simply pull out the plug?

b> I am concerned about overheating if I simply let it stay connected.

b> Thanks for any help.

b> Please reply to (e-mail address removed)

 

[BobT]

I have restarted with no change. I think it may be Norton related or
some such issue. If I leave it connected for days at a time will it
hurt it? It seems a bit warm but not much different then other small
devices (MP3's etc) when you are charging them.

Previous poster was suggesting was that you shut down your computer,
then turn off or disconnect the Maxtor, then restart the computer.

 

[Stephen H. Fischer]

Hi,

I have also been plagued with "The device Generic volume cannot be
stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later." right from the
beginning when using my External HD.

The advise to shut down the computer is the best advice.

That is the only safe way to disconnect if SRF refuses that you will not
cause big problems.

Even though I was shutting down most of the time, I still managed to lose
150 Gig on my 200 Gig drive.

Now I always shut down. If you ever get a failure with file "$MFT", even
just one, you may have lost the entire partition.

If you need to run "chkdsk" on the external HDD I suggest the following:

First "Norton Disk Doctor" is suspect and I am up to date with Norton fixes,
so use "chkdsk".

First shut down the computer and turn the HDD power off. I feel better if
the External HDD is connected only after the computer is started and quiet.

Then run "Chkdsk" and pray.

Cause: Many!!!

Some I have identified: Pinnacle Studio being the one app that will cause
this every time if you do anything at all.

Windows Explorer, close all Explorer panels. Not too bad.

A "PATH" with references to any folder on the External HDD.

Start a "cmd" window and type "SET" to check.

Any aborting app with files open on the external HD is a sure bet.

Hibernation also causes problems also but not as many lately, one of the
critical fixes may have helped.

Any open files on the drive is what SRH finds and causes the message.

I am wondering if disabling the External HD in device manager may be safe, I
need to do more testing.

--
Stephen H. Fischer

When I try to disconnect my Maxtor 3100 External HD by "Safely Removing
Hardware" I get the message "The device Generic volume cannot be
stopped right now. Try stopping the device again later.

Shut down the computer, then remove it. Is this just a one-time error,
or does this happen every time you try to remove it? If it's
reoccurring, then it may be a driver problem.

I am using the drive to simply store docs and pics...what will happen
if I simply pull out the plug?

Probably nothing. But if it's really using the disk, then you might
cause some problems. I wouldn't take that risk though. Just shut down
the machine and remove it. Restarting it should also free up the device.

I am concerned about overheating if I simply let it stay connected.

See above.

Thanks for any help.

No prob.

Please reply to (e-mail address removed)

Please check comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage instead =]

//Kevin