Can't remove USB drive because "Explorer" is using it

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mike S.
  • Start date Start date
M

Mike S.

Does this happen to anyone else? This seems to happen a lot, on several
machines running XP SP2 and removeable flash drives.

I'm about to try to remove the drive. All applications that were actually
using files on that drive have been closed. There are no open Explorer
windows - or any of any kind, for that matter. I'm sitting there, looking
at the desktop, and yet Safely Remove tells me that the mass storage device
can't be stopped right now.

So I fire up Opened Files View and have a look at what's keeping it open.
Invariably it's explorer.exe which is keeping the root, or last accessed
folder on that drive open. I tell the utility to close the file handle,
and then I can eject the drive without a problem.

Anyone have an idea what causes this? Do I chalk this up to "Windows
annoyances"?
 
Does this happen to anyone else? This seems to happen a lot, on several
machines running XP SP2 and removeable flash drives.

I'm about to try to remove the drive. All applications that were actually
using files on that drive have been closed. There are no open Explorer
windows - or any of any kind, for that matter. I'm sitting there, looking
at the desktop, and yet Safely Remove tells me that the mass storage device
can't be stopped right now.

So I fire up Opened Files View and have a look at what's keeping it open.
Invariably it's explorer.exe which is keeping the root, or last accessed
folder on that drive open. I tell the utility to close the file handle,
and then I can eject the drive without a problem.

Anyone have an idea what causes this? Do I chalk this up to "Windows
annoyances"?
Click to expand...

It is possibly because explorer is showing files on the device.

Collapse the files on the USB device, and open up any other directory
on your hard drive. Then try and eject the USB device.

I think this what I normally do, a pain and I would agree a MS
annoyance.

Michael
 
It is possibly because explorer is showing files on the device.
Click to expand...

What part of
"There are no open Explorer windows - or any of any kind, for that matter"
did not register with you?
 
(e-mail address removed) wrote in



What part of
"There are no open Explorer windows - or any of any kind, for that matter"
did not register with you?
Click to expand...

Yes, as I stated in the OP, there are no open windows.

Someone just emailed me to suggest that I check Folder Options to be sure
that cacheing of thumbnails is turned off. Sounds logical; I'm going to
give that a try.
 
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