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

mscotgrove@xxxxxxx wrote in news:90ebb681-f691-4cf1-8dbb-c03bc73ddac4@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Nov 27, 8:49 pm, retsu...@xxxxxxxxx (Mike S.) wrote:
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"?

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

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


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
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Should Apple do away with OS X?
    ... "Computer" in Vista") whether there is a disk in them or not? ... Windows does not make OS X superior to Windows. ... OS's simply handle the DRIVES differently. ... The question was not which OS is better, but what are some XP annoyances. ...
    (comp.sys.mac.advocacy)
  • Make the Most of Your New PC
    ... mint Windows Vista computer this holiday ... the Workgroup name is exactly the same for all the computers in the ... that doesn't support USB 2.0) and low-capacity portable hard drives. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.vista.general)
  • Re: Problem with XP scheduler?
    ... While it is possible to write a BIOS vector, ... With SATA drives, ... The reason for a lack of malware on Unix, Linux, MAC, etc. is that those ... With 90% of computers running Windows ...
    (microsoft.public.win32.programmer.kernel)
  • Re: Possible Sleeping Virus
    ... Remember that System Restore only tracks SYSTEM files - not yours. ... You should periodically defragment your hard drives as well as check them ... using Windows XP "prettifications". ... You should at least turn on the built in firewall. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers)
  • Re: Can Only Boot with Boot CD in Drive
    ... install are pointing to the wrong drive, because when you installed the 2nd Windows, THAT became the C: ... When I insert the Recovery disk to re-install windows, it always refers to my drives backwards ... ... Place the drive on which you want to install Windows at the Master position on the Primary IDE controller. ... When you say "Place the drive on which you want to install Windows at the Master position on the Primary IDE controller", I'm not really sure I know how to do that. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)