Removing an external drive with a message saying you can't...

[357mag]

This still happens to me and is happening now. I just got done backing up some folders to my external USB drive. Now when I click on the USB icon in the lower right of the System Tray, it will say something like:

...can't be stopped right now because a program is still accessing it."

Or it might say this:

...can't be stopped right now. Try stopping the device later."

What's up with this? Can I just shut the drive off or unplug it's USB cable?

[EzyStvy]

A reboot would probably allow you to stop the drive...Shutting down and unpluggin the drive would e the second safest way...

[TwoRails]

Sometimes you'll get that message for no "real" reason but usually, there is a reason. One common reason is that Windows Explorer is still open. Shut down all programs that access any disk and the message should go away.

[glc]

Find the removable drive in Device Manager, right click, properties - policies, optimize for quick removal. That will let you remove it safely without having to use the removal procedure.

[357mag]

I did the reboot option and it solved the issue. The option about shutting down all programs that access the disk, I don't know what those programs would be. I guess I would have to know what to look for in Task Manager, I mean in addition to shutting down Windows Explorer.

[TwoRails]

They shouldn't be anything hidden, for example: you might have a "bulk file renaming" utility open, or doing a virus scan on the unit, stuff like that.