USB Cannot Eject

[six]

From CHIP February 2010 issue in letter section had one ppl asking about USB cannot been eject. So i would like to share my experience with it. Before i also searching for that solution and i found, there have diff between ex-hard disk and pendrive hardware data setting. As many ppl said we can easy pop up pendrive without ejecting it. So here the solution..maybe..coz it work for me..
p/s: how to change hardware policies? its have selection after u format ur hard disk.
p/s: why im posting this thread while im not doing it? ..coz i dont have enough space to backup my data XD

[Hell's Angel]

even if u tune it for "Optimize for Quick Removal", you are advice to always check the LED of your Thumb Drive (if there's one of coz.. ), whether it's blinking or not. It's better not to remove it by pulling it off while it's blinking for your own safety..

And, never eject of the EX-HDD by simply pull off the cable.. of coz the setting is different, because both hardware is not the same mechanism.. if the EX-HDD is being pull off, you suffer the risk of scratching the disk surface, but not the same with the Pendrive, coz it ain't disk type.. that's why a pendrive can be quick remove when you are sure it's not in working stat.. er.. i mean R/W stat..

By the way, in case your thumb can't be eject by Windows but your thumbdrive is not blinking, feel free to just jack it off from your USB port.. the reason you can't eject it is because windows had lock it up with some processes.. (mostly is by the explorer.exe), but if u still feel not ease, try end the explorer.exe from your task manager and restart explorer.exe from "run" (but normally explorer.exe will auto restart if you ends it), then try to eject it again, miraculously you will find that u can eject it..

P/S : I'm pulling off my PenDrive for years with nothing bad happen. You are advice not to do it nor blame me if something does went wrong, but i know i'm & i'll not..

[six]

thanks man..gud explanation..

[Ramirez]

Yeah, like Hells Angel said, hidden processes running causing you unable to eject your pendrive. If you cannot eject your pendrive the safe way, usually it's a symptom of trojan or virus infection; or a problematic Task Manager.

For me, it happens to my college's computers (very infectious), you'll get a free gift everytime you plug your pendrive in. To deal with this, I use Panda's USB Vaccine to disable the autorun function of my Pendrive. Then it won't autorun anything when you plug in. Whether read or write. So, 90% of the chances are that I can safely remove my drive. It also helps to reduce the spread of viruses because it won't autorun when you plug in to another computer. Scan and delete the virus.

[six]

must like that meh? i just plug 1st and scan normally whout need ext software..

[Hell's Angel]

Yeah, like Hells Angel said, hidden processes running causing you unable to eject your pendrive. If you cannot eject your pendrive the safe way, usually it's a symptom of trojan or virus infection; or a problematic Task Manager.

For me, it happens to my college's computers (very infectious), you'll get a free gift everytime you plug your pendrive in. To deal with this, I use Panda's USB Vaccine to disable the autorun function of my Pendrive. Then it won't autorun anything when you plug in. Whether read or write. So, 90% of the chances are that I can safely remove my drive. It also helps to reduce the spread of viruses because it won't autorun when you plug in to another computer. Scan and delete the virus.

good one.. some infections on the PC will dub the virus inside the PD just the moment u jack it in the USB port, and execute it via windows autorun for that "program".. that's the exact moment when your PD became unable to eject.. because the "program" is running in background..

[Ramirez]

There are many ways to prevent viruses. Some include the methods mentioned in March CHIP's letter of the month. Such as removing viruses through the command prompt, editing the registry. But these are more advanced level and cannot be executed on most Guest accounts without Admin rights.
So, the best way (for a standard user) is to vaccinate your Pendrive to disable Autorun before using it on public computers. Oh, oh, I've also discovered some useful stuff when working.

Situation: In some cases pendrive contents can go corrupted and cannot be accessed or distinguished at all. Folders become extremely big and filled with weird names and all. This happens when you unplug without using the safe way or it just gets jumbled up during the writing process.

Findings: I used to have the PortableApps installed in my Kingston. It creates 3 folders of its own namely Documents, Videos, and Music. All files and folders saved OUTSIDE these folders went corrupted. Whereas the ones INSIDE these folders remain safe. So I trust this is a safety feature also? Can CHIP please explain this? I'm curious.