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Submission details

77 +78/-1 votes

Windows 7 refuses to unmount storage devices, even when not in use

Submitted by sfsdfd on June 29, 2009 to Annoyance, Bug, Usability

W7 often refuses to unmount storage devices with a "can't stop your device because a program is still using it" message - even, in many circumstances, when no actual program is using it. As a result, I'm forced to yank the hardware while it's still mounted (risky!) or completely shut down Windows before yanking it (annoying!)

Moreover, even if this is a case of application (or user) error instead of W7 error - i.e., even if a program is actually still using the device - this dialog can definitely be improved: why not TELL me what services or programs are using the device, instead of making me guess?

This is an old problem that was fixed with Windows XP, but reappeared in Vista, and remains a problem in Windows 7.

Reconfigure the "device in use" logic of this widget to be more accurate.

Also, reconfigure the dialog to show the names of applications or services that are (ostensibly) still using the device.

High

High

Not fixed

Discussion (1 comments)

Yatti420 wrote on February 6, 2010, 11:05pm

Aslong as you haven't reconfigured your hardware for performance mode you can yank out usb drives etc without worry.. It is when you have reconfigured yanking becomes a major concern..

Also if you are getting that message then you do still have something accessing the drive..

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