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Sometimes i can't remove the external usb harddisk because of the error in the screen shot below when i try to safely remove the harddisk. There is no application using the harddisk and it occurs randomly. is there any software that i can use to see which software have a lock on any file on the harddisk?

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4 Answers

up vote 3 down vote accepted

"Generic volume cannot be stopped right now" error when Removing a pen-drive

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thanks this is exactly what i was looking for :) –  Karim Aug 25 '09 at 1:00
you're welcome, i'm using Unlocker myself, great little tool. –  Molly7244 Aug 25 '09 at 1:02
However be careful with Unlocker and this kind of tools, as explained there : superuser.com/questions/2937/… –  Gnoupi Aug 25 '09 at 15:36
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This error usually occurs when you have an explorer window open which is still referencing the USB drive. Close all explorer windows and try again.

Edit: Try this Eject A USB Drive

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there is absolutly no explorer or any other programs that are doing any work on this drive. this is why i am looking for a tool that will tell me which program is locking this drive. i tried nirsoft.net/utils/opened_files_view.html and there is no open files on that drive. –  Karim Aug 25 '09 at 0:32
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Note that if you use Unlocker to get rid of this problem, be careful.

If you use it to watch which programs are using it, and you are closing these programs yourself, it's ok. But if you use Unlocker to actually "unlock" the files, it's a bad thing. Doing so, you are violently closing the handle, and it's in the end the same effect as removing directly the usb harddisk, you can lose data.

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In Windows I often make use of a tool that detect open Handles such as Process Explorer.

If your USB drive is at the drive letter K: you do a 'handle search' for


Then you can force close these open handles to release a lock on the drive, and then eject/safely remove works.

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thanks , i didnt know that u can do that in process explorer. –  Karim Aug 25 '09 at 10:39
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