>
> "John Allen" helplink44@yahoo.com wrote in message
> news:028a01c3c0ee$5a988400$a301280a@phx.gbl...
> I have an external usb drive. Running on machine with
> Windows XP pro, all updates have been done. I click on
> safely remove hardware, I then select the drive (usb mass
> storage device), then hit OK. In the next box, I select
> the usb mass storage device and hit stop. I get the
> message, problem ejecting usb mass storage device with
> the words
>
> The device "generic volume" cannot be stopped right now.
> Try stopping the device again later.
>
> I try later, but same result. I have tried removing and
> reinstalling the device. It works for a while but then
> fails as above.
>
> How to resolve this issue
To find out which process is blocking a removable device, and kill it,
is EASY.

First download the FREE Sysinternals Process Explorer(PE)

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilitie...sExplorer.html

Start PE and add the "Window Title" column under View - "Select
Columns...",

and then do a Find - "Find Handle...", followed by a "Find DLL...".

Just type the root to the drive. If your device is R: you type R:\

and press Enter. If there are hits just click on one, and the
handle/DLL

is highlighted inside the process holding it. Then close the Lower
Pane(Ctrl+L).

Enter or double-click THE PROCESS and see if there is a "Services"
tab.

If so, the responsible service(s) therein must be stopped. It is NOT
recommended

(in fact, usually impossible) to try to just kill the process.

To stop and start services issue Start - Run... services.msc

or issue NET START at a command line to get a list using the long
"Display Name", and

NET STOP servicename
or
NET START servicename

Tip: You can use the short "Service" name from PE or the long "Display
Name".

There is no general answer to which service(s) must be stopped. Use
your brain, guess and test.

If there is no "Services" tab, or no services are registered, try
stopping the process

the way you would normally do. If it has a hidden window, you can
activate it by

right clicking and select Window - "Bring to Front".

If neither of these work, try stopping the process by right clicking
and select

"Kill Process".

Note: "Kill Process Tree" also kills all processes started by the
parent(the selected process).


--
xlntxpert