USB flash drive "drive busy can not eject"

[rudy-d]

I have a Toshiba Satellite L25 series laptop, that I have had to reload the operating
system, and many updates because the system recovery disk is from 2005.
Since I have reloaded the system, I have had to reboot my computer to safely
remove my USB flash drives. It seems thay somehow become busy when I access
them, and thay stay busy until I reboot!

OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition   
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600   
OS Manufacturer   Microsoft Corporation   
System Name    ####-#
System Manufacturer   TOSHIBA   
System Model   Satellite L25   
System Type   X86-based PC   
Processor   x86 Family 6 Model 13 Stepping 8 GenuineIntel ~1496 Mhz   
BIOS Version/Date   TOSHIBA V2.20, 3/9/2006   
SMBIOS Version   2.34   
Windows Directory   C:\WINDOWS   
System Directory   C:\WINDOWS\system32   
Boot Device   \Device\HarddiskVolume1   
Locale   United States   
Hardware Abstraction Layer   Version = "5.1.2600.2562 (xpsp.040919-1030)"

[Zylstra]

Assuming you have Windows XP

What is the device type?

What antivirus protection do you have?

USB 1.0 or 2.0?

Are you sure that all the opened applications that were using the device are no longer in use?

[rudy-d]

Comodo Firewall Pro v: 2.4.18.184

Comodo AntiVirus - Version Information Report
=============================================


Product Information
======= ===========
Build Version            : 2.0.14.50
DataBase Version         : 2.0.0.182
AllowDB Version          : 2.0.11.43
Program Updates Version  : 2.0.14.50

License Information
======= ===========
License Status           : Activated
Product Installation Date: 25-May-2007
Product Activation Date  : 25-May-2007

Program Files Information
======= ===== ===========
CMain.exe                : 2.0.12.42
CavApp.exe               : 2.0.11.39
CavSn.exe                : 2.0.11.41
CavAud.exe               : 2.0.9.26
CavMud.exe               : 2.0.9.26
Cavasm.exe               : 2.0.1.6
CavEmSrv.exe             : 2.0.11.40
CAVSubmit.exe            : 2.0.11.48
cavengine.dll            : 2.0.0.5

Operating System Information
========= ====== ===========
Operating System                 : Windows XP
Operating System Version         : 05.01.2600
Service Pack                     : Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer Version        : 7.0.5730.11

Hardware Information
======== ===========
Central Processing Unit (CPU)    : Unknown P6 family
Available Memory                 : 95MB
Total Memory                     : 446MB


[USB]

Device   PNP Device ID   
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller   PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4374&SUBSYS_FF311179&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&98   
USB Root Hub   USB\ROOT_HUB\4&434CBD3&0   
Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller   PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4375&SUBSYS_FF311179&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&99   
USB Root Hub   USB\ROOT_HUB\4&338B8DA5&0   
Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller   PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4373&SUBSYS_FF311179&REV_00\3&13C0B0C5&0&9A   
USB Root Hub   USB\ROOT_HUB20\4&33849CEE&0   
USB Mass Storage Device   USB\VID_0781&PID_5158\200435132218A8E2781F   
MobileMate USB Device   USBSTOR\DISK&VEN_&PROD_MOBILEMATE&REV_0.1\200435132218A8E2781F&0   
Generic volume   STORAGE\REMOVABLEMEDIA\7&20D27974&0&RM   

usbehci   Microsoft USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller Miniport Driver   c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbehci.sys   Kernel Driver   Yes   Manual   Running   OK   Normal   No   Yes   
usbhub   USB2 Enabled Hub   c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbhub.sys   Kernel Driver   Yes   Manual   Running   OK   Normal   No   Yes   
usbohci   Microsoft USB Open Host Controller Miniport Driver   c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbohci.sys   Kernel Driver   Yes   Manual   Running   OK   Normal   No   Yes   
usbstor   USB Mass Storage Driver   c:\windows\system32\drivers\usbstor.sys   Kernel Driver   Yes   Manual   Running   OK   Normal   No   Yes   

[michaewlewis]

If you're sure you don't have anything running from the drive, go ahead and unplug it without stopping hardware.
It will *probably* be just fine. Windows XP is usually pretty good with usb stuff.

[Zylstra]

If you're sure you don't have anything running from the drive, go ahead and unplug it without stopping hardware.
It will *probably* be just fine. Windows XP is usually pretty good with usb stuff.

But dont just unplug it if it is an external hard drive, you need to give the drive time to park.

(Its fine with a pen drive/flash disk or other flash memory)

[rudy-d]

It is just a flash drive, but I have drive casching turned on, and in Windows, can
I tell which application/s is accessing the drive?

[Zylstra]

It is just a flash drive, but I have drive casching turned on,

Most drives have this feature enabled. To a point, it can make them operate faster by having an overload held in the RAM. Just wait for any status indicator lights on the flash drive to turn off, or stop blinking for a few seconds.

and in Windows, can
I tell which application/s is accessing the drive?

There is no specific way, just that:
If you are editing a file in a program, like Microsoft word, and you are saving to the flash drive, it should be considered as "in use" until MS Word is closed.

[patio]

Are you sure when you re-did that laptop that the proper MBoard drivers were installed ? ?
If they are not the proper ones some peripherals will be affected including drives and ports.

Re-installing just XP would mean the laptop is running on generic Windows drivers which could be part of the problem...

[rudy-d]

After I reloaded the operating system, I did a windows update and downloaded
about 150 updates from the update site, also some of the updates needed updates.
It was quite a 5 hour ride from start to finish, and I had not loaded my personal
software! If the drivers needed to be updated, I checked the through the device
driver update function in the device manager. They were current.

[rudy-d]

P.S   I tried shutting of all running apps (apps on the task bar), the problem persisted.
If I plugged in the drive to the USB port and tried to immediately eject it, it worked.
However, if I accessed the drive with say My Computer or Windows Explorer, the
problem would crop up!, After closing all open windows "drive busy".

[Zylstra]

Okay, if you must shut the device down properly:
Try this.
Instead of using the Safely Remove Hardware thing, go into My Computer, right click the device, and click "eject"

[patio]

If i'm not mistaken Device Manager only looks for newer Windows device drivers...not Native OEM drivers...there can be a difference.

Do you have a Toshiba driver disk for that machine that came with it ? ?

[rudy-d]

I have updated drivers, as I stated before. I also tried ejecting through the device
manager, same problem "Drive Busy"!! I may try to roll back the driver function
and see if that works!

[rudy-d]

If i'm not mistaken Device Manager only looks for newer Windows device drivers...not Native OEM drivers...there can be a difference.

Do you have a Toshiba driver disk for that machine that came with it ? ?

I have the recovery disk that came with the laptop.

[rudy-d]

I wish I could post screen shots of the messages and the driver dialogue boxes.
I have made images of the screen (.jpg), can they be posted? I have posted them!
see page 2!