When I plug in my 250gb external, transfer my files, then click "safely remove hardware" it tells me not to do it.

I make sure all associated programs and files are closed but it still tells me to wait.

I've been told just to pull the plug but I really don't like doing that.

You can select the drive (right click) in My Computer and use eject as a way of safe remove. If it has files busy and you don't know why. You can always shut down with it plugged in and it will be safe to remove when powers off. Sometimes after a restart the normal safe remove works again as the errant file is then closed.

USB devices are hot swappable.

But that does not mean at any time.

The danger is if data is being transferred while

you unplug it. If your writes or reads are done,

you can unplug it without worrying.

Even if you unplug during a W/R the only damage

should be corrupted data. The device itself should be fine.

There is another precaution to be careful about.

Windows and other OS's can do delayed writes.

That is they wait until you have finished some other

processes before writing to the Flash drive.

But most Flash drives have LEDs that light when data

is transferred. So if the light is out and you know

your writing is done because you saw the LED blinking

after you did your W/R, again you can unplug it safely.

Final point. You should get an all clear signal from the

system if you close all open windows and applications.

But usually such drastic action is not required.

Just closing the File System window {Explorer} should be suffiecient.

Happy New Year

In Windows 7, you can set the Quick Removal policy for an External USB device. What this does is disable the file caching for that device which allows you to bypass the Safely Remove component.

1. Plug the device into the USB port.

2. Open Windows Explorer, right click the device in the navigation pane and select Properties/Hardware Tab.

3. Select the device in that list and click the Properties Button and then the Change Settings Button.

4. Select the Policies Tab.

5. Select the Quick Removal option.

6. Click OK/Apply/OK.

EDIT Having looked at several drives, it seems that in W7 'Quick Remove' enabled is the default.

Simply having the file explorer pointing at the disk can stop it being removed.

Another culprit is Diskeeper, that has a background defrag function.

In Windows 7, you can set the Quick Removal policy for an External USB device. What this does is disable the file caching for that device which allows you to bypass the Safely Remove component.

1. Plug the device into the USB port.

2. Open Windows Explorer, right click the device in the navigation pane and select Properties/Hardware Tab.

3. Select the device in that list and click the Properties Button and then the Change Settings Button.

4. Select the Policies Tab.

5. Select the Quick Removal option.

6. Click OK/Apply/OK.

EDIT Having looked at several drives, it seems that in W7 'Quick Remove' enabled is the default.

XP has the same functionality, which is stored in the USB drive itself. The option is for speed or Quick Removal policy. QR disables write cache on the USB drives. As noted, Explorer, cmd or some other process can lock out the eject function.