Trying to disconnect external HDD.

I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
is used solely for backups.

Often I get the message: (Windows 7)

******
Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
---------------------------
Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
then try again later.
******

"Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
other way?

Peter

Peter Jason wrote:
> I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
> is used solely for backups.
>
> Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
>
> ******
> Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
> ---------------------------
> Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
> still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
> then try again later.
> ******
>
> "Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
> reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
> other way?
>
> Peter

This is a more common problem on Unix. And this is a tool I used
in the past for that. And while I'm there, the article tells me
what the Windows equivalent of that command is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsof

"See also

Process Explorer from SysInternals - the equivalent for Windows
(Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL)"

So Process Explorer is supposed to be able to find open files,
such as the kind that prevent a volume from being dismounted.

You can get Process Explorer here.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896653

I tried the "Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL" part, and when
you get there, there is a search box. Type the drive letter.
For example, I typed C: in there, to see how many files
were open on C:.

On my E: volume, I can tell System Restore has a file open.
You might check and see if it's something like that.

In this example, only C: is included in System Restore. But other
drives, might also be included, like your Firewire drive.

http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/re...e8734e2bde.jpg

Paul

On Mon, 01 Aug 2011 08:22:48 +1000, Peter Jason <> wrote:

>I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
>is used solely for backups.
>
>Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
>
>******
>Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
>---------------------------
>Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
>still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
>then try again later.
>******
>
>"Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
>reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
>other way?
>
>Peter

Peter,

I use Unlocker in this situation.

http://www.filehippo.com/download_unlocker/

Just hit "Unlock all" even if nothing is showing connected to the
drive and it will then disconnect.

Ross

On 31/07/2011 6:22 PM, Peter Jason wrote:
> I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
> is used solely for backups.
>
> Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
>
> ******
> Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
> ---------------------------
> Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
> still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
> then try again later.
> ******
>
> "Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
> reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
> other way?
>
> Peter


What you need is something that not only unmounts the drive, but also
kills whatever processes are locking it. Try this:

Safely Remove Hardware better alternative
http://safelyremove.com/index.html

Yousuf Khan

Peter Jason wrote:
> I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
> is used solely for backups.
>
> Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
>
> ******
> Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
> ---------------------------
> Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
> still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
> then try again later.
> ******
>
> "Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
> reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
> other way?
>
> Peter

Close Windows Explorer and try again.

On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:02:04 -0400, Paul <> wrote:

>Peter Jason wrote:
>> I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
>> is used solely for backups.
>>
>> Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
>>
>> ******
>> Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
>> ---------------------------
>> Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
>> still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
>> then try again later.
>> ******
>>
>> "Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
>> reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
>> other way?
>>
>> Peter
>
>This is a more common problem on Unix. And this is a tool I used
>in the past for that. And while I'm there, the article tells me
>what the Windows equivalent of that command is.
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsof
>
> "See also
>
> Process Explorer from SysInternals - the equivalent for Windows
> (Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL)"
>
>So Process Explorer is supposed to be able to find open files,
>such as the kind that prevent a volume from being dismounted.
>
>You can get Process Explorer here.
>
>http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896653
>
>I tried the "Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL" part, and when
>you get there, there is a search box. Type the drive letter.
>For example, I typed C: in there, to see how many files
>were open on C:.
>
>On my E: volume, I can tell System Restore has a file open.
>You might check and see if it's something like that.
>
>In this example, only C: is included in System Restore. But other
>drives, might also be included, like your Firewire drive.
>
>http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/re...e8734e2bde.jpg
>
> Paul


Thanks, I already have the Sysinternals suite for Windows7 64bit. I
never thought to use it for this because I keep it for virus checking.


On the last link, this brings up the question why Windows7 is so
unlike XP in that several restore points are not listed, In XP I
could choose any restore point back for several days.

Peter

On Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:04:25 +1000, Peter Jason wrote:

> On the last link, this brings up the question why Windows7 is so
> unlike XP in that several restore points are not listed, In XP I
> could choose any restore point back for several days.

This is not a characteristic of Windows 7, it is a characteristic of
your installation.

I have had a couple of dozen restore points listed on my Windows 7
computers (each!).

You may have too little disk space set aside; if that's not the problem,
then I don't know what it might be.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:04:02 +0200, Alias wrote:

> On 08/02/2011 04:04 AM, Peter Jason wrote:
>> On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:02:04 -0400, Paul<> wrote:
>>
>>> Peter Jason wrote:
>>>> I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
>>>> is used solely for backups.
>>>>
>>>> Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
>>>>
>>>> ******
>>>> Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
>>>> ---------------------------
>>>> Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
>>>> still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
>>>> then try again later.
>>>> ******
>>>>
>>>> "Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
>>>> reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
>>>> other way?
>>>>
>>>> Peter
>>>
>>> This is a more common problem on Unix. And this is a tool I used
>>> in the past for that. And while I'm there, the article tells me
>>> what the Windows equivalent of that command is.
>>>
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsof
>>>
>>> "See also
>>>
>>> Process Explorer from SysInternals - the equivalent for Windows
>>> (Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL)"
>>>
>>> So Process Explorer is supposed to be able to find open files,
>>> such as the kind that prevent a volume from being dismounted.
>>>
>>> You can get Process Explorer here.
>>>
>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896653
>>>
>>> I tried the "Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL" part, and when
>>> you get there, there is a search box. Type the drive letter.
>>> For example, I typed C: in there, to see how many files
>>> were open on C:.
>>>
>>> On my E: volume, I can tell System Restore has a file open.
>>> You might check and see if it's something like that.
>>>
>>> In this example, only C: is included in System Restore. But other
>>> drives, might also be included, like your Firewire drive.
>>>
>>> http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/re...e8734e2bde.jpg
>>>
>>> Paul
>>
>>
>> Thanks, I already have the Sysinternals suite for Windows7 64bit. I
>> never thought to use it for this because I keep it for virus checking.
>>
>>
>> On the last link, this brings up the question why Windows7 is so
>> unlike XP in that several restore points are not listed, In XP I
>> could choose any restore point back for several days.
>>
>> Peter
>
> There's a little square to check that says "Show more restore points".
> Did you check that?

On my Win 7 installations, the first 5 or 6 restore points are always
visible when there are a lot of restore points, even when that box is
unchecked.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

On Tue, 02 Aug 2011 20:03:07 +0200, Alias wrote:

> On 08/02/2011 07:57 PM, Gene E. Bloch wrote:
>> On Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:04:02 +0200, Alias wrote:
>>
>>> On 08/02/2011 04:04 AM, Peter Jason wrote:
>>>> On Sun, 31 Jul 2011 19:02:04 -0400, Paul<> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Peter Jason wrote:
>>>>>> I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection that
>>>>>> is used solely for backups.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ******
>>>>>> Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
>>>>>> ---------------------------
>>>>>> Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
>>>>>> still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device, and
>>>>>> then try again later.
>>>>>> ******
>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
>>>>>> reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
>>>>>> other way?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Peter
>>>>>
>>>>> This is a more common problem on Unix. And this is a tool I used
>>>>> in the past for that. And while I'm there, the article tells me
>>>>> what the Windows equivalent of that command is.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lsof
>>>>>
>>>>> "See also
>>>>>
>>>>> Process Explorer from SysInternals - the equivalent for Windows
>>>>> (Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL)"
>>>>>
>>>>> So Process Explorer is supposed to be able to find open files,
>>>>> such as the kind that prevent a volume from being dismounted.
>>>>>
>>>>> You can get Process Explorer here.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb896653
>>>>>
>>>>> I tried the "Find menu -> Find Handle or DLL" part, and when
>>>>> you get there, there is a search box. Type the drive letter.
>>>>> For example, I typed C: in there, to see how many files
>>>>> were open on C:.
>>>>>
>>>>> On my E: volume, I can tell System Restore has a file open.
>>>>> You might check and see if it's something like that.
>>>>>
>>>>> In this example, only C: is included in System Restore. But other
>>>>> drives, might also be included, like your Firewire drive.
>>>>>
>>>>> http://res2.windows.microsoft.com/re...e8734e2bde.jpg
>>>>>
>>>>> Paul
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Thanks, I already have the Sysinternals suite for Windows7 64bit. I
>>>> never thought to use it for this because I keep it for virus checking.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On the last link, this brings up the question why Windows7 is so
>>>> unlike XP in that several restore points are not listed, In XP I
>>>> could choose any restore point back for several days.
>>>>
>>>> Peter
>>>
>>> There's a little square to check that says "Show more restore points".
>>> Did you check that?
>>
>> On my Win 7 installations, the first 5 or 6 restore points are always
>> visible when there are a lot of restore points, even when that box is
>> unchecked.
>>
>
> Mine too.

:-)

I take it that you mean it's worth the OP's effort to try that...Yeah,
I'll go along.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)

Yousuf Khan wrote:

> On 31/07/2011 6:22 PM, Peter Jason wrote:
> > I have an external "Maxtor" 250Gb HDD with a firewire connection
> > that is used solely for backups.
> >
> > Often I get the message: (Windows 7)
> >
> > ******
> > Problem Ejecting SBP2 Compliant IEEE 1394 device
> > ---------------------------
> > Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because a program is
> > still using it. Close any programs that might be using the device,
> > and then try again later.
> > ******
> >
> > "Later" never works, and there's no program using it. I have to
> > reboot the computer to make the message go away. Is there some
> > other way?
> >
> > Peter
>
>
> What you need is something that not only unmounts the drive, but also
> kills whatever processes are locking it. Try this:
>
> Safely Remove Hardware better alternative
> http://safelyremove.com/index.html
>
> Yousuf Khan

+1 USB Safely Remove is a great utility!

--
Sir_George