Windows 11 Task Manager is preventing the Safely Remove Hardware feature

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https://www.ghacks.net/2022/10/23/windows-11-task-manager-is-preventing-the-safely-remove-hardware-feature/

The latest version of Windows 11 has a bug that may prevent the safe removal of hardware from the device. Discovered by our colleagues over at Deskmodder, it appears that Windows 11’s own Task Manager application is preventing devices from being ejected safely from the operating system.

Users of Windows 11 who activate the operating system’s Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media feature from the system tray, to remove USB devices and other devices connected to the system safely, may notice that this is no longer possible if the Task Manager application is open.

Windows 11 displays the message “Problem Ejecting USB Mass Storage Device”, stating that the device can’t be stopped by the operating system because of another program that is still using it. That program, at least in this case, is the operating system’s Task Manager….

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Users of Windows 11 who activate the operating system’s Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media feature from the system tray, to remove USB devices and other devices connected to the system safely, may notice that this is no longer possible if the Task Manager application is open.

Not necessary by default for the last four years:

Beginning in Windows 10 version 1809, the default policy is Quick removal.

In earlier versions of Windows, the default policy was Better performance.
…
Quick removal: This policy manages storage operations in a manner that keeps the device ready to remove at any time. You can remove the device without using the Safely Remove Hardware process.

Change in default removal policy for external storage media in Windows 10, version 1809

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geekdom

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b wrote:

Beginning in Windows 10 version 1809, the default policy is Quick removal.

I would never trust my external storage to Microsoft’s ‘Quick removal’.
Even with ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ sometimes the external drives are still in use..and need a wait before disconnecting.

3 users thanked author for this post.

wavy, NaNoNyMouse, cyberSAR

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Alex5723 wrote:

b wrote:

Beginning in Windows 10 version 1809, the default policy is Quick removal.

I would never trust my external storage to Microsoft’s ‘Quick removal’.
Even with ‘Safely Remove Hardware’ sometimes the external drives are still in use..and need a wait before disconnecting.

And especially if you use them on different versions of Windows on multiple machines!

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I have never used the “safely remove”.  I just pull the usb and have never had an issue.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

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You’ve been much luckier than some
https://www.howtogeek.com/184640/ask-htg-windows-always-wants-to-scan-and-fix-my-usb-drive-should-i-let-it/

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wavy

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https://www.howtogeek.com/184640/ask-htg-windows-always-wants-to-scan-and-fix-my-usb-drive-should-i-let-it/

Date Published: Oct 17, 2016, 6:28 pm EDT

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Rip ‘n Run heh??
Sounds like russian roulette to me.

But CyberSAR thanks for the link, I have always been hesitant to do the scan. I have (almost) always done the safe remove. Will let it run now. 😁👍

🍻

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Susan Bradley wrote:

I have never used the “safely remove”.  I just pull the usb and have never had an issue.

I get ‘require scan’ notification after pulling a USB device. I always use safely remove.

Example : attached, pulled, attached SSD drive.

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When objecting that you can’t remove a USB drive because it’s in use, it would be nice if Windows were to volunteer the name and location of the program that supposedly is still using it. Obviously it thinks that some program is using it; how about coughing up the name of the suspect?

Keep Running Windows 7 Safely for Years to Come  
Make Windows 10 look and work like Windows 7

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NaNoNyMouse, wavy, Just another Forum Poster, Alex5723

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I’m on Win 10 and I have this bug and it is recent .

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Cybertooth wrote:

nice if Windows were to volunteer the name and location of the program that supposedly is still using it.

I don’t think that Microsoft ‘knows’ which app/service is holding the device ransom.

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