Question This device is currently in use. Close any ...

Nov 26, 2005
15,194
403
126
Been having an issue with the same problem across different motherboards, different installs, Intel & AMD. I can boot up a Hot Plug HDD and or SSD, nothing is using it, I go to eject the device by 'Safely Remove Hardware and Eject Media' and for way too long I get the warning "This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again." I mean over 10 minutes sometimes. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING USING IT. This is insane, why is this happening? What is using it? I have windows search turned off, indexing is off on the drive... wtf
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,225
126
Yes, unfortunately, Windows is a PITA about that. Try using the utilities "HotSwap!" (by a Japanese programmer), or Unlocker. Might also have to hit CTRL+ALT+DEL, select "Log off", and then log back in again. Because the "root" Explorer.exe shell instance, sometimes "holds onto" volume/file locks.
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,194
403
126
Would this also be related to the ability to detect a hot swap SATA HDD/SSD drives? My old X58 build would detect drives immediately when they were turned on via a Lian Li HDD power strip, however I also had a main boot drive that was an SSD. This new X570 board I have I'm using an NVMe drive for my boot drive: the detection of any type of drive being activated while the system is booted up, can vary between a second or two, to taking over 5 minutes to recognize. If I open Device Manager and run a 'Scan for hardware changes' any drive that's taking a long time to recognize will instantly be recognized. Seems more like a windows; or the cpu being in deep sleep state?
 

Steltek

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
3,367
1,101
136
You don't have any VSS errors in your Windows system log do you (especially ones referencing the hot plug drives)?

I've always had suspicions that Windows seems to "hang on" to hot plugged drives due to issues with the VSS service (i.e. the Windows service that does volume shadow copies).
 
Nov 26, 2005
15,194
403
126
You don't have any VSS errors in your Windows system log do you (especially ones referencing the hot plug drives)?

I've always had suspicions that Windows seems to "hang on" to hot plugged drives due to issues with the VSS service (i.e. the Windows service that does volume shadow copies).

In Event Viewer? If so I haven't checked. Does the VSS Service have something to do with System Restore? I just turned that off yesterday.

I did run a sfc scannow and it did find some corrupt files.. it's a brand new install, not even a week of use. I installed with everything running at default speeds with the CPU, RAM, nothing that should have effected the stability during install.
 

Steltek

Diamond Member
Mar 29, 2001
3,367
1,101
136
In Event Viewer? If so I haven't checked. Does the VSS Service have something to do with System Restore? I just turned that off yesterday.

I did run a sfc scannow and it did find some corrupt files.. it's a brand new install, not even a week of use. I installed with everything running at default speeds with the CPU, RAM, nothing that should have effected the stability during install.

VSS is Volume Shadow Service. System Restore uses it, but other applications can make use of it as well. If you get file corruption in the hidden VSS folder on a drive, it can cause Windows to have issues with releasing a drive. However, you'll normally have VSS warnings/errors show up in the System log if there are issues with that service.

@mxnerd's suggestions above are very good ones to try. It might help you figure out if any processes or applications are accessing the drive that shouldn't be.