From Leo's mailbag:
> From: A Computer User
> Sent: March 9, 2006
> To: Ask Leo!
> Subject: unable to dismount flash drive
>
> Leo,
> --------------
> I transfer .jpg files weekly from work to home using a flash
> drive. At work I use WIN 2000 and at home Mac OS-X Tiger.
> For some time now, the safe dismount procedure under WIN 2000
> stops me with the error "cannot remove device now - try again
> later," however the error never goes away by waiting. All
> I've done is copy jpg files. No programs are using those
> files ( I close the two instances of WinExplorer used in the
> drag/copy procedure). There is virtually nothing online I
> can find to anwer what makes this occur or how to fix it.
> After several flash drive disconnects without being able to
> safely dismount, my first flash drive fails to mount at all
> anymore. A second flash drive is showing the same symptoms.
> I have re-formated the flash drive to wipe away accumulated
> non-safe disconnect problems, but it's only a VERY temporary
> solution. Any ideas?
My suspicion would be perhaps an anti-spyware or anti-virus program
scanning the flash drive, but I could be mistaken.
I would start by grabbing a copy of Process Explorer (http://ask-leo.com/d-procexp
will redirect you there), and using it to see if there's any running program that's
still accessing the disk. Use "Find Handle" and search for the drive's drive letter,
like 'E:' or whatever it was assigned. If a program has a file open on the device
it should show. http://ask-leo.com/how_can_i_find_out_who_is_using_a_file_in_use.html
has more on the technique.
Good luck!
Thanks for asking,
Leo