Trapped in an endless process!

[taichi]

I'm in a bind. I was checking my backup drive that is in an external USB enclosure, and given that it is a bootable drive, opening to view files is more complex because things are displayed differently. I initiated a search within this drive for a particular file, and the search keeps running. I tried to "safely remove device" (the E Drive) and get the following message:

"Windows can't stop your 'Generic volume' device because it is in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again later."

I tried going to task manager and shutting down the search (since the search is running from the Host drive), but can't find anything that looks appropriate. I'm worried about simply shutting the T60P down, and removing the USB drive, as I don't know what will happen, or if this might compromise data on Drive E.

Any suggestion about how to shut this down would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Totoro-kun]

Hello,
You can just normally shut down your computer (by start --> shut down). All the running processes should be terminated this way and the drive would spind down. Then you can disconnect it or boot again to check your files, which will be allright (serch simply reads files, there are no write operations done)

Hopefully this helps

[taichi]

Apparently many people have had this problem in Vista and XP, even without having initiated a search. If simply turning off the computer would allow removal, why do so many recommend Safe USB Removal, or programs like it?

I'm trying to avoid corruption of data.

[RealBlackStuff]

Not everybody wants/can shut down the PC/laptop, due to e.g. important other programs that need to keep running.
The safely remove USP device is there for such occasions.
If there is no activity on the remote device, just unplugging it does no harm.

[taichi]

[quote="RealBlackStuff"]Not everybody wants/can shut down the PC/laptop, due to e.g. important other programs that need to keep running.
The safely remove USP device is there for such occasions.
If there is no activity on the remote device, just unplugging it does no harm.[/quote]

So removing it after shut down will be entirely safe? Will the USB powered enclosure spin down safely if I shut down?

Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

If the laptop/PC is off, you can always remove any external devices (USB-stuff, mouse, keyboard etc.)
There is no more activity from Windows/Linux on the hard disk, so you can pull the powerplug of the HD no problem.
Not all enclosures spin down when no longer connected, but you can pull the plug then anyway.

[taichi]

[quote="RealBlackStuff"]If the laptop/PC is off, you can always remove any external devices (USB-stuff, mouse, keyboard etc.)
There is no more activity from Windows/Linux on the hard disk, so you can pull the powerplug of the HD no problem.
Not all enclosures spin down when no longer connected, but you can pull the plug then anyway.[/quote]

Dear RealBlackStuff:

Thank you for your, as always, accurate and clear technical information. And thanks to everyone for your help.

Wouldn't the USB drive spin down if it's connected to a computer which is properly shutting down?, Wouldn't Windows be shutting things down properly? Is there any harm in a sudden shut off of a USB powered drive?

Somewhere I read that there was a fix for this in Vista Service Pack 2, and that there were other adjustments one could make in control panel, or elsewhere to ensure that this does not happen. Apparently it happens a lot with hard drives.

Which brings me to my final question in this drama. Is there any way to ensure that this Service Pack 2 upgrade goes without a hitch? I'm running Norton 360 4.0, with only good results, but some people think that AV software should be disabled during such an upgrade. I'm so security conscious that I dislike ever having the system unprotected, and knock on wood I've only had two or three virus or malware problems since working with computers.

Obviously I'm going to make a restore point, and I have a bootable backup with most of my files and applications, with the most recent documents being on a couple of CDs. Still, I've always put off installing Service Pack 2 because of reading experiences of many who've either regretted it because it knocked out their sound, or because it wouldn't install properly.

If Microsoft wasn't dropping support for Service Pack 1 on July 12, I wouldn't be upgrading, particularly as I'm in the middle of some work.

Thanks again.

taichi

[RealBlackStuff]

USB devices operate independent of the OS (Windows, Linux etc.). The OS can check on a USB device and tell it to do something, but the device does not check what the OS does (such as closing down).

If you are paranoid about malware accessing your laptop while you are upgrading or applying service packs, just disconnect from the internet, problem solved.

[taichi]

[quote="RealBlackStuff"]USB devices operate independent of the OS (Windows, Linux etc.). The OS can check on a USB device and tell it to do something, but the device does not check what the OS does (such as closing down).

If you are paranoid about malware accessing your laptop while you are upgrading or applying service packs, just disconnect from the internet, problem solved.[/quote]

Don't some service packs and updates from Microsoft require that you are connected to the Internet?

More broadly, did you ever update Vista to Service Pack 2?
Do you think disabling AV is a good idea, or do you have any other suggestions that might promote a trouble-free upgrade? Doing a search online, I found that there were a good number of people that have problems with this upgrade... everything from, as I mentioned before, losing their sound (probably the need for an updated driver), to hang ups in the installation.

I wouldn't say that I'm paranoid, but I believe that keeping my antivirus on, and being proactive, is not a mistake.

Thanks again

[RealBlackStuff]

If you do a manual "Windows Update":
end all running programs, click on "Windows Update", IE will do the work, and most likely you will need to reboot when finished.
During that time you obviously have to be connected to the internet.
If you do win-upd via "download and let me install when i want", you don't need to be connected when you do the updates.
If Windows is set to "auto-update", obviously you need to be connected.
And when you check email, or are browsing, ditto.
But if you are not browsing or checking for email, you can disconnect from the internet, and do whatever you like.
You could even switch off your antivirus, it will check for updates when you restart it. No need to keep the internet connection open!
As to Vista, never wanted it, never had it, never touched it.
Applying a Service Pack does not require to be connected to internet, on the contrary, you need to switch everything off, before you start.
I believe Windows will take a System Restore point, before starting the SP install.
To be sure, make a full backup of your Windows partition, resp. take an image with e.g. Acronis before you apply the SP.
If anything goes wrong afterwards, you can revert back to the 'before' state.