Quick questions on External Drive

[Jonathan]

Just wondering, can I just turn the drive off when I'm done using it. When I try to stop it un the tray icon, it says "drive cannot be stopped right now, try again later".

I guess, since I'm not unhooking it shouldn't I just be able to turn it on and off as needed?

It's so great for video, storage etc, I wish I'd done this ages ago. Thanks for the help!!

[stiltman]

if you're getting that message, some app is accessing the drive

I shut off both my external HDD and DVD when I don't use them.

[makntraks]

Just wondering, can I just turn the drive off when I'm done using it. When I try to stop it un the tray icon, it says "drive cannot be stopped right now, try again later".

I guess, since I'm not unhooking it shouldn't I just be able to turn it on and off as needed?

It's so great for video, storage etc, I wish I'd done this ages ago. Thanks for the help!!

I experience the same thing every once in a while. I'm running W2K and the ext. drive is NTFS.. I think W2K is doing some kind of indexing or update of the files and is processing the disk.

I've just gone ahead and turned it off or pulled the USB cable and try not to worry about it...

YMMV,
makntraks

[stiltman]

I don't get that and I run NTFS and Win2K

[thecoalman]

I experience the same thing every once in a while. I'm running W2K and the ext. drive is NTFS.. I think W2K is doing some kind of indexing or update of the files and is processing the disk.

If it's indexing it you can turn that off (which I've done on all my discs) by right clicking the drive and select properties then uncheck index this drive.

[redwudz]

My external drive (Firewire on a laptop, XP PRO, NTFS) always says 'it cannot be stopped'. I stop it all the time with no problems, unplug and disconnect it.

It says 'wait' and I could wait for a month or two and it would still be the same. If no disk activity has happened in the last few minutes; Unplug the sucker! It's just a hang up with the OS. I have yet to find a solution.