Elements 5TB don't stop

External Drives WD Elements Desktop
1

I’ve had a WD Elements 5 TB 3.0 WDBU6Y0050BBK-EA for a few days.
What worries me is that Windows 10 recognizes it and it works normally, but when I try to eject it, doesn’t stop. It’s formatted in NTFS with no partitions.
Connected to a 2.0 port it works perfectly
Can anyone help me?
Thanks.

2

Do you get an error message? Does the drive not physically stop spinning?

  1. If it's a message from Windows that reports :
'This device is currently in use. Close any programs or windows that might be using the device, and then try again.'?

Then you can use ‘LockHunter’ to check what process is using the drive.

Once installed, it Integrates in to the Explorer menu, I.E. right click menu.
Proceed to Windows Explorer. Then right click the drive ex. (D:) and see what processes are using the drive.
It is normal for ‘Explorer’ to show as using the drive and should not effect ejecting the drive once windows is done writing to the drive.
Once you identify what process is using the drive, you can either close the associated program, or use LockHunter to unlock the file/drive

LockHunter.exe passes online virustotal.com, but it is always wise to recheck with your own virus/malware scanner to be safe.

  1. If windows reports the drive is safe to be removed, but the drive continues to spin:
You can simply unplug the usb cable and/or the power cable to the drive.

FYI. If it is formatted with NTFS then there is at least 1 partition. NTFS is a files system that resides in a partition.

To look at partitions, right click on ‘My Computer’, click ‘Manage’. A new window will popup. On the left, choose “Disk Manager”. Locate your drive and it will show the partitions on the drive and the associated drive letter for each.

3

Fixes to Try:

  1. Make sure no files, folders, or apps are using the drive.

  2. Use Process Explorer - It shows what’s locking the drive:

3. Turn Off Fast Startup

  • Go to Control Panel > Power Options

  • Click “Choose what the power buttons do”

  • Turn off Fast Startup

  • Restart

4. Change Drive Policy

  • Open Device Manager

  • Right-click the drive > Properties > Policies

  • Switch between “Quick removal” and “Better performance”

5. Update USB 3.0 Drivers

  • In Device Manager, update USB 3.0 controller

  • Or get the latest from your PC/motherboard maker