Safely Remove Hardware not working properly in Windows 10

[mikeynavy1976]

I have set my external hard drives to performance mode, and recognize the warning that I won't be able to simply unplug them. Basically, I have to use the little green safely remove hardware icon. Nothing new. In Windows 10 however, when an external drive is attached, and I go to eject it using the safely remove hardware, they are always grayed out and I'm unable to do so. Is there another setting I need to do, or is Windows 10 saying that even with the performance boxes checked, I can still remove drives without "safely removing them."

 

[jimmysmitty]

Have you tried opening file explorer and right clicking on the drive and selecting "Eject"?

 

[mikeynavy1976]

Yep. While the desktop icon doesn't seem to work for most, I get the eject option only for thumb drives it appears. Portable external hard drives do not have the "eject" option.

 

[jimmysmitty]

Try this:

"Check Control Panel - Device Manager - Disks - double click on the USB drive - Under Policies tab -
check Optimize for Quick Removal - Apply / OK as needed and reboot."

 

[mikeynavy1976]

It looks like that is my only option, which I've done. At least device manager sees it as removable and gives me that option. I would prefer to use "performance" options but not at the expense of lost data or damaging external drives.

 

[mimkrohn]

In the control panel I do not have device manager. Any other ideas for safely removing hardware in windows 10?