Macrium V8 does not release USB backup drive

fireberd · Jan 11, 2023

I have a paid version of Macrium Reflect 8 (with latest updates). I can post on the Macrium forum, but I'll start here first.

Prior to Version 8, and maybe early versions of 8, after creating a backup (disc image) to a USB drive I could use the Safely Remove Hardware function and remove the USB drive after finishing the backup. Now, if I use the Safely Remove function, I get a message that the device is still in use (Macrium has been closed). I have to do a reboot to remove the drive.

Its only Macrium, if I use the drive for other things there is no problem.

Anyone else notice this?

Berton · Jan 11, 2023

I see a similar issue occasionally with portable USB HDD/SSD devices NOT using Macrium Reflect but not so much with USB Thumb drives, just simple file transfers.

diskdoc · Jan 11, 2023

It may be the software's built-in "Image Guardian" software, if you have it activated. I believe it is activated by default.

fireberd · Jan 11, 2023

I have the protect feature disabled.

Bree · Jan 11, 2023

fireberd said:
Prior to Version 8, and maybe early versions of 8, after creating a backup (disc image) to a USB drive I could use the Safely Remove Hardware function and remove the USB drive after finishing the backup. Now, if I use the Safely Remove function, I get a message that the device is still in use (Macrium has been closed). I have to do a reboot to remove the drive.

It was Patch Tuesday yesterday and I did a lot of backups with Reflect v8. I had no problem ejecting USB HDDs.

I do occasionally see a message that the device is in use and cannot be ejected, but that doesn't seem to be related to using Macrium, it can happen at any time. Often I can fix it by signing out and back in again, that usually stops any processes that may be using the USB.

fireberd · Jan 11, 2023

The only time I see it is after doing a Macrium disc image (and its every time).
Not related to one USB device, I have a WD My Book hard drive and an NVME SSD in an external USB enclosure. Both do it.

Winuser · Jan 11, 2023

fireberd said:
I have a paid version of Macrium Reflect 8 (with latest updates). I can post on the Macrium forum, but I'll start here first.

Prior to Version 8, and maybe early versions of 8, after creating a backup (disc image) to a USB drive I could use the Safely Remove Hardware function and remove the USB drive after finishing the backup. Now, if I use the Safely Remove function, I get a message that the device is still in use (Macrium has been closed). I have to do a reboot to remove the drive.

Its only Macrium, if I use the drive for other things there is no problem.

Anyone else notice this?

This not an answer to your question, it's one solution to the drive is still in use message. I use Pro Eject. https://www.softpedia.com/get/System/Hard-Disk-Utils/ProEject.shtml

Fabler2 · Jan 11, 2023

fireberd said:
The only time I see it is after doing a Macrium disc image (and its every time).
Not related to one USB device, I have a WD My Book hard drive and an NVME SSD in an external USB enclosure. Both do it.

Do you have Intel Driver and Support installed? Same thing annoyingly happens to me. I have to stop the process PID 6564 in task manager then it releases the drive after a few seconds.

fireberd · Jan 11, 2023

Fabler2 said:
Do you have Intel Driver and Support installed? Same thing annoyingly happens to me. I have to stop the process PID 6564 in task manager then it releases the drive after a few seconds.

View attachment 49697

I don't have the Intel Driver and Support installed. I use that occasionally to check for Intel updates but as soon as I'm done I uninstall it with Revo Uninstaller Pro.

fireberd · Jan 11, 2023

I'll keep Pro Eject in mind but its only a Macrium and not a daily problem.

fireberd · Jan 13, 2023

Update. I have a dual boot system, Win 11 Pro and the Windows Insider. I got an update yesterday for the Insider so I decided to do a Macrium disc image, using the free V8 installed on the Insider version. Surprise, Macrium released the drive and I was able to do a Safely remove hardware for the drive.

Brings it back to either something in the paid V8 version or something in the OS. As it only does it in the paid version 8 I have to believe its in that.

Bree · Jan 13, 2023

fireberd said:
Brings it back to either something in the paid V8 version or something in the OS. As it only does it in the paid version 8 I have to believe its in that.

Did your paid for Reflect v8 get the update to v8.1.7280 before it was pulled? If so then not being able to eject a usb HDD is a known issue, and one of the reasons it was pulled.

See: PC does not boot anymore after 8.1 upgrade - (Page 3)

fireberd · Jan 13, 2023

My paid version is build 7175.
The free version got the Jan 10th update (the bad one?) before running the disc image and as noted I was able to eject the hard drive.

My eject problem has been around for a long time, so having the "bad" update would not be the issue.

Bree · Jan 13, 2023

fireberd said:
The free version got the Jan 10th update (the bad one?) before running the disc image....

No, there are no known issues with the update for Reflect Free. Now that Free has been retired it is on it's own separate update path and version numbers. It will only get security patches from now on and will not get the update to v8.1. Macrium have said that security patches will still be provided until 1st January 2024.