Microsoft KB Archive/818788

Knowledge Base

"{Delayed Write Failed}" error message when you unplug a USB 2.0 storage device

Article ID: 818788

Article Last Modified on 2/20/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft Windows XP Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Edition

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SYMPTOMS

When you unplug a Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0 storage device from your computer, you may receive an error message that is similar to the following:

"{Delayed Write Failed}
Windows was unable to save all the data for the file \Device\HardDiskVolume"

CAUSE

This issue may occur if you do not stop the USB 2.0 storage device by using the Unplug or Eject Hardware feature before you unplug the device from your computer. If you do not stop the device before you unplug it from your computer, some files and folders that are cached by the file system and that are used to improve performance may be damaged.

When you stop a device before you unplug it, the cached information is flushed, and any pending input/output operations can finish correctly.

RESOLUTION

Stop the device by using the Unplug or Eject Hardware feature before you unplug it from your computer. To do so, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Use the Unplug or Eject Hardware Icon in the Notification Area

If the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon is displayed in the notification area, follow these steps:

1. In the notification area, double-click the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon.
2. In the Hardware devices list, click the USB storage device that you want to stop and unplug from your computer, and then click Stop.
3. Unplug the device from your computer.

Method 2: Use the Add/Remove Hardware Wizard

If the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon is not displayed in the notification area, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Hardware. The Add/Remove Hardware Wizard starts.
3. Click Next.
4. On the Choose a Hardware Task page, click Uninstall/Unplug a device. Choose this option to uninstall a device or prepare the computer to unplug a device., and then click Next.
5. On the Choose a Removal Task page, click Unplug/Eject a device. Choose this option to temporarily unplug or eject a device., and then click Next.
6. In the Hardware devices list, click the device that you want to unplug, and then click Next.
7. On the Confirm Device page, click Next.
8. When the Completing the Add/Remove Hardware page notifies you that you can safely remove the device, unplug the device from your computer.
   

If you want to display the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon in the notification area, click to select the Show Unplug/Eject icon on the taskbar check box, and then click Finish.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

Make sure that you use either the Add/Remove Hardware Wizard or the Unplug or Eject Hardware icon in the notification area to stop a USB 2.0 storage device before you physically unplug it from your computer. When you safely remove a device from the computer, you avoid the risk of potential data loss and the risk that the computer or the device will malfunction as a result of an unsafe removal procedure.

Keywords: kberrmsg kbprb KB818788

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