Windows Explorer seems to stop responding after you remove a secondary hard disk drive

If you remove a secondary hard disk drive from a laptop computer in certain circumstances, the computer seems to stop responding. Specifically, if you remove a secondary hard disk drive from a disk drive bay in a laptop computer while the system is in a sleep state, Microsoft Windows Explorer seems to stop responding. The sleep state occurs when the computer is either on standby or is in hibernation. The computer may be unresponsive for as long as two minutes.

Additionally, the drive letter that represents the secondary hard disk drive is still visible in Windows Explorer.

This problem occurs because of an open handle on the removed volume when the system resumes.

Currently, there is no known resolution for this problem.

To work around this problem and to safely remove the hard disk drive, click the Safely Remove Hardware icon in the notification area. Remove the secondary hard disk drive before you put the system on standby or in hibernation.

Alternatively, turn off the computer to remove the secondary hard disk drive.

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section of this article.