Difficulty "Ejecting" USB Memory Stick

I'm using a HP laptop and have several memory "sticks" - 128 up to 512 MB and one large one of 40 GB. I frequenty (not always, but very often) cannot disconnect the USB memory without getting the message "USB memory is busy and cannot be disconnected ... try later ". In these cases, it never does say later that it's OK to disconnect and the only way I can "safely" disconnect is turn off the computer!

As I understand it, this is because some program is accessing the USB memory. I saw a comment on this board that it could be the Norton antivirus in the Recycle Bin. I set this so it doesn't monitor drive E. I'm still getting the messages about "unsafe to disconnect .. try later ". All three of the memories (128, 512, 40GB) seem to have this problem at some time or the other.

(1) Any suggestions as to what I can do to sort this out?
(2) Am I doing any damage by disconnecting the stick even though the computer says I cannot do so ??

Comments welcome.

 

Hi fantasm.
"Comments welcome''...alright.

Knowing Norton Antivirus, it wants to "keep check" on every file in the system. Try disabling the antivirus (should be right-click on the icon in the system tray), when attempting to disconnect.

Matt