Toshiba 2TB External Hard Drive Disconnecting

Hi All,


I have had this 2017 13" MacBook Air (version 10.14.3) for about a year now. About six months ago I got an external drive (Toshiba 2TB USB3.0). It was working fine for a while until a couple weeks (maybe after a software update?) ago when it started randomly ejecting with the message "Disk not ejected properly" message. This external drive works with other desktops (two running Linux and one OSX), but had the same problem with someone else's identical MacBook Air. I have tried the Disk Utilities first aid but it did not detect any problems. I have tried a SMC restart, but that didn't work either. I'm out of ideas from searching across the web! Any help anyone can offer would be appreciated!


Thanks,


Brad

MacBook Air 13", 10.14

Posted on Feb 18, 2019 1:18 PM

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2 replies

Feb 18, 2019 1:29 PM in response to bamunson

I don't know if this addresses your exact problem but it's close: macos - "Disk Not Ejected Properly" Alert after computer goes to sleep USB3 only - Super User. If this is no help then see the following.


A Troubleshooting Procedure that may Fix Problems with macOS El Capitan or Later


You should try each, one at a time, then test to see if the problem is fixed before going on to the next.


    Be sure to backup your files before proceeding if possible.


  1. Shutdown the computer, wait 30 seconds, restart the computer.
  2. Disconnect all third-party peripherals.
  3. Resetting your Mac's PRAM and NVRAM
  4. Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
  5. Reset your Startup Disk and Sound preferences.
  6. Start the computer in Safe Mode. Test in safe mode to see if the problem persists, then restart normally.
  7. Use Apple Hardware Test to see if there is any hardware malfunction.
  8. Repair the disk by booting from the Recovery HD. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Utility Menu appears. Choose Disk Utility and click on the Continue button. Select the indented (usually, Macintosh HD) volume entry from the side list.  Click on the First Aid button in the toolbar. Wait for the Done button to appear. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu. Restart the computer from the Apple Menu.
  9. Repair permissions on the Home folderResolve issues caused by changing the permissions of items in your home folder.
  10. Create a New User Account Open Users & Groups preferences. Click on the lock icon and enter your Admin password when prompted. On the left under Current User click on the Add [+] button under Login Options. Setup a new Admin user account. Upon completion log out of your current account then log into the new account. If your problems cease, then consider switching to the new account and transferring your files to it - Transferring files from one User Account to another.
  11. Download and install the OS X El Capitan 10.11.6 Combo Update or 10.12.6 Combo Update or Download macOS High Sierra 10.13.5 Combo Update or Get MacOS Mojave now from the Mac App Store as needed.
  12. Reinstall OS X by booting from the Recovery HD using the Command and R keys. When the Utility Menu appears select Reinstall OS X then click on the Continue button.
  13. Erase and Install OS X Restart the computer. Immediately after the chime hold down the Command and R keys until the Apple logo appears. When the Utility Menu appears:


     1. Select Disk Utility from the Utility Menu and click on the Continue button.

     2. When Disk Utility loads select the drive (out-dented entry) from the Device list.

     3. Click on the Erase icon in Disk Utility's toolbar. A panel will drop down.

     4. Set the Format type to APFS (for SSDs only) or Mac OS Extended (Journaled.)

     5. Click on the Apply button, then wait for the Done button to activate and click on it.

     6. Quit Disk Utility and return to the Utility Menu.

     7. Select Reinstall OS X and click on the Continue button.


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Toshiba 2TB External Hard Drive Disconnecting

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