Time Machine unmounting itself repeatedly.

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Level 1

16 points

Time Machine unmounting itself repeatedly.

Hi all -- I have been using Time Machine with a Seagate external drive for the backups. Over the past year, however, I keep getting the message that I have not ejected the disc properly, and the icon disappears from the desktop. I've tried four different brand new external hard drives, different cables, different ports, nothing stops the issue from happening. I saw that someone else had this problem on here, but it wouldn't let me post on that thread. Has anyone heard of this, or come up with a solution? I'm using Big Sur on a MacBook Pro with plenty of storage left. (Strangely, About This Mac isn't showing the OS version in use. Weird!)

Thanks so much for your help!

Posted on May 25, 2021 1:40 PM

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Answer 1

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Old Toad

Level 10

208,003 points

May 25, 2021 2:21 PM in response to kwetal

Did the Seagate drive come with any software on it?

If so did you install the software?

If you did, uninstall it completely. Do the following:

#1 - boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following;

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

#2 - download and run the shareware app Find Any File to search for any files with the application's or the developer's name in the file name. For CleanMyMac software you'd do the following search(es):

1 - Name contains total

Any files that are found can be dragged from the search results window to the Desktop or Trash bin in the Dock for deletion.

FAF can search areas that Spotlight can't like invisible folders, system folders and packages.

#3 - reboot normally.

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

208,003 points

Jun 28, 2021 8:41 AM in response to kwetal

Download and run Etrecheck. Etrecheck is a diagnostic tool that was developed by one of the most respected users here in the ASC and recommended by Apple Support to provide a snapshot of the system and help identify the more obvious culprits that can adversely affect a Mac's performance.

IMPORTANT:

Before running Etrecheck assign Full Disk Access to Etrecheck in the Etrecheck's Privacy preference pane so that it can get additional information from the Console and log files for the report:

Also click and read the About info to further permit full disk access.

Copy the report

and use the Additional Text button to include the report in your reply.

Then we can examine the report and see if we can determine what might be causing the problem.

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Answer 3

kwetal Author

Level 1

16 points

Jun 23, 2021 5:49 PM in response to Old Toad

I've finally been able to try your instructions -- there were 257 hidden bits of Seagate software even after I had "uninstalled" it! I haven't gotten the disconnect error yet today, so feeling optimistic and grateful! Thank you so much!

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