Can't eject external drive

Question

Level 2

352 points

Can't eject external drive

Setting up a brand new iMac today ... plugged in an external drive to do Carbon Copy Clone, and have been unable to eject the disk. I keep getting a message saying "The disk wasn't ejected because one or more programs may be using it."

But none is. Carbon Copy is closed, and nothing else is using it.

I added the disk to the Spotlight:Privacy page, so it's not being indexed. But it's hours later, and the disk still won't eject. I know I can Force Eject it, but I'd rather not. Any ideas?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11), null

Posted on Nov 27, 2015 10:01 PM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 9

77,182 points

Nov 27, 2015 10:16 PM in response to Roger Barre

I would also check the Time Machine Preference, to make sure that it is not trying to use your drive.

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Answer 2

Roger Barre Author

Level 2

352 points

Nov 27, 2015 10:35 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks for the idea - it's not being accessed by Time Machine.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 9

77,182 points

Nov 27, 2015 10:39 PM in response to Roger Barre

Go to the Apple and select Force Quit and check to see what other programs are open.

Force Eject it.

(I also had to Force Eject one of my CCC backup drives after upgrading to El Capitan, but after a time or two the problem stopped)

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Answer 4

Nov 27, 2015 11:39 PM in response to Roger Barre

Can you restart your computer with the drive plugged in and then try and eject it? We have a lot of externals and this has worked for me in the past.

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Answer 5

Mar 18, 2016 8:24 PM in response to Roger Barre

"...because one or more programs may be using it."

I get this too, and my first thought is always: "what do you mean MAY be using it? Either it is or it isn't. If the OS can't keep track of what is going on correctly, why should I trust it with other things?"

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Answer 6

yendoggy

Level 1

30 points

Apr 14, 2016 10:41 AM in response to Roger Barre

getting the same thing.. so annoying.. i'll be on with Apple support once again with this brand new computer.. nothing but problems with this computer.. randomly rebooting etc....

But to add to this thread.... having issue with backup disk... i will get an error that says it failed to back up... then I can't eject the external disk cause of the same error you are all stating...

I can force eject it.. then replug in the drive into the hub and it works fine... not really a long term solution of course!

Ugg.

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