17 replies to this topic

[Steve B]

Is anyone else getting the error message you get when unplugging a disk such as an external HDD without ejecting it first? Lately, I've been noticing it and I haven't done anything. I do have one external HDD for time machine and its still plugged in. This message has popped up about 3 times now for no reason.

[Miuku.]

Sounds like your USB connector/cable might be a bit worn out/flakey and has connection issues.

[Steve B]

MiukuMac, on 01 March 2012 - 15:10, said:

Sounds like your USB connector/cable might be a bit worn out/flakey and has connection issues.

I don't think its worn out because my iMac was bought in August and I only had unplugged my external HDD maybe twice.

[Intrinsica]

Maybe it's to do with a power saving setting? The drive goes to sleep but the computer thinks that it disconnected without properly ejecting?

That's a total stab in the dark, I don't believe it's the cause myself. But it's the only thing I can think of right now.

[Steve B]

Well twice now, it was one my screen (login screen) when coming to my computer after not being used for a few hours. I would use my computer, click on "login window" and my computer's screen would go off after a while and I would come back, click on the track pad and the screen would come on and I would see the login window but I would also see the message about the disk not being ejected properly.

[Steve B]

Apparently, this is a more wide-spread issue then I thought. i did some searching and people with various brands of external HDDs are reporting this problem. Some have resolved it by turning off the built-in sleep timer and it looks like some others are still having the problem such as myself. I've tried possible solutions such as shutting off the built-in sleep timer but to no avail.

[.Neo]

Could very well be that its because the device turns itself on and goes back on again with a small delay.

[.Neo]

Can't edit my post anymore, but I wanted to add: Not all external drives respect the operating system's preferences. So even though you told OS X (or Windows for that matter) to not put your hard disks to sleep, the drive's firmware could overwrite that and go idle regardless. This explains why unchecking "Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible" doesn't solve the problem for everyone.

[Wannes]

Have you tried researching this in their own support forums? You're probably not the only person having this issue and they may have offered a solution. If you do find one, come and share it here!

[Steve B]

.Neo, on 11 March 2012 - 13:38, said:

Can't edit my post anymore, but I wanted to add: Not all external drives respect the operating system's preferences. So even though you told OS X (or Windows for that matter) to not put your hard disks to sleep, the drive's firmware could overwrite that and go idle regardless. This explains why unchecking "Put the hard disk(s) to sleep when possible" doesn't solve the problem for everyone.

I actually went into the external drive's settings via WD software and told it to disable to the sleep timer along with going into the OSX energy saver preferences and unchecking that box. You did have a good point which is true about it not solving the problem for everyone. From what I've found in internet and other forum searches is that certain things have resolved it for some while other things have solved it for other people.

Wannes, on 11 March 2012 - 13:59, said:

Have you tried researching this in their own support forums? You're probably not the only person having this issue and they may have offered a solution. If you do find one, come and share it here!

That actually was going to be my next shot. I actually hadn't gone there yet only because I thought maybe OSX was at fault (I was only guessing) but, I will be going to WD support forums and seeing what I can find out.

[.Neo]

Steve B, on 11 March 2012 - 14:45, said:

I actually went into the external drive's settings via WD software and told it to disable to the sleep timer along with going into the OSX energy saver preferences and unchecking that box.

In that case I'd contact WesternDigital. I did so in the past and they were fairly (strong emphasis on fairly ) fast in getting back to me. It doesn't seem like this issue lies with OS X.

[Steve B]

.Neo, on 11 March 2012 - 18:09, said:

In that case I'd contact WesternDigital. I did so in the past and they were fairly (strong emphasis on fairly ) fast in getting back to me. It doesn't seem like this issue lies with OS X.

I completely agree with you. I think this drive or current firmware (yes, FW is up to date) is crap. Its being random now whether I can get it to mount at all. I sent in for a RMA replacement as its still under warranty. Its replacement should be here soon and the current one will be going back. That's going to be my next step. We'll see how it goes from that point on.

[.Neo]

Keep us posted! Interested to learn how this thing plays out.

[Steve B]

.Neo, on 12 March 2012 - 14:45, said:

Keep us posted! Interested to learn how this thing plays out.

If I had to take a stab at this and guess. My best guess would be that its bad firmware. Even though I told the drive's own sleep timer to never sleep, it still does it. The System Preferences regarding HDD sleep is also unchecked.

[brink668]

I had the same problem with my mouse and keyboard on an iMac as well Circa 2009ish model. Would randomly make the disconnect and connect noise. No functionality loss just would happen at times. I disabled my Bluetooth at one point and all of that stopped. I have no idea if that was what caused all of that to stop. I would say firmware or driver problem. Check for updates.