Message: external disk was not ejected properly. Is this happening when my computer goes to sleep?

I am not sure why I keep getting this message since I am usually good at remembering to eject the disk before turning it off. A thought occured to me that my computer is set to go to sleep every 3 hours which might be causing it to eject improperly. I have just come from a computer that 2 internal drives so I didn't have to deal with an external TM backup that was running all the time. Do I have to turn sleep mode off to avoid this problem?

Oh yeah I forgot to say I use an ETHERNET connection.

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Popping error message "The disk was not ejected properly"

Although I am rejecting my external hard disks, still when I unplug them the error message "The disk was not ejected properly" pops up.
Worth to note that disks are not in sleep.
My McPro is running OS X Lion.

I've been following this issue for a long time on one of the other Apple forum discussions. A suggestion was made to install an app called Jettison (by St. Clair Software). Since doing this two days ago, I have not seen the infamous "improper ejection" error message. Jettison seems to do, automatically without any effort on my part, exactly what the developer says: "Jettison eliminates the hassle of manually ejecting external drives before you put your MacBook to sleep and remounting them when it wakes."
By automatically unmounting my two external USB drives when the computer goes to sleep, Jettison is eliminating the opportunity for Apple's faulty USB power management system to improperly eject my external drives. As soon as my computer wakes up, Jettison quickly remounts the external drives. And, most importantly, Jettison has NOT caused any conflict with my Time Machine backups or my SuperDuper clone backups (three of which are scheduled to run automatically at 1:00am every night.
See: <http://stclairsoft.com/Jettison/index.html>

Why do I keep getting the message "The disk was not ejected properly." (There is no disk in the iMac)!

For about the last two to three months, every time I wake up my iMac from sleeping, I always get the message "The disk was not ejected properly."
There is no disk in my iMac!
This is no big problem to me, as all I do is hit the "enter" key, and it disappears until the next time I wake it from a sleep.
But, WHY is this happening?

Hi WZZZ. I don't know what to look for when I opened per your instructions, but here's the images:
Two more snaps to come:

Message "The disk was not ejected properly..." keeps reappearing

Problem: I ejected an external HD (by control-mouse click), turned it off, and disconnected it from the firewire cable. Some minutes later, I got the dialogue box: "The disk was not ejected properly. If possible, always eject a disk before unplugging it or turning it off." I clicked OK, continued to work and, a few minutes later, I got the dialogue back again. This continued to happen several times, so I did a restart and the same warning reappeared at various intervals. I did another restart and have had the same warning appear several times.
Questions: How do I make the warning stop and, more importantly, what is wrong that makes this happen?
I have googled the dialogue and only seen discussions about time machine.
TIA

+but I'm still concerned about the iMac and why it is repeating the warning.+
I understand that and we need to do some troubleshooting to see if it will take care of things. Obviously, something got corrupted. Instead of running repair permissions from within DU, you could also run a utility such as Onyx (which includes that) available here:
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/systemdiskutilities/onyx.html
Another suggestion is to start up from your install disk and run the "repair disk" from Disk Utility on that install disk.
If you want to check if the external is being recognized and still had the data on it, go ahead, but eject and unplug it before doing any of the above.
Hopefully either or both suggestions will help.

An external disk was not ejected properly and now i cannot see it

I have a simpledrive external disk that I use for Time Machine. It is connected via USB. I believe my daughter unplugged the drive without properly ejecting it and now I can't see it. When I plug it in to the USB port it powers up, but I cannot find it, even in the disk utility. The Mac is not seeing it when it tries to run Time Machine. I tried connecting it to my old PC as well just to see, but it is doing the same thing there. Any ideas for how to get this cleared up? Thanks!

Problem solved...I decided to unplug the power from the external disk, and afterwards it showed up again. Don't ask me why, but it worked.

Hi i am getting an error message "The disk was not ejected properly. If possible, always eject a disk before unplugging it or turning it off."

Hi I recieve this error message whenever i wake up the imac. I am using a lacie 2 terrabyte external drive half for time machine the other half for itunes library and such. the drive is always connected and on not sure what is going on and how to fix?

if you put your mac to sleep and then turn off external discs then you get that error it's by design
if you shutdown the mac and then turn off the ext disc then you don't
if you eject the ext disc and then put the mac to sleep you don't get the error you eject it by clicking on the ext hd's eject option in finder

Error message: The disk was not ejected properly.

A client has this message popping up periodically, even though no mounted disks have been unplugged or switched off. All mounted disks continue to be visible and functioning. It goes away when he clicks OK, but it keeps coming back, for no apparent reason. Sometimes it happens every half hour or so, sometimes not for days at a time. Can't figure out what's causing it.
He's using a Mac Pro 5,1, with three Western Digital external drives attached. Running the most current version of Mountain Lion.
Any suggestions?

iMac - late 2012 - i7/24 GB
OS X 10.9.2
Thermaltake USB 3.0 BlacX 5 G docks (2 with 2 HD's each).
Both powered by their own power supplies. Both connected directly to the iMac USB ports.
One of the docks won't last 5 minutes without dismounting. The other one will go a few hours.
By the above I mean during large read/write operations. Massive copies and/or a program I wrote to blast long random data files at the drives.
Apple: there is _something_ not right in your USB 3.0 s/w.
To put a point on it: no issues with Windows 7 or 8.
Yep. That's gotta hurt.

The disk was not ejected properly. ... External HD was removedWhat disk?

I recently experimented with the backup software that came with my Western Digital external hard-drive, as an alternative to Time Machine. Unsatisfied with the WD program, I deleted it once I switched to another, larger hard-drive, from Seagate, and have switched back to Time Machine. Ever since I removed the WD drive and deleted the WD software (by highlighting the file name in Finder and pressing delete), every 15 minutes or so I get the following message: "The disk was not ejected properly. If possible, always eject a disk before unplugging it or turning it off." Did I properly delete the software? Is the error message related to the software and WD hardware, which perhaps the Mac continues to look for though it's been disconnected? The software was programmed to launch a backup a few times every hour, I think.

If you can see the drive in Disk Utility (Applications -> Utilities), then I'd suggest reformatting/repartitioning it. I just got a new LaCie external HD and it had some sort of software on it - I simply ignored it and set it up by clicking on partition. If you are only going to use it with a Mac, use "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" as the format and (under options) "GUID Partition Map". You can choose 1 or more partitions. It will then erase the drive properly and you should be good to go. If you need to use the drive with both Mac OS and Windows, I can't help with the format because I don't do Windows, but if you click on the "?" in Disk Utility, there should be plenty of help there.

The disk was not ejected properly message

Ever since I started using Mountain Lion, I have been getting a pop-up message "The disk was not ejected properly". I get this frequently, click the OK button on and continue. I do not know what disk it is referring to (I have several USB-connected storage devices) and all seem to be working and accessible. This occurs randomly while I am using the computer and I have not hit any "eject" button or touched any part of my iMac other than the keyboard and touchpad.
This is annoying and I do not know which disk it is referring to, nor how to correct the problem.

I'm having the same issue described here. I'm using a MacBook Air (11-inch, Mid 2011 edition) with a Western Digital My Passport 1 TB drive. I first experienced it with a USB3 capable model. After seeing this error occur, I was able to get the drive replaced by Western Digital, thinking it was a fault with the drive. Well, the replacement arrived today and I plugged it in and started a new Time Capsule backup to it and within a few minutes got the same message.
So I'm starting to think this is an OS issue.
The first seemingly relevant records from the Console start with:
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: device/channel is not attached.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: [0xffffff800fd88a00](1)/(5) Device not responding
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: jnl: disk2s10: do_jnl_io: strategy err 0x6
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: jnl: disk2s10: write_journal_header: error writing the journal header!
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.000 PM kernel[0]: disk2s10: media is not present.
10/18/12 7:51:40.674 PM com.apple.backupd[8211]: Backup failed because the destination disk was ejected or disconnected unexpectedly!
10/18/12 7:51:40.674 PM com.apple.backupd[8211]: Stopping backup.

Has any one come up with a solution to the "the disk was not ejected properly" when using time machine with an iMac and seagate back up drive?

I recently bought an iMac and love it.
Only proplem I have is I keep getting an error message "the disk was not ejected properly"
Everything is backing up fine on my Seagate 2TB external USB drive.
Each time there is access on the seagate and it stops in between needing to back up again I get this message.
Can anyone help?

The drive is malfunctioning.
If the drive has more than one interface (USB, FireWire, Thunderbolt, eSATA), try one of the other interfaces.
Check that the data cable is securely inserted at both ends.
Try a different cable.
If you're connecting the drive through a hub, connect it directly to a built-in port on the Mac.
If you're connecting it directly, try a different port.
Disconnect all other devices on the bus, or as many as possible.
If the drive is bus-powered, but has an AC adapter, connect the adapter.
If the drive doesn't work under any of the above conditions, it has to be replaced. You may be able to salvage the mechanism by removing it from the enclosure and installing it in another one, or in a drive dock.

USB connection for Android phone "disk was not ejected Properly"

My Macbook Pro OS 10.6 has begun to display "disk was not ejected properly" when I connect my Motorola Photon android phone with USB cable to sync (drop and drag). Now I might be able to connect. Or lately I have the phone icon flash on the laptop screen like it is connecting only to get the error message "the disk was not ejected properly". Sometimes I am in the middle of drop and drag and it happens. Can anyone help?

I would make sure to keep the phone from sleeping and keep it awake for one.
It may be that the iTunes services get in the way too.
I use Samsung Note (tablet and phone) but Windows 8 (better support than 7) on Mac Pro. Which is what this forum is, not notebook but that doesn't seem to matter (half a dozen or more a day think it is)
MacBook Pro
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro
https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os?view=discussions
http://www.apple.com/support/macbookpro
Also mine work better on USB3, though you may not have that if you are running 10.6, in fact you may not have the latest iTunes either (10.7.1 I think currently) which may also want to look at - may require Lioin 10.7.5.
http://www.apple.com/support/itunes

Ever since upgrading to Lion I keep getting the error message "disk was not ejected properly."

Ever since upgrading to Lion on my iMac G5 Intel Core 2 Duo, I keep getting the error message "disk was not ejected properly." I have repaired permissions and reformatted my external LaCie 2TB USB hard disk, but the error continues. I use this disk for my Time Machine backups. This always seems to happen when the computer wakes from sleep, but not consistently. The computer was asleep overnight and backed up as soon as it awakend this morning. Two hours later I get the improper ejection message. I have used the same external disk with Snow Leopard (all versions), but never had this error message or problem. This disk has been in use without any problems since February, 2011. Upgrading to Lion is when this problem began. This is the below message (but from online image from Snow Leopard, but Lion message is essentially the same).

I had a similar issue. Mine was with a Seagate GoFlex drive. The solution was to install GoFlex for Mac 1.1.2 which included a 64-bit driver to disable the drives built in sleep timer:
http://www.seagate.com/ww/v/index.jsp?locale=en-US&name=goflex-mac-install-softw are&vgnextoid=77002aaf8cc5d210VgnVCM1000001a48090aRCRD
I document how I discovered this in my blog post:
http://www.innerexception.com/2011/10/tale-of-computing-misery-how-to-fix.html

Since installing OS 10.8 keep getting "This disk was not ejected properly" messages. Why?

Since I installed Mountain Lion (OS 10.8) on my Mac Book Pro (early 2011), I keep getting "This disk was not ejected properly" messages. No yet sure what I do preceeding this occurence. Anyone else have this problem?

I am one of those who had experienced this kind of problem. My former Time Machine disk used to automatically eject itself when my iMac sleeps, hence upon waking up my iMac. i always get the error message that the disk was not properly ejected.
From what I was able to gather from my experience, until the time that I found a workable solution, I think I can say that the problem is most probably caused by the incompatibility of certain external drives with how the iMac operates when on sleep and upon waking up. Some external drives are just not able to cope with how the iMac tries to remount a connected disk after it wakes up from sleep. There are just some external drives that cannot continue to be mounted after the iMac wakes from sleep. There are just some external drives that are not responsive enough. In other words, the existence of the problem lies with the type of external drive you are using.
My former Time Machine disk, the problematic one, was an Imation M300 Apollo 1 TB external disk. It unmounts everytime my iMac went to sleep, but does not remount after waking up the iMac. The disk will continue to be unmounted until I physically remove its USB connector and replug it in the iMac.
I replaced my former Time Machine disk with my current one, a Transcend Storejet 1 TB. And the problem went away. The Transcend disk continue to be mounted after the iMac is woken up even from the longest of sleep. I have even the energy saving option "put the hard disk to sleep..." checked. The Transcend disk comes with a Y cable, i.e. it has two USB connectors, but I only connect the one for both data and power--and it still remains mounted even after waking the iMac from sleep.
The sad realization, however, is that since there are only some external drives that are not able to work with the iMac, no matter how many those some may seem to be, it will be highly unlikely for Apple to itself fix this kind of a problem.
I, therefore, make the following recommendations:
1. Check first if your problematic disk has a firmware upgrade available. In some cases, the firmware upgrade may be enough to make the disk more responsive to the iMac waking up.
2. If there is no firmware upgrade available, check if your power/data USB cable is properly working.
3. If your power/data USB cable is in order, and the problem still persists, I think it is inevitable that you have to replace the problematic disk with a newer one that could respond well with the iMac's wake/sleep operation. With what disk will you replace your problematic one? I can only recommend from my personal experience the Transcend disk I mentioned earlier. You may also search this forum on other brands of disks that may also work.
Regards.

How do I stop " disk was not ejected properly" message from showing

My phone's jack isn't that great, and always seems to unplug and plug itself back in causing the " disk was not ejected properly" message to constantly show up. During movies this can become quite annoying, making it exit full screen mode.
Is there any way to prevent this message from coming up so that I do not have to constantly deal with it?
Thanks guys!

I got a new iMac in January 2011. I properly ejected my external hard drive and got the same message. I plugged it back in and ejected it again. Nothing works. I keep getting the same error message every few minutes and it's driving me nuts. I have no loose connections. Everything else works. Does anyone have a solution for getting this to stop?

I unplugged a USB data device without ejecting it properly via 'Finder'. Now whenever I plug in the device I received an error message stating that the 'disk was not ejected properly

Now when I plug in the device I receive an error message stating that the disk was not ejected properly & that next time I connect the 'disk', MAC OS X will attempt to repair any damage to the information on the disk.
It has not repaired.
The data I am trying to import is photos & even when I change to a different SD card I receive the same message.
I am a recent convert from Windows and am new to the MAC way of things.

You can repair the SD card using Disk Utility.
I suggest you copy the photos from your SD card, if you haven't done so already, before using Disk Utility to repair your SD card.

Message: external disk was not ejected properly. Is this happening when my computer goes to sleep?

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