Supposedly, the external is in use and cannot be ejected, but i don't think it's in use. I've only recently been encountering this problem, and i have no idea why. I've tried quitting every application, but it still claims to be in use. Any ideas?
Okay, old thread, but it's what came up when I started having this problem.
Thanks, sickmacdoc, that program let me know that my drive was still being indexed by Spotlight.
My question is, why the heck can't Apple change the message from "the drive can't be ejected because it is in use" to "Spotlight is still indexing your drive. If you really need to eject it, click ok to stop indexing. Otherwise just wait a few minutes."?
Try Finder. Control-option-click on the Finder icon and select Relaunch. It could be that Spotlight is indexing the drive, too.
[doublepost=1499006820][/doublepost]I'm afraid the answer to all questions beginning with "why the heck can't Apple..." have the same answer: Give up. It's an eternal mystery.Okay, old thread, but it's what came up when I started having this problem.
Thanks, sickmacdoc, that program let me know that my drive was still being indexed by Spotlight.
My question is, why the heck can't Apple change the message from "the drive can't be ejected because it is in use" to "Spotlight is still indexing your drive. If you really need to eject it, click ok to stop indexing. Otherwise just wait a few minutes."?
There is a cool little free utility called "What's Keeping Me?" that will tell you exactly what is hanging it up. You can download it here- and I pretty much guarantee you will slap your forehead when it shows you the cause of the delay. I know I have every time I have had to use it!
So, you would type in the name the external volume that won't eject.To Use: enter the name of the the problem disk or file into the search box and press the <return> key to begin the search. ...
Yeah I got all that, but when I choose something to quit, it asks me where and won't let me choose my harddrive, so I can't get it to work?
The What's... app tells you on the opening screen:
So, you would type in the name the external volume that won't eject.
Or - you can just drag the disk on the app window, which will do that same thing, but much quicker.
Or, just select the name of that disk in the enhanced features drawer.
I can almost say "easy-peasy", but I won't do that.