External disk not ejected properly error on external drives that weren't disconnected?

[dictoresno]

never had this issue on my iMac or previous Mac mini but now occurring on my new Mac mini M2. after going to sleep for awhile, my Mac mini wakes with numerous pop ups after having been disconnected from my two external drives in a docking bay connected via USB and also my two network drives connected to my home server Mac mini.

this was never an issue on my past two Macs and I can't figure out why. the two externals sync to my computer via Sync Folders Pro+ and the server network connected drives back up my Time Machine backups. any idea why these keep disconnecting randomly from my new Mac mini? made hard disk sleep is turned off and wake for network access is turned on.

 

[Fishrrman]

The drives are getting "disconnected" because the USB bus is "going to sleep" along with the Mini.

I have a suggestion:
DON'T put the Mini "to sleep" -- AT ALL.
Instead, just let it sit there, "awake but idling", and put the display to sleep, instead.

REASON WHY I'm suggesting this:
The new Minis are energy-efficient enough so that there's almost no difference in power consumption between "sleeping" and "awake, but idling".
However... if the Mini doesn't go to sleep, then chances are the drives won't be ejected "during the process of sleeping", either.

Again, just set up a screen saver for the display. I use a "hot corner" (upper right) -- I just push the pointer into the corner and the display goes dark (or runs a screensaver if you wish).

Another method I also use -- if I'm going to be away a while, I just reach forward and TURN OFF the display altogether.
Works for me.