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General discussion

External HD

Oct 13, 2006 7:19AM PDT

I have got myself a 140 gigs external Seagate HD that powers up thru the USB. This had crashed soon after I had got it, with me losing all the back-up.

After reformatting, I have done my back up again: but the problem is that this HD cannot be "ejected" by me as it keeps warning that there is some item running on it when there is actually nothing on.

The only way I can successfully "eject" it is by switching off my 14" OS 10.4.8!

Help!!

Discussion is locked

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I realize it is easier to use
Oct 13, 2006 8:57AM PDT

the USB-powered connection, but that *could* be what is causing the issue. If you can power the drive externally, do that. When the drive mounts and you see it in the Finder, just drag it to the trash to dismount/eject it.

Have you contacted Seagate?

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Ejecting HD
Oct 13, 2006 9:04AM PDT

You've got a file on your HD that you copied from your computer, and the file still thinks it's active. Restart your computer. Then to to the Apple icon in the upper-left and you will see the external HD in the list with a triangle next to it. Click on the triangle and it should eject.

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All of the above and
Oct 13, 2006 10:26AM PDT

if the device has a Firewire connection, use it.

Firewire is the connection of choice for the Mac. For some reason USB can be problematic on a Mac. The reverse is true on a Windows machine.

P

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External HD
Oct 13, 2006 4:38PM PDT

This is a HD that does not have an external power-up connection, only the USB (as a matter of fact, the cable branches off to two - green and blue -- jacks!).

If I restart the laptop to be bale to eject the HD, that is about the same thing as having to shut down, disconnecting the HD and then booting up, which is what I am having to do right now!

Unfortunately, the device only has the USB connection, not the Firewire one.

ck

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High on your list of priorities
Oct 13, 2006 11:36PM PDT

Is the replacement of this drive. The drive inside it is probably a regular size IDE type drive and can be used inside a Firewire enclosure. Macsales.com have a variety of them.

But back to the problem. As Dan stated, your system thinks there is a file that is currently in use on that drive. Once the machine has been rebooted, with the drive attached, there "should" be nothing running on that drive.

Apart from the Backup, what do you backup, what else did you drag onto the drive?

Do you have a model number for this drive, those green and blue jacks are interesting.

P

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External HD
Oct 14, 2006 3:31AM PDT

I have the carton in the office and will give you all the tech details on Monday, when I get there.

Either of the two USB jacks works just as well!

ck

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External HD
Oct 14, 2006 3:35AM PDT

And yes, other than the various work related files, I have backed-up my iTunes Music and the "Shared" file to this HD.

The "Shared", btw, is basically the iTunes music which the others on the lan at the office get to share from my laptop when I wire up there.

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Could that be the source of the "in use" message
Oct 14, 2006 9:17AM PDT

I'm sure you are aware that it is not necessary to put your music into a special place when you are sharing your iTunes library.

You can either share the entire library or just the playlists that you want others to see.

Just set the "share my library on my local network" to true, along with "look for shared libraries" and your library is shared.
Set the other machines, windows or Mac, to "look for shared libraries" and everyone can see you library and play from it.

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs here, but with iTunes set up this way there is no need for the Shared file.

P

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External HD
Oct 15, 2006 11:12PM PDT

Here are the details of this External HD:

160 gb Dancer Portable External Hard Drive, USB 2.0, 5400 rpm, 8 mb cache, 2.5-inch drive, 5000 Gs nonoperating shock resistance.

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2.5" drive
Oct 16, 2006 3:38AM PDT

Hmmm, this is a basic laptop hard drive and is usually slower than the larger 3.5" drive. It's cons are that it draws very little power and can be driven by the voltage available over the USB bus. Unfortunately, there is a finite amount of power available and this is divided between all the devices on the chain.

Another question: When the device is plugged into the computer at work, do you have the same problem? Or did miss something and it is the same computer that goes to work with you.

How did the iTunes sharing go?

P

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2.5" drive
Oct 16, 2006 5:20AM PDT

'Tis the same computer: I only work with my laptop as the desktop in the office, tho a fully functioning computer, is kinda ancient -- a 6100/66, using OS 8.1!!! No one is going to buy it off me and one doesn't feel like just throwing it away!! But, that is another tale!!

When I do connect the ExHD, there are no other devices connected to the laptop.

As for the iTunes sharing, I have already gone and changed the "Shared" file in the Preferences, but have not connected the ExHD since then as there has not been much to back-up yet.

Mondays are always a bit rushed in the office: will try and connect the ExHD along with the LAN connection and then see what happens, and will revert.

And in case you have not sensed it, I am TRULY thankful to you for all the reassuring words!!

Cheers!

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Appreciate it
Oct 16, 2006 10:15AM PDT

let us know how you get on

P