I updated my mac a few days ago via software update and whenever i try to eject a hard drive it tells me the drive is in use when no programs are open.
Could it be that Spotlight is indexing the drives? Or if you are running Leopard, it could be Time Machine doing backups?
Did you update with any of those drives still attached to your Mac during the update install? It's always best to disconnect all unnecessary peripherals before doing any update installs.
Well, sometimes I have my time machine drive connected but when I try to disconnect it it's never being accessed. Either way, it does it with other drives even when the time machine isn't connected.
The other devices I can't eject are my ipod and flash memory sticks.
If Spaces is running, quit it and try to unmount the drive.
I take it you've tried all the "unmount a drive" methods?
Probably Spotlight could be indexing the drive .... If you open up system prefs/spotlight/privacy pane you should be able to add the external drive. So next time you mount it it won't be indexed.
Strange that both of your Macs are exhibiting this behaviour.
All my external drives (Both Firewire and USB 2) and all my memory sticks and iPods eject. I don't know what is going on. This is on 5 very different Macs also. 10.5.1. Wish I would help but I can't duplicate your issue here.
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