Difficulty ejecting Seagate external HD

[mossy]

Hi

Every day it takes me several minutes just to eject my external backup HD and it's a problem. I have a Seagate external HD (1TB, USB) which I use for Time Machine backup. When I try to eject it, there are at least 4 programs or processes that interfere with the eject. The usual suspects are Skype, iTunes, CalendarAgent and ubd.

My process now is to close Skype and iTunes, and eject through Finder (it won't work through PathFinder). Then when it says "another program is using the disk" (which is always), I click "Force Eject", twice. The whole process takes minutes and wastes precious coffee-drinking time.

So - is this normal with Mountain Lion? I never had this problem with Lion (but I had a different external drive as well). Is this normal with Seagate external HD's? Should I just buy a different drive, one that has better interoperability with Mac? Should I reprogram the hard drive with a claw hammer? All advice appreciated.

Thank you
Shaun

 

[chscag]

Before running a Time Machine backup, all programs except Time Machine should be shut down (except Finder of course). Do that first and your problem should be solved.

 

[mossy]

thank you

Thanks for the advice chscag! I'll give it a try. (puts claw hammer back in drawer...)

 

[proasian3]

I have the same problem. I've concluded its the piece of crap sfw that comes with the Seagate. Sometimes it never ejects and continues to spin and it causes my computer to freeze up. After a backup if it doesnt eject when i push the button i just pull out the power cable and accept the USB EJECTED IMPROPERLY message and go about my day. Get a new HD I bet you wont have this issue. I'm too cheap and just live with this problem.

 

[RadDave]

Hi

Every day it takes me several minutes just to eject my external backup HD and it's a problem. I have a Seagate external HD (1TB, USB) which I use for Time Machine backup. When I try to eject it, there are at least 4 programs or processes that interfere with the eject. The usual suspects are Skype, iTunes, CalendarAgent and ubd.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Shaun

Hi All - I'm assuming that this Seagate drive is attached to an iMac? If so, why do you need to eject the drive since Time Machine will be doing 'regular' backups - just curious? Now if you (and others) are talking about a laptop connection then fine (I do the same w/ my MBP).

BUT, I have a Seagate 1TB drive that is attached to my new iMac - I don't eject the drive and allow routine backups, but occasionally the drive seems to lose its 'connection' to the computer - did a firmware upgrade which has seemed to work for a number of weeks - will keep my fingers crossed.

Probably not very helpful, but would appreciate a response to my question about disconnecting from an iMac (if that is your setup) and also whether you have checked on a firmware upgrade? Dave

 

[Quietone]

With mine, I didn't load the software that came with it. Only once did the light stay on after ejecting it, so far. I waited awhile and unplugged it- all was well.