Usb drives not ejecting properly can be a common and annoying issue. It’s important to eject external drives safely before unplugging them to avoid potential corruption or damage to files or the drive itself. If you accidentally disconnect a drive before ejecting, don’t panic yet – there are several things you can try to fix the problem. This guide will provide an overview of solutions to try if a USB drive is not ejected properly on your computer.
Symptoms
There are two main symptoms when a disk is not ejected properly on a Mac:
1. The disk may remain stuck in the drive and not come out when the eject button is pressed. Physically trying to pull out the disk could cause damage. According to Seagate Support, this occurs because the drive is still trying to finish writing data to the disk before it can be safely ejected [1].
2. An error message pops up stating “Disk Not Ejected Properly”. This indicates the disk was disconnected from the Mac before the system had fully unmounted it [2]. The message aims to warn that potential file corruption or data loss may have occurred.
Causes
There are several potential causes behind the “disk not ejected properly” error message:
Forced removal while still in use – If you disconnect or remove an external drive while files are still being written to it, this abrupt action can cause corruption and the improper eject error. Always properly eject external drives before disconnecting them.
Power outage during use – If a drive loses power unexpectedly while being accessed, such as from a power outage, it can result in the “disk not ejected properly” warning due to potential corruption.
Software issues/bugs – Sometimes bugs in the operating system or problems with drivers can cause the improper eject notification to appear erroneously. An OS update or driver update may resolve this.
Hardware failure – If an external drive has underlying hardware issues, such as problems with the USB bridge chip, it can exhibit seemingly random eject problems. This requires physical repair or replacement of the defective hardware.
Trying to Eject Again
Before trying more invasive solutions, reboot your PS4 and try ejecting the disc again. Sometimes a system reboot can resolve temporary software issues that are preventing the disc from ejecting properly.
You can also try using the “force eject” keyboard shortcut while the PS4 is powered on. Press and hold the PS button on the controller, and then hold down the triangle button for at least 5 seconds to trigger a force eject.
If that doesn’t work, try using your computer’s disk utility software to eject the PS4 drive. Connect the PS4 to your computer via USB and launch the Disk Utility (or a similar program). See if you can find the PS4 drive listed and eject it from there. This essentially sends a software eject command to the drive. According to PlayStation Support, this method can sometimes jar the disc loose when other options have failed.
Restarting Computer
Doing a full restart of the computer will often resolve any software issues preventing the disc from ejecting properly. Shut down the computer entirely and wait at least 10 seconds before turning it back on to do a full restart. This clears out any memory errors or processes that may be interfering with the ejection mechanism.
If a standard restart does not work, you may need to do a forced restart by holding down the power button until the computer turns off completely. Wait another 10 seconds before turning the computer back on. The forced restart will reset all components and should clear any software errors (Source).
Using Command Line
The command line provides some useful tools to forcefully eject a disk that is not being ejected properly by the operating system. On Windows, you can use the ‘eject’ command from an elevated command prompt. According to this source, you can type “eject D:” or “eject D: /F” where D: is the drive letter of the disk you want to eject. The /F parameter forces the eject if the normal eject command does not work.
On Mac OS, you can use either the drutil eject or diskutil unmount commands according to this SuperUser thread. drutil eject forces the disk to eject while diskutil unmount cleanly unmounts the file system before ejecting. Run these commands with the disk identifier rather than the full path. For example: drutil eject disk2
The command line gives you more options to eject a stubborn disk. Be sure to use the proper commands for your operating system. The /F parameter for Windows and drutil eject on Mac OS allow you to forcefully eject the disk if standard methods fail.
Manual Removal
Before attempting to manually remove a stuck disk, understand that this could potentially damage the disk drive or scratch the disc, resulting in data loss. However, if you’ve exhausted other options, manual removal may be necessary.
First, turn off and unplug the device. If it’s a game console or PC, you’ll need to open the case to access the disc drive. Locate the small emergency eject hole near the disc drive opening. This hole is usually covered by a sticker. Use a paperclip to press into the emergency eject hole until you hear the drive disengage. At this point, the disc should be partially ejected so you can carefully pull it out the rest of the way by hand. Avoid touching the disc surface when handling it.
Be very gentle during the manual removal process. If you can’t get the disc out after a few tries, it’s best to stop and seek professional assistance rather than risk scratching the disc or damaging the drive. For game consoles, you may need to consult the manufacturer or authorized repair center for help.
Sources:
https://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Stuck-CD/DVD-From-Your-Computer
https://www.playstation.com/en-us/support/hardware/ps4-eject-stuck-disc/
Checking for Damage
If a drive is not properly ejected, it can sometimes lead to file system corruption or damage to the drive itself. After reconnecting the drive, it’s a good idea to scan it for errors. On Windows, you can use the Check Disk utility by right-clicking on the drive in File Explorer, selecting Properties > Tools > Check. Check Disk will scan the drive and repair any errors it finds [1]. On Mac, you can use Disk Utility’s First Aid feature to verify and repair the disk [2].
If the drive is severely corrupted, drive repair utilities like DiskWarrior on Mac or SpinRite on Windows may be able to recover it. However, if the drive starts making unusual noises, has a burning smell, or is undetected by your computer, it likely has physical damage. In that case, you should contact a data recovery service for assistance recovering your files before the drive completely fails.
Preventing Issues
The best way to prevent the “disk not ejected properly” message is to always properly eject external drives before disconnecting them. On Mac, right-click the external drive icon on your desktop and select “Eject”. Or you can drag the icon to the Trash, which will eject it. Avoid pulling out the cable or powering down the drive before it is fully unmounted by the system. Source
You can also enable auto-unmount for external drives. This will automatically unmount a drive when you put your Mac to sleep or shut it down. To enable it, open Finder > Preferences > General and check “Connect drives: Auto-unmount drives when the system goes to sleep.” This helps prevent accidental disconnects. Source
Finally, disable putting your hard drive to sleep during file transfers or backups to external drives. Go to System Preferences > Energy Saver and uncheck “Put hard disks to sleep when possible.” This ensures the drive stays powered on during important operations. Source
When to Seek Help
If you have tried multiple methods to eject the disk and it still will not eject, it may be time to seek professional help. Continuing to force the disk eject can risk damaging components.
Signs that there is an underlying hardware failure include strange noises coming from the drive, the drive not being recognized or showing up at all, or frequent crashes/freezes when trying to access the drive. If you notice any of these issues, it’s best to have an expert take a look.
Also, if there is critical data stored on the stuck disk that you absolutely cannot lose or afford corrupted, seeking professional help right away is recommended. Computer repair specialists have tools to remove disks safely and recover data if needed. Attempting complex drive repairs yourself when important files are at stake can risk making the situation worse.
Overall, if you have exhausted all standard troubleshooting steps to no avail, or if there are any signs of hardware failure or vital data at risk, consulting a computer technician is advised. They can properly diagnose what is preventing the disk from ejecting and take appropriate action without further damage. It is better to seek expert help than forcefully prying out an internal drive on your own when things seem hopeless.