"Disk not ejected properly" error - Sandisk Extreme 2TB

[1brajesh]

Hi friends,

I bought a new Sandisk Extreme 2TB 1050MB/s SSD to connect to my 2020 Intel iMac 27", Catalina 10.15.7.
I moved my 300GB photos library onto there to save space.

It was good for about a week, and now I keep getting "Disk not ejected properly" errors.
The disk still seems to be connected when I go to look at it in finder.
However, photos quits because it says there was an error accessing the drive.
I try to eject and remount and things are ok for a few hours, then the error starts appearing again.

Feeling so disappointed

Any idea what's happening?

thank you

 

[avz]

An intermittent lack of contact can be caused by a poor quality cable that connects your SSD to the Mac.

 

[1brajesh]

An intermittent lack of contact can be caused by a poor quality cable that connects your SSD to the Mac.

When I move the SSD around, nothing happens. How can I test that it's a bad cable?

 

[Boyd01]

I'd agree that the cable is the first thing to check. Or maybe try using a different USB port. Another possibility is that the disk isn't getting enough power, possibly because another device is drawing too much.

 

[1brajesh]

I'd agree that the cable is the first thing to check. Or maybe try using a different USB port. Another possibility is that the disk isn't getting enough power, possibly because another device is drawing too much.

I only have two ports and the other is being used by a system drive so I will have issues if I swap the ports.

If it is bad ports or drawing too much power, how can I confirm these?

 

[Boyd01]

Well, normally I would say to unplug everything else and see what happens. But if you are booting your computer from a disk on the other port, I guess you can't do that. A powered hub might be another way to check, since it would probably have enough power. Connecting the disk to another computer might be another way.

 

[napertivo]

I came here because I am having the same issue. I have had the same drive for a couple weeks. It is connected with the provided USB-C/USB-C cable. I am wondering if the Mac's power save mode is causing it.

Ok, I did confirm that closing the Mac will cause it, which triggers sleep mode. Monitoring to see if that is the only time it happens.

 

[1brajesh]

I came here because I am having the same issue. I have had the same drive for a couple weeks. It is connected with the provided USB-C/USB-C cable. I am wondering if the Mac's power save mode is causing it.

Ok, I did confirm that closing the Mac will cause it, which triggers sleep mode. Monitoring to see if that is the only time it happens.

Mine happens while I am using the MAC so it doesn't seem to be power save mode related.
Sounds like you have a laptop while I have an iMac?

 

[napertivo]

Mine happens while I am using the MAC so it doesn't seem to be power save mode related.
Sounds like you have a laptop while I have an iMac?

Yes I have a MacBook Pro. I'm not sure it has only happened when in power save mode, I am going to watch it for a while. Are you using the cable that came with the drive?

 

[1brajesh]

Yes same cable.
Here's some more info.

After I get the error message, I check finder and the drive is still connected, which is also weird.
However, the photos app doesn't work correctly unless I force eject it, and then re-mount it (using disk utilities).

I never actually touch the cable to fix it.
I eject and remount it using disk utility, which leads me to believe it's not the cable.

 

[napertivo]

What OS are you running? I am on Ventura 13.0.1.

 

[er-minio]

Same disk (SanDisk Extreme 2TB) exact same problem on my M1 MBP.
No issues when the disk is connected (same cable) to my Studio.

It seems sleep is the issue, but on Ventura there no longer is any options to keep the disks awake, etc.
On my computer, as well, even when I get the error the drive seems to be properly connected and mounted.

My computer is set to never go into low power mode, even when on battery.
No idea what to do.

 

[1brajesh]

What OS are you running? I am on Ventura 13.0.1.

See my original post for my OS

 

[Fishrrman]

Have you tried connecting the problem drive to one of the USBa ports on the iMac?
Just to see if it solves the "unwanted ejection" problems?

 

[1brajesh]

Have you tried connecting the problem drive to one of the USBa ports on the iMac?
Just to see if it solves the "unwanted ejection" problems?

No I didn't but good idea!

 

[er-minio]

Good idea: I'll try that as I now get the "disconnected" notifications about 20/40 times per day.
I'm trying to understand if the disk is faulty, the cable, the USB-C sockets or the OS being garbage.

 

[BaErv]

I updated to Ventura and this started happening to me too.

 

[er-minio]

Ok, I don't have an USB A to C cable handy, so I connected the SanDisk to a spare USB-C socket on the dongle I'm currently using on the laptop (this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MC9NZ1Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

Same exact cable. The drive is plugged into the dongle instead of into the MacBook Pro directly.
Dongle is powered (power through).

No disconnection errors so far.

 

[hardax]

Yes same cable.
Here's some more info.

After I get the error message, I check finder and the drive is still connected, which is also weird.
However, the photos app doesn't work correctly unless I force eject it, and then re-mount it (using disk utilities).

I never actually touch the cable to fix it.
I eject and remount it using disk utility, which leads me to believe it's not the cable.

Exact same thing is happening to me. Message that its disconnected but when I immediately check the Finder its still there and accessible. Swapped the cable Sandisk includes with another cable Sandisk sent me (which I had to fight for. Apparently Sandisk does not cover the cable in their warranty). Same issue. Tried using my genuine Apple thunderbolt 3 cable and it still does the same thing. The disk is plugged into a brand new 14" MacBook Pro.

Sandisk insisted its the cable.

 

[er-minio]

Ok, one day after, with the drive connected to the external hub/dongle, no disconnection issues. I'm using the same USB-C cable as before.
So the issue is either in the MacBook Pro ports, or in a electrical/power issue, as the external hub has power through, so it receives electricity before it goes into the Mac and powers anything attached to it.

 

[1brajesh]

Have you tried connecting the problem drive to one of the USBa ports on the iMac?
Just to see if it solves the "unwanted ejection" problems?

Do you know what are the speeds on the usba port for iMac 2020 27"?
It seems it support USB 3 which is 680MB/s while the drive supports 1050 MB/s.

 

[1brajesh]

I switched to the USBa port and so far no eject message. However, the speed is half so not a permanent solution

 

[jz0309]

I bought this exact SSD ~ 18months ago and it's connected to the USB-C port on my 2017 iMac 27, in those 18 months I cannot recall that I ever got an error message, back then I was running Big Sur and now I'm on the latest Monterey, totally rock solid connected 24/7.
I did have plenty issue with external USB-A connected HDD such that I only connect them when running backup (they're tier 2 - 4 backups).

 

[er-minio]

Ok, another update, I think the issue is with the Mac not providing enough power to the disk (Ventura-related issue?).

As explained in my post above, this is my setup currently (apologies for the dirty & messy desk, but I'm staying over with the family for xmas... ).

With this setup, I have no disconnection issues.
Yellow cable is the power from the Apple standard charger.

IF I disconnect the power (yellow) cable from the hub/dongle, the Mac starts giving disconnection errors for the drive again.

Computer is a 2020 13" M1 MacBook pro running Ventura.

I do use regularly the same drive connected to my Mac Studio as well, using the front USB socket, not an issue.

I also used this drive extensively this summer on this MacBook Pro (did some basic video editing while traveling) and had zero disconnection issues. Again, this was before upgrading to Ventura.

 

[genexx]

This is an old problem with some USB combinations.
So i installed Jettison now, cause i sometimes forget to unmount the Backup Drive and my M2 goes to Sleep After 3 Minutes.
#76

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/disk-not-ejected-properly-messages-after-waking-up-computer.2321141/