Can't safely eject external hard drive

bujuoui · 07-28-2017, 03:47 AM

I just bought a new external hard drive.

After connecting it to my laptop, I'd like to safely eject it but it keeps mounting on to the section "devices".

I did successfully unmounted it from the desktop but it's still listed and mounted on "devices" ("Appareils" in French) in the left column.

Here is what I did to unmount it from the desktop:

umount /dev/sdb1

I ONLY encounter this issue when the external drive is connected to a USB 3.0 port, NOT if it's connected to a USB 2.0 port...

I'm using Linux Mint 18.1 Serena.

TenTenths · 07-28-2017, 05:24 AM

Check your laptop manual to see if you are using one of the "pass-through" or "charging" USB sockets. Some manufacturers have USB ports on laptops that continually supply power (to allow you to charge phones etc, when the laptop is "asleep" or even "powered off") It may be the case that this is happening and your external disk thinks it's connected. Do you have a different USB 3 port to check?

bujuoui · 07-28-2017, 05:38 AM

Actually, I have 2 different USB 3.0 ports on my laptop and I've tried both. Coming across the same issue though...

Teufel · 07-28-2017, 05:54 AM

I do not see anything that would indicate your drive still mounted. There may be listed devices that connected, but not mounted
Once you unmounted a drive, check it state by "mount" command. Will your drive be presented in "mount" command output?

Added:
Does umount command return? Or just hangs due to busy drive?

hydrurga · 07-28-2017, 09:00 AM

If you click on the little unmount symbol beside the drive in Devices, does it unmount the drive?

jefro · 07-28-2017, 02:53 PM

Yes, the up triangle icon to right of drive in left panel.

If it refuses to unmount then some process has it locked. (or maybe some other issue)

bujuoui · 07-29-2017, 04:40 AM

When I click on the unmount triangle symbol right next to the drive, it does unmount but remounts automatically after a couple of seconds.

hydrurga · 07-29-2017, 05:00 AM

Which kernel version are you using?

Code:

uname -r

This bug https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...us/+bug/792085 appears to have been resolved in 4.4.0-62.

273 · 07-29-2017, 06:40 AM

Isn't there an "eject" option? I tend to use that for removable media as it gives a niotification when the data is synchronised.

AwesomeMachine · 07-30-2017, 02:50 PM

It sounds like a bug.

bujuoui · 07-31-2017, 05:58 AM

I'm using 4.4.0-53-generic

hydrurga · 07-31-2017, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bujuoui

I'm using 4.4.0-53-generic

In that case, you should try upgrading it to at least 4.4.0-62 and see if that resolves the problem.

For info, I'm using 4.10.0-28 on Linux Mint 18.2 (installed through Mint's Update Manager) with no problems, although hardware does differ and so, if you are unlucky, your mileage may vary.

Shadow_7 · 07-31-2017, 07:51 AM

Look for autofs type things in your ps output and lsmod output. Some distros have that installed and active by default. It auto mounts your drives. Which is probably what is getting in the way. Otherwise you could use windows methodologies like shutting down to safely unmount the drive.