Home Forums Peripherals & Multimedia Peripherals Force eject sign always coming up

Joe just happened right now. Was writing on word doc, which is in sparse disk, and got the cannot eject something using .... Quit word, still got i. HEre are last 20 lines in system log:
Seeing a lot of Drive X there, could it be culprit?

Ah, good news, quit, DriveS, still would not eject.

Then did quit all with my 3rd party app application wizard, and then it ejecte ok. But 8 things up so not sure which one culprit, but at least know... to single that out new round.. hopefully find out.


ul 24 10:27:11 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 10:27:41 --- last message repeated 126 times ---
Jul 24 10:32:27 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 10:37:32 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 10:38:02 --- last message repeated 135 times ---
Jul 24 10:43:01 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 10:43:33 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 10:44:03 --- last message repeated 135 times ---
Jul 24 10:56:46 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 10:56:47 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 10:57:17 --- last message repeated 135 times ---
Jul 24 11:07:17 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 11:19:16 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 11:24:57 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 11:25:28 --- last message repeated 271 times ---
Jul 24 11:30:17 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 11:49:16 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 12:04:16 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 12:16:39 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 12:22:53 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 12:23:23 --- last message repeated 189 times ---
Jul 24 12:25:26 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 12:25:26 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 12:25:56 --- last message repeated 246 times ---
Jul 24 12:34:16 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 12:37:40 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 12:38:10 --- last message repeated 131 times ---
Jul 24 12:46:19 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 24 12:55:58 iMac-2 DriveDx[564]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 24 12:56:30 --- last message repeated 131 times ---
Jul 24 12:56:52 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics

Regarding all the mentions of DriveDX in the system log, those are normal. I have no valid explanation other than it may result from the fact the USB standard does not provide for reporting S.M.A.R.T. or NVMe data, but there is an open-source utility that somehow tricks USB into allowing the information to be reported. But that utility is essentially a hack and could easily result in the system log messages because it is forcing USB to do something it was never intended to do. That utility/hack is widely used to get around other limitations of USB by companies such as Micromat, Microsoft, Apple, and any number of open-source developers. I believe the Thunderbolt standard does provide for reporting S.M.A.R.T. and NVMe attributes.

Keys, I go to thinking about this and once again I strongly urge you to switch from sparse image files to APFS volumes. I cannot guarantee it will eliminate this problem, but it will eliminate at least a few under-the-hood processing steps, and you would gain additional speed, reliability and stability.

Thanks Joe, I could do that. I think you may have even introduced me to sparse images (dmg) years ago. Now key here is these 2 sparses, it was one, I broke up to 2, I could bring back again to one.. are password protected, the only password protected folders on the imac.. (financial records, more...).

What love about sparse in you eject and they are gone, dont' see then until choose to bring up again.

With APFS Volume can't do that.. I spoke to an Apple tech. hence always going to come up on desktop when reboot, whereas, with spare, dont' come up when reboot, so less clutter on desktop.

That said, you think sparse is more unstable than apfs volumes? This issue perhaps is happening more with sparse than with other externals lately. I thought happening with externals as much, maybe not.. If that is so, why would sparse have this eject issue (being used ) more than other externals?

Sparse image files are file systems on top of the drive's file system, where an APFS volume is entirely at the level of the drive itself. One less layer to process and one less opportunity for an error to occur. Change one character in one file in an image file, and Time Machine has to back up the entire Sparse Image. Change one character in one file on an APFS volume, and all Time Machine has to back up is the one data sector the character was in. With an encrypted Sparse image, the encryption and decryption is an extra step on opening and closing the file. With an encrypted APFS volume, the encryption and decryption is part of the read/write operation.

The point about sparse image only appearing on the desktop when it is open is valid, but I know that anything on the desktop makes significant inroads in system resources such as cycles and memory so unlike my physical desktop, I keep the computer's desktop empty and never have any disks appearing on the desktop (Finder > Preferences > General). I work on the theory that since I have to be in finder to access any drive or volume I can see, and open or close, the drives/volumes are available in the Sidebar. I have customized the sidebar so that even my most frequently used folders appear there. I have to log on with a password, my Apple Watch, or fingerprint anyway, so all my drives and volumes are encrypted, but I only have to log on to my account and everything is automatically opened. That also means when my system locks automatically, the volumes lock as well, a handy security feature.

But, that is my story, and I am sticking to it. When you started using sparse image files, they were the best available option, but that was long before APFS volumes. It is your choice, and I am dropping the subject unless you have questions.

Thanks JOe, great post/ perspective. Where in finder preferences do you see to " I keep the computer's desktop empty"

Don't see it... yet.. for some reason..

You don't see that because it is a personal choice and policy, and not a setting. What you will see in Finder > Preferences > General is this which permits or prevents system items from appearing on the desktop and this where you configure the sidebar. The resulting sidebar looks like this.

I think you mentioned perviously you use Application Wizard, as do I. The yellow dot in the Application Wizard menu bar will show you volumes, too, so you can hide the APFS volumes joemikeb suggests and still see them in Application Wizard.

Thanks Ira and Joe.
Ok what saying is it's all or nothing.

You can choose to show nothing on desktop or all externals and internal HD on deektop.

Hmmmm. I'm so used to seeing and accessing quickly things from Mac HD and the external Data.... But you cannot be selective, correct of which one you may or may not want to mount on desktop after a reboot?

IRA, wow never gone into Application wizard to see volumes, but just tested something. An unmounted volume is there in application wizard greyed out, and when you click on it in quickly mounts it. Thats fantastic, because otherwise you have to tediously fire up DU -- which itself can take something a minute to get going, and then tediously find the volume there on it's convoluted cluttered list..... great tip!

ps App wizard for some reason does not show Time Mahine, but if not on desktop, the finder sidebar, can show it, so between App Wizard and finder sidebar, I can finally get Hardrive off the desktop.. less clutter there.

Lots of apps do not show Time Machine drives because they belong to the system, not the user, and should never be accessed other than through the Time Machine app. There are also APFS volumes on the boot drive that not even Finder or Disk Utility will show, for the same reason.

Joe I for years, just would grab what need in TM direct through finder. Now learned not to do that, but have to say, I yesterday, went through TM, and like full minute to get thing up to the past folder.. So much faster doing it in finder.

I see my Time Machine drive in my Application Wizard (via the yellow dot).

You can see just external hard drives OR just the internal HD OR both on the Desktop. They are separate check boxes in Finder>Preferences>General. For example, I see externals but not the internal on my Desktop. You could choose to have the opposite arrangement.

Ira, thanks, can send screenshot of TM under yellow dot? Just tripled checked, wont come up for me.

Joe, made APFS moved sparse to that, think good long term idea what said, but alas, this "wasn't ejected because one or more programs may be using it come up still..
I know program using, viewing images, closed that still come up. From Console


OH forgot, that solved this last time by quitting all. Ok so from app wizard, just quit first thing bottom on list Window 10 (part of parallels), and solved issue. But keep test that isolated quitting to see if that it.

BTW, advantage Ira/ Joe of App wizard in App wizard, it SHOWS what been unmounted greyed out, great. Whereas side bar if unmount it's gone there, and do preference to not show on dektop then you really have to go into DU, but app wizard has whole list of volumes always.

ul 27 11:33:14 --- last message repeated 287 times ---
Jul 27 11:40:29 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 11:53:00 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 12:03:06 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 12:13:28 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 12:16:44 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:17:14 --- last message repeated 287 times ---
Jul 27 12:18:19 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:18:19 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:18:49 --- last message repeated 430 times ---
Jul 27 12:18:49 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:19:19 --- last message repeated 215 times ---
Jul 27 12:19:27 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:19:27 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:19:57 --- last message repeated 358 times ---
Jul 27 12:20:28 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:20:28 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:20:58 --- last message repeated 70 times ---
Jul 27 12:20:58 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:20:58 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:21:28 --- last message repeated 142 times ---
Jul 27 12:21:51 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:21:51 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:22:21 --- last message repeated 70 times ---
Jul 27 12:23:15 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:23:15 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:23:45 --- last message repeated 70 times ---
Jul 27 12:24:20 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:24:20 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 12:24:20 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:24:50 --- last message repeated 200 times ---
Jul 27 12:33:24 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:33:24 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:33:55 --- last message repeated 262 times ---
Jul 27 12:36:34 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 12:54:37 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 12:54:38 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 12:55:08 --- last message repeated 263 times ---
Jul 27 13:02:04 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 13:02:04 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 13:02:34 --- last message repeated 138 times ---
Jul 27 13:04:54 iMac-2 syslogd[133]: ASL Sender Statistics
Jul 27 13:06:24 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 13:06:54 --- last message repeated 199 times ---
Jul 27 13:08:57 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 13:08:57 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 13:09:27 --- last message repeated 376 times ---
Jul 27 13:09:53 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 13:09:53 iMac-2 DriveDx[616]: Could not find io classes of disk
Jul 27 13:10:23 --- last message repeated 152 times ---

The logs are not showing anything of value so you can drop that. I was unaware you were running Parallels, but that could easily be the culprit.

Thanks Joe, got it, hmmm parallels, specifical window 10 was up to try, but how could it be culprit -- It has nothing to do with that apfs drive at all....

Refer to my post #62085.

Joe final question on sparse vs password protected volume. With Sparse, reboot, and nothing pesters me on the reboot. With password protected volume every reboot forever you get this on your desktop,

https://imgur.com/a/JNQvs4U

So dismiss is, ok. pesty thing. Imagine if you have 3-4 of those.. No way around that, hence actually prefer sparse. Is sparse not as stabile? Sure, is worth that nuisance to do password protected volume instead of sparse?

There is also this slow loading of password volume, but maybe I don't see that with sparse as it has to load the volume at beginning, maybe just used to that better/ more?

Simply enter your password at the prompt and check the box to remember the password and you will never see the prompt again. But the volume will be unlocked. Offset that by...

• In System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General and checking the box labeled Require Password and select how long to wait before setting a password.
• In system Preferences > Users & Groups > Login Items and set Automatic login Off.

After that, any time you leave the computer press ⌘Q to lock the computer and anyone coming in the room would have to know your password to access anything on the Machine. By-the-way this is easier to setup on Ventura because a Lock Screen panel has been added to Settings.

Sure, here it is.

And note that I have my Finder Preferences set so that the Macintosh HD does not show on my Desktop, but it is still listed here.

Thanks Ira, ok, not show for me, I'll email them ask. Also new password protected volume had a problem ejecting, while DU ejected it fine.. so maybe not so robust? as DU?

Darn Joe, did not understand a word of that second paragraph, way over head.

I never check to remember, for what you said, the person comes in room -- not way going to that - private stuff why take chance on that?.
Now you wrote, some qualifications on that being negated, but convoluted, did not get that at all.

Again though: No issue with sparse on that... but ask: prefer apfs volume as more stabile? Why sparse not as good again? Is this really a must do? Sorry, may be impossible in forum to understand what wrote out remembering, but do this to forget.... complex stuff... even to know trying to say.

It is definitely NOT A MUST-DO. It is at best a recommendation. If you are not comfortable with it, then forget it.

Ok , just that one nuisance of reboot, and having the pesty password box come up.. If you said something inherently better apfs...one level up something like that... or maybe Sparse will be eliminated soon/ not supported?. Could live with apfs password protected, if superior.

I hope someone can prove me wrong!

There's one loophole in your scheme, namely that if you bring your Mac in for service, there's no way to lock your keychain.

Keychain Access used to offer us an option to have different Admin and keychain passwords, but it disappeared, unannounced and leaving much confusion in the wake of its disappearance, lots of years ago.

In recent years, Keychain Access > File has offered us options to lock our "login" and "Local Items" keychains, but in my experience, they've invariably been greyed out.

Any ideas?