Mac 101: Eject button in the menu bar
If you're using a keyboard without an eject key, say a non-Apple keyboard, an older Apple keyboard or (in my case) a really old Apple keyboard, you're probably missing that eject button. Sure, you can launch iTunes and select "Eject Disk" from the Controls menu, but there's a much easier way.Navigate to the CoreServices folder, which lives in your system's Library. There, you'll find "Eject.menu" in the Menu Extras folder. Simply double-click that sucker and presto! An eject button is now in your menu bar.
To remove it, simply click it and drag it onto the desktop while holding down the Command key. You can also re-arrange menu bar items by dragging with the Command key depressed.
[Via MacSupport]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mathmonkey said 10:07AM on 5-22-2008
I just select the desktop icon and apple-E.
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Youri said 10:19AM on 5-22-2008
Why don't you just drag your disc to the trash then?
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jwilliek said 10:19AM on 5-22-2008
I also have a really old apple keyboard, and I can tap F12 to toggle the dashboard or if I hold down F12, it will eject the tray.
Cool tip, though! I may have to check out that Menu Extras folder in CoreServices to see if there are some other things I want to turn on.
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MikeSerrano said 10:55AM on 5-22-2008
I've always used PC keyboards with my Mac Mini and use the "press and hold F12" keyboard shortcut.
Joram Oudenaarde said 10:31AM on 5-22-2008
I can't find that folder to be honest... I'm using Tiger 10.4.11, but the Coreservices folder isn't in my Useraccount's library nor my Systemaccount's library. Is this a Leopard only feature? :)
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Hawkman said 11:16AM on 5-22-2008
I remember digging around in this folder under Tiger. Lots of vital stuff lives in it, so I think you'd have noticed if it wasn't there. :-) Are you looking at the right path? It should be: /System/Library/CoreServices/
Sasasushi said 10:41AM on 5-22-2008
I've always used a freeware app called Ejector for this. Just google ejector it's the first hit.
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unclejerry said 11:21AM on 5-22-2008
i second ejector. I use it all the time especially when I have a couple of firewire drives plugged into the the laptop and want to take it from the desk. Just click on the eject all button and it disconnects from everything and pops a disc out if it's in the drive.
caleb said 12:52PM on 5-23-2008
Another Vot for "ejector" here a pretty neat little tool. Although I appreciate this tip.
Johnny said 10:42AM on 5-22-2008
I could have sworn there was also a place to turn this on in the System Prefs - you would think in the CDs & DVDs pane, but I can't find it now. Maybe it was removed from prefs in Leopard?
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Tony said 10:52AM on 5-22-2008
In leopard it seems to happen automatically, sometimes. I haven't worked out exactly when.. there's probably some logic to it.
Of course it's just as easy to right click/eject or drag the icon to the trash.
My machine doesn't have a CoreServices folder in the Library either (spotlight finds one but it only has a couple of C files in it) so it's not a leopard feature, and above mentioned it not being on Tiger.. something older perhaps?
Johnny said 11:11AM on 5-22-2008
Now that you mention it, mine has been on by default in Leopard. It appears to comes on when you have multiple drives as I do. Other single-drive machines in our office do not have the eject menu by default. I have an eject button on my keyboard, so I use it and Opt-Eject for the second drive.
Martin Westin said 12:18PM on 5-22-2008
What is the difference between that and CMD-E for example?
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CG said 12:47PM on 5-22-2008
You guys might be looking in the wrong place. I'm on Leopard and was able to find it. Are you sure you're in the right Library folder. It's System > Library > CoreServices. For whatever reason, Spotlight wasn't able to find it.
Thanks for the tip TUAW. I'e been using DocJector, but it's lately gotten really slow and unresponsive. It's also the only non-Intel program I use regularly. Nice to be able to replace it.
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Jon said 7:13PM on 5-22-2008
On Leopard, you have to look in System > Library > CoreServices > Menu Extras > Eject.menu
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Saroj Misra said 11:19AM on 5-22-2008
Another great little tool is a widget call Menu Butler. If you use this widget, it places a menu in your dashboard which allows you to select all of the mentioned items plus more. Works like a charm!!
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Jon MacKinnon said 11:24AM on 5-22-2008
Hey, just thought i'd say it's in /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/
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joelfarris@gmail.com said 2:22PM on 5-22-2008
Thank you!
Darren said 11:25AM on 5-22-2008
Speaking of old keyboards, just yesterday, out for a walk, I happened upon an original Apple Extended keyboard sitting atop a pile of old computer equipment, so I took it.
I'm eager to try the thing out. The question is, where do I find an ADB to USB adapter? Will any adapter do? Do these adapters work as advertised?
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mare said 12:15PM on 5-22-2008
Kensington sold one and that worked okay with my old Apple Apple Extended II keyboard until that unfortunately died.
Right now I can only find the iMate, and I'm not 100% sure it will work but I expect it will. The data from a keyboards isn't very complicated.