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]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-22-2008 @ 10:07AM
mathmonkey said...
I just select the desktop icon and apple-E.
Reply
5-22-2008 @ 10:19AM
jwilliek said...
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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5-22-2008 @ 10:55AM
MikeSerrano said...
I've always used PC keyboards with my Mac Mini and use the "press and hold F12" keyboard shortcut.
5-22-2008 @ 10:19AM
Youri said...
Why don't you just drag your disc to the trash then?
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5-22-2008 @ 10:31AM
Joram Oudenaarde said...
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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5-22-2008 @ 11:16AM
Hawkman said...
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/
5-22-2008 @ 10:41AM
Sasasushi said...
I've always used a freeware app called Ejector for this. Just google ejector it's the first hit.
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5-22-2008 @ 11:21AM
unclejerry said...
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.
5-23-2008 @ 12:52PM
caleb said...
Another Vot for "ejector" here a pretty neat little tool. Although I appreciate this tip.
5-22-2008 @ 10:42AM
Johnny said...
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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5-22-2008 @ 10:52AM
Tony said...
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?
5-22-2008 @ 11:11AM
Johnny said...
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.
5-22-2008 @ 11:19AM
Saroj Misra said...
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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5-22-2008 @ 11:24AM
Jon MacKinnon said...
Hey, just thought i'd say it's in /System/Library/CoreServices/Menu Extras/
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5-22-2008 @ 2:22PM
joelfarris@gmail.com said...
Thank you!
5-22-2008 @ 11:25AM
Darren said...
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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5-22-2008 @ 12:15PM
mare said...
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.
5-22-2008 @ 11:45AM
AlphaTeam said...
What I want to know how do you eject the disc on a non-Apple keyboard at the boot screen?
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5-22-2008 @ 11:54AM
Darren said...
Hold the mouse button down while booting to eject all disks.
5-22-2008 @ 12:18PM
Martin Westin said...
What is the difference between that and CMD-E for example?
Reply