TheGoldenKing12
Level 1 (4 points)
Desktops

Q: Use iMac internal HDD for storage only.

I'm booting up my iMac from an external SSD. It makes my computer run faster. How can I completely erase my iMac's internal HDD and use it as a storage device only?

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jun 22, 2016 6:21 PM

by padams35,Solvedanswer
padams35 padams35
Level 2 (168 points)
Desktops
A:

Disk Utility should do the job. You could reformat the entire internal drive if you want a clean slate. Naturally retaining a backup is recommended in case you ever have second thoughts about the deletion.

Posted on Jun 23, 2016 12:11 PM

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TheGoldenKing12

Q: Use iMac internal HDD for storage only.

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  • by jndupuis1,

    jndupuis1 jndupuis1 Jun 22, 2016 7:07 PM in response to TheGoldenKing12
    Level 2 (470 points)
    Jun 22, 2016 7:07 PM in response to TheGoldenKing12

    This is not a big issue, save one. Apple does not support this method as a permanent solution. However, you have a 2012 iMac. I have a 2012 Mac Mini. I used a 1 TB LaCie Rugged Thunderbolt HD to do this very thing through the Thunderbolt port. This worked great for a while. Personally speaking, I reverted back to my Primary Internal HD for OS X and the LaCie Thunderbolt as external storage. For reasons of Registration and so on. Internet Recovery, as well. I found no major difference in "booting speed" between the Internal or External HD. I upgraded RAM from 4 GB to the full 16 GB. and BAM!!

    My Thunderbolt HD is partitioned as a Time Capsule(1st partition bootable) and Mac Storage(2nd partition). The choice is yours, of course.

     

    Cheers!!

  • by padams35,Solvedanswer

    padams35 padams35 Jun 23, 2016 12:11 PM in response to TheGoldenKing12
    Level 2 (168 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 23, 2016 12:11 PM in response to TheGoldenKing12

    Disk Utility should do the job. You could reformat the entire internal drive if you want a clean slate. Naturally retaining a backup is recommended in case you ever have second thoughts about the deletion.

  • by rkaufmann87,Helpful

    rkaufmann87 rkaufmann87 Jun 23, 2016 12:13 PM in response to TheGoldenKing12
    Level 9 (58,729 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Jun 23, 2016 12:13 PM in response to TheGoldenKing12

    Boot from the external SSD and the open Disk Utility and do an erase of the internal HD.