Unable to connect Samsung T5 while running OS Catalina

I received the following reply from Samsung Memory Support samsungmemory@hanaro.eu

"Thank you for contacting Samsung memory Support.

We are sorry to learn that you are having issues using your SSD with the activation software version 1.6.5 on your Mac OS version Catalina.

Please be informed that we have escalated the issue to the concerned departments and they are currently busy with analyzing the issue.

For the time being, in order to access your data, you can do one of the steps available in the video clips that you will receive as attachments via WeTransfer:

You have two options: 

- Uninstall the software and use it without a password as explained in the video clip "Activation Software Remover".

- Use the SSD with a password by following the installation procedure in the video clip "PSSD 1.6.5 Working".

If you wish to use the software, please do the following:

- disconnect and connect the PSSD to the computer

- let the installation message appear. 

- Proceed with the installation until the end. 

- Once the installation is complete, click EXIT. 

- At this point, you should be able to enter the password.

If you are still having problems, you can take the following steps:

- revert to the previous version or one of the previous versions of Mac, and try disabling the password

- You can also try disabling the password on a Windows computer. This will be possible only if the file format is eXFAT, since it is compatible with both Windows and Mac.

In order to assist with the problem analysis, we will need the following information:

- A brief description of problem and possibly a video-clip showing that you are unable to open the software.

- Screenshot of error message

- System information or computer model

- SSD serial number.

We will forward the information to the software developers to aide with the analyses.

We do hope to have adequately informed you and look forward to your response."

Based on the e-mail info, I went through the Portable SSD software re-installation, ignored the incompatibility warning and supplied the password using the Portable SSD software, and the OS was able to see my password encrypted T3 SSD drive and access it without any problem. I took the opportunity and downloaded all my data from the SSD drive to a regular one just in case.

Now it works: undo the password with another mac (under mojave or older). Afterwards it will be accessible without the driver from samsung. You can reformat with disc utility and add a password there if you want to. Works fine.

Solution:

Find a Mac with another OS. My husband's MacBookAir is too old for further OS updates (2011)

Connect the T5

Download the Mac package

The format is exFAT

Once downloaded, open Utilities/Disk utilities

Click "Erase"

Choose "Extended (Journaled)" in the pop up.

When the procedure finishes, the pop up should now show "Extended (Journaled)"

Does anyone know how to find the version number of the T5?

When I contacted Samsung support (not an intuitive procedure), they blamed Apple for the "untimely" release Catalina.

They did not have time to update their firmware I was told.

I won't blame Apple.

Actually, this is not correct. You can install the Samsung drivers, but don't -- not if you want to use the T5. Use Disk Utility, period.

Contact Samsung tech support. There may be problems with certain models' compatibility with Catalina.

Works very well. I tried to make it a bootable drive, in fact, my permanent boot drive. It was dodgy until I just reformatted with apfs.

It’s impossible to install the SSD T5 software after Catalina has already been installed. A dialogue pops up informing us that the software is incompatible with Catalina and the only choice is to quit the installer. The option to install the drivers doesn’t appear.

I just called them (1-800-Samsung) they said that there is no update yet, pretty much we are screwed!

Have you reformatted it to apfs? I have a T5, it works.

If you want to make your Samsung Portable SSD T5 a bootable backup drive (ala Carbon Copy Cloner) in Catalina, I believe it must be formatted as APFS.

As far as I know, you need the Samsung SD T5 software installed to easily find the firmware version.

Samsung has not updated their software.

I haven't yet upgraded to Catalina, and after reading this I am wondering if I'd be wise to hold off doing so.

I store my Capture One image files in a Samsung T5, but as far as I'm aware there is no software on the SSD, the C1 app is on my Mac. Will this issue affect me or will I be OK to move to Catalina if I'm just using the T5 to store files?

I've upgraded to Catalina, and in the two days I have used it I have not had any problems accessing my C1 Catalog on my T5.

I too didn't install the Samsung drivers, so it's looking more likely that you are right, that only those who did install them have this issue.

You just need a backup of your present boot. Then you format your present drive with apfs and then Catalina. And then pull all your data off the backup with Migration Assistant in Catalina. Migration Assistant takes time, but it my experience it gets you to an almost perfect copy, and the cruft is removed.

Convenient, if one happens to have a second Mac one has not faithfully and eagerly upgraded to Catalina like a rabid chihuahua 🙈

Has Samsung mentioned anything at all regarding the reason behind their small-South-American-republic-sized f%#k up? No casual mentions of any senior management bottoms being ferociously gnawed upon I suppose? I wanna access my data.