clone HD to SSD

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79Dan Author

Level 1

8 points

clone HD to SSD

I want to clone my HD to my new samsung SSD.

Im getting an error. saying the existing HD is not formatted as APFS (apple file system)

the existing HD is not the og Macintosh, I think its an HGST HD. is that the issue ?

High sierra is the latest this mid 2012 will take I believe? Unsure if that plays a role.

I formatted the new SSD as "extended journaled encrypted" because that's what it says the format of the existing HD.

So where is APFS coming from?

The old HD isn't even in APFS (I can see it in the drop down when I format the new SSD) its in extended journaled encrypted as is the new ...so is there still an easy way to clone ?

MacBook Pro 13", macOS 10.13

Posted on Mar 25, 2020 1:13 PM

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Answer 1

BobHarris

Level 9

57,041 points

Mar 25, 2020 1:41 PM in response to 79Dan

Try Carbon Copy Cloner (free fully enabled 1 month trial period)

Then use the Erase tab. And put a GUID partition scheme on it and APFS format file system on it.

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Mar 25, 2020 1:32 PM in response to 79Dan

The "source" device is apparently not formatted correctly or you formatted the SSD using APFS. Source means your internal HDD. Target is the Samsung SSD. It's not clear what you are doing. If you use Disk Utility while booted from the source drive, then Disk Utility will not allow you to clone an active startup drive. It would be much easier for you to use Carbon Copy Cloner which should let you clone the startup drive to your SSD.

If you continue running High Sierra, then all your drives should be formatted using Mac OS Extended, (Journaled.) There is no need to encrypt the drives. High Sierra can read an APFS formatted drive but it cannot write to one. For that you need Mojave or Catalina.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Mar 25, 2020 4:41 PM in response to 79Dan

You use CCC while booted normally, & HFS+ is far better.

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Answer 4

Kappy

Level 10

362,017 points

Mar 25, 2020 1:53 PM in response to BobHarris

Bob,

I don't think he wants to use APFS unless he upgrades to Catalina. APFS is read-only in High Sierra.

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Answer 5

79Dan Author

Level 1

8 points

Mar 25, 2020 2:24 PM in response to Kappy

IDC about APFS . Im happy w extended journaed. Both are formatted as extended journaled..at least that is what is shown in disk utility. As it wont let me clone while using in the regular disk utility. So I did try the clone in startup disk.. (command +R). So why does neither the HD or SSD show they are in this APFS format? Ive downloaded the carbon copy but I am still hoping there is an easier fix that I am missing.

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Answer 6

Mar 25, 2020 4:50 PM in response to 79Dan

Boot your original drive. Erase the new SSD by selecting the physical drive in Disk Utility and erase it as GUID partition and MacOS Extended (Journaled). Do not encrypt it yet. You may need to click on "View" within Disk Utility and select "Show All Devices" before the physical drives appear in the left pane of Disk Utility. The physical drive for the new SSD should be identified something like "Samsung SSD ....".

Now use Carbon Copy Cloner as others have suggested and clone the original drive to the new SSD. Make sure CCC also clones the Recovery Partition (it usually prompts you IIRC). After testing to make sure the new SSD boots, then you can enable Filevault on it.

I agree with the others here that MacOS Extended (Journaled) is the preferred format if you are using High Sierra since APFS is a new file system with lots of issues. You will need to use AFPS if you ever upgrade the system to Mojave or Catalina.

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clone HD to SSD

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