Can't Rename One SSD?

Question

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

24,164 points

Can't Rename One SSD?

I have got 3 USB 3.0 SSDs and 2 of them I can rename but the third I can't.

The 2 that are OK are a Samsung T5 1TB and a Crucial BX500 1TB in a Sabrent enclosure.

The one that refuses to be renamed is an old Crucial 275GB in an Orico enclosure.

I could rename it in Disk Utility but that would entail wiping it.

When I select its name on the desktop, it goes blue but refuses to go the extra step and let me input a new name.

Get Info doesn't allow me to alter any of the privileges even when I click the lock and input my password. It says I don't have permission.

Any ideas?

Posted on Sep 5, 2022 5:25 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 5, 2022 8:00 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

I have an external drive with an installation of Monterey in it, and I also cannot change the name in the Finder.

They may be due to there actually being two volumes, and perhaps renaming one would cause problems, but I really don't know.

I also have another older drive with an installation of Big Sur. Same thing. It seems that when a drive has a recent system install we can't rename it.

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Answer 2

Sep 5, 2022 5:27 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Can you select the drive, press Command-I and post a screenshot of the Info window?

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Answer 3

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

24,164 points

Sep 5, 2022 5:43 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

The basic Crucial SSD is and always has been bootable with Catalina.

Recently I added a new volume with DU and installed Monterey on the new volume.

However, the inability to rename the SSD predates the new bootable volume.

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Answer 4

Ian R. Brown Author

Level 7

24,164 points

Sep 5, 2022 8:52 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

That occurred to me but my Samsung has Monterey installed on a separate volume/partition and that is OK.

So as you say, it may be that when the macOS is installed on the basic SSD, we get the problem.

Thanks for testing it and confirming the problem.

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Answer 5

Sep 5, 2022 9:27 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

I believe I have managed to rename some recent Catalina or newer macOS system or data volume via the Finder. But then the other volume did not change its name.

So to prevent obscure errors and confusion, I very carefully pick a persistent name for boot volume(s) when erasing them and do not try to change them later unless erasing them later.

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