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User profile for user: lloydb39
lloydb39 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

clone to SSD failing

I have a late 2013 iMac 21.5 in., running Catalina. It has a 1 TB HDD I'm trying to replace with a 500 gig SDD connected externally. I got the SSD formatted APRS but it will not show an OS in Disk Utility for it to copy from the HDD. By choosing "show all devices" and choosing the old drive I got it to show one but when I hit "restore" I got an error "device/disk 0" is "not type Apple HFS or Apple UFS." I have no idea what that means. Is there a way to make this a formatted, bootable SSD so I can replace the old original drive (preferably without paying $50 for CCD)?

Posted on Oct 9, 2023 8:08 AM

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User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level 10
239,561 points

Posted on Oct 9, 2023 9:43 AM

It should install directly on the external SSD, some earlier Macs need to have the drive formatted MacOS Extended Journaled to start the process & let the installer change it to APFS.


Which Restore methods are you trying?


To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later… How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Command (⌘)-R

Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.


Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.


Shift-Option-⌘-R

Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.


PS. the reason DU won't clone is is a whole drive Sector by Sector copy whether there's anything or not on the Sectors.


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User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level 10
239,561 points

Oct 9, 2023 9:43 AM in response to lloydb39

It should install directly on the external SSD, some earlier Macs need to have the drive formatted MacOS Extended Journaled to start the process & let the installer change it to APFS.


Which Restore methods are you trying?


To start up from macOS Recovery, turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold one of the following combinations on your keyboard. Command-R is generally recommended, especially if you never installed macOS Sierra 10.12.4 or later… How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

Command (⌘)-R

Install the latest macOS that was installed on your Mac.


Option-⌘-R

Upgrade to the latest macOS compatible with your Mac.


Shift-Option-⌘-R

Install the macOS that came with your Mac, or the closest version still available.


PS. the reason DU won't clone is is a whole drive Sector by Sector copy whether there's anything or not on the Sectors.


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User profile for user: lloydb39
lloydb39 Author
User level: Level 1
9 points

Oct 9, 2023 2:44 PM in response to BDAqua

OK> I got Super Duper and tried that. It acted like it was copying but after 2 1/2 hours it was obvious that it was not copying anymore although it said it was. I noticed that my DD only has 490 gig free so apparently it has more than 500 gigs of something. I don't know what because I have no data files and only the essential apps. Anyway Super Duper only copied about 7 gigs and the SSD won't boot, so I am back at Square One. I still would be happy finding some way to install Catalina on my new drive so I can replace the old one.

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clone to SSD failing

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