Added a LaCie External SSD to a iMac 2017 and left the internal HD connected.

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Level 1

9 points

Added a LaCie External SSD to a iMac 2017 and left the internal HD connected.

My iMac 27" 2017 Ventura 13.7 was getting very slow, long (10min) boot ups, spinning wheel, etc so a year ago I installed a 1TB LaCie External drive per a previous post from here. Everything went well and it was working fine-- until now.

I had left the the original drive in and changed the Startup to the new external drive. I left the original because it could boot the system (be it slow) as insurance should the external drive fail. It worked and passed all tests. It was just sluggish. I never used it to store any files. I pretty much just ignored it.

Now on to my issue. I found that some files/data are still being pulled from the original Internal drive. I was having huge problems with the Music app. Music/iTunes is a nightmare to deal with. Long story short it wasn't until I used "show in finder" instead of 'get info" to locate some music files and found a good bit of the music was being pulled from the old original internal drive! There are other examples where files are still being used but won't go into them now.

I guess the easy answer is just wipe the original. Everything else is backed up or installed on the new drive except system and boot up files. It just seems a waste to leave a "working" drive dormant installed internally when it can be used if needed.

Suggestions??

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.7

Posted on Oct 27, 2024 8:52 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 27, 2024 9:09 AM in response to ronline1111

Your description of your machine's sluggish performance suggest that drive may be failing, though there are other reasons why a Mac would be sluggish. Some 2017 iMacs have fusion drives, a linked combination of small ssd and larger hdd. If that software link is broken and the fusion drive becomes split for some reason, then performance will suffer. If that is the case then it may be possible to fix it with guidance found here:

How to fix a split Fusion Drive - Apple Support

If the problem is not a split fusion drive but failing hardware, then that's another thing.

In either case, you can try wiping the drive and see if the performance improves. You have nothing to lose as long as your external drive is bootable and performing as it should.

I would suggest that you make sure you have a backup of your startup drive before you proceed. Just in case.

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Answer 2

den.thed

Level 10

82,504 points

Oct 27, 2024 1:26 PM in response to ronline1111

You're welcome.

It's water under the bridge now, but I would have installed macOS on the external and then migrated everything from the internal drive.

Depends on which of the recovery options you choose. Either way you can always upgrade the macOS.

see > Use Disk Utility to erase a Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support

and > How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

82,504 points

Oct 27, 2024 6:11 PM in response to ronline1111

Awesome! You're welcome.

If your Music is in multiple Libraries or scattered about in different places....?

The following article will help you to locate, organize and consolidate your Music.

see > Change where your music files are stored on Mac - Apple Support

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Answer 4

Oct 27, 2024 10:51 AM in response to ronline1111

You could try ejecting the internal drive, after booting from the external one. That might help to prevent accidental use of the internal drive – or to help you find out what things are still stored there that you thought you had moved.

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Answer 5

den.thed

Level 10

82,504 points

Oct 27, 2024 11:46 AM in response to ronline1111

Option 1) Move everything on the internal drive to the external startup drive if there is space and then backup with Time Machine to a second external drive.

Option 2) Move everything on the internal drive to a second external drive and then backup both of those external drives with Time Machine on third external drive.

Then erase the internal hard drive, reinstall macOS and leave it empty.

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Answer 6

ronline1111 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 27, 2024 1:03 PM in response to den.thed

Thanks den.thed

I used option 1 when I added the new External drive. I didn't do a separate complete back of the old Fusion Drive backup then, just some more important docs and all the music.

Since the iMac didn't come with install discs I believe you can reinstall the OS (in this case Ventura 13.7) using Internet Recovery.

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Answer 7

ronline1111 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 29, 2024 7:33 AM in response to den.thed

YES My music is scattered over different places and Libraries. Trying to fix it has only made it is somewhat worse. I had read the link you provided before. In fact I've been reading pretty much everything I can find on the subject. You just have to be careful how old that info is and if it applies to the version of Mac OS you have. I've seen a lot of good info from turingtest2 on here too.

Seems I have multiple issues going on affecting a positive solution.

Too many locations of stored music
I got rid of iTunes Match. It caused tons of problems esp. with Album Art.
I am caught up in a old iTunes to Music conversion
Different computers with different ages and OSs

iMac is a 2017 with Ventura 13.7 and the Music is version 1.3.6.14

MacBook Pro is 2019 with Sequoia 15.0.1 and the Music is version 1.5.0.174

The iPhone is a 16PM iOS 18.0.1 and music is ??

They store and react to music different so I need to work as separate issues.

This is what stared the whole issue with my original Internal drive being left installed. I found files in Music that pointed back to it even though there were folders and files of the same exact music on the new external drive!

In fact I found music pulled from at least 4 different locations. So one problem solved! lol

I'll keep working at it till I have to fixed.

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Answer 8

ronline1111 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 27, 2024 11:20 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Thank you D.I. for the response!

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I was says that the machine WAS sluggish. It works much better with the External SSD drive now. I read your links. Yes it is a fusion drive and as far as I know working as such. I never partitioned or changed it in any way. It does show as One drive in finder. In Disk Utility I see two volumes, Macintosh HD & Macintosh HD- data. I don't believe it was hardware issue since replacing the original drive with a external SSD solved all the speed issues and has been working well since.

My main issue is many files are still being stored and pulled from the Fusion Drive which causes me problems, esp. in the Music program. Even though all the music is now in the new drive I have a mix of file/songs from both the Internet & External drives.

I guess the logical answer is to wipe the drive after I make sure I have a good backup. I do have time machine on another external drive with a 2nd partition for individual file backups. I'll read up on ways to back up the startup drive.

Is there a way to just delete all the user data from the Fusion Drive and keep it as a bootable drive? Or would it be better to just wipe it and then reload it with the minimum flies needed to make it a bootable drive?

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Answer 9

ronline1111 Author

Level 1

9 points

Oct 27, 2024 11:36 AM in response to Servant of Cats

Thanks!

I do see an eject option for the drive in Finder. Once I do that will it come back next time I boot up or do I need to do something to bring it back?

I'm pretty confident all my files were moved when I updated but yes I've visions of half my files disappearing from the Music app when I do that. The music app is a quirky difficult program to keep stable. I don't get it. You tell it ok all my music is stored in this location and then it goes out and pulls from everywhere else you can imagine.

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