2019 iMac Apple SSD Will Not Initialize

Question

Level 1

4 points

2019 iMac Apple SSD Will Not Initialize

2019 27" iMac Unrecoverable hard drive failure, as diagnosed by the Genius Bar. Swapped out for recommended hard drive. We were able to reload the Time Machine image. It ran adequately until we tried to upgrade to newer iOS versions (past Catalina). We repeatedly got an error message indicating that we needed to initialize a disk.

Disk utility First Aid indicates that while both the OEM SSD and the new hard drive appear to restore correctly and get a checkmark. The Apple SSD indicates that it is "uninitialized.". The restore or erase function does not serve to initialize the disk. See attached messages.

Any help would be gratefully appreciated.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Mar 18, 2025 6:54 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

den.thed

Level 10

96,704 points

Mar 18, 2025 7:41 PM in response to Kkilg

Did the Genius Bar replaced the drive..?

If they did, then take it back and insist that they re-fused the drives, re-format and then reinstalled the macOS.

Then when you get back home, all you need to do is connect your Time Machine backup drive and Migrate from it.

If you replaced the drive yourself..?

1) Then you need to re-fuse the SSD and HDD.

see > How to fix a split Fusion Drive - Apple Support

2) Then reinstall the latest macOS for that year model.

see > How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

3) Then connect your Time Machine backup drive and Migrate from it during the setup.

see > Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

Lastly if your replaced the drive yourself and any of the above steps fail...?

Then something is not right and you need to take it back to the Genius Bar for proper service.

Reply

Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

149,220 points

Mar 18, 2025 10:10 PM in response to Kkilg

Back to the Genius Bar you should go assuming they did the work for you. IF they did not, that was an error and you should take it back it to be properly repaired.

Reply

2019 iMac Apple SSD Will Not Initialize

Similar questions