Samsung 1TB SSD T3

Question

Level 2

193 points

Samsung 1TB SSD T3

What a disappointment. This drive does not function as advertised or it is supposed to function (does not partition or run Samsung app) on my MacBook Pro 15" 2016 brand new, running macOS Sierra v 10.12.2. I believe it is the OS that is not compatible as the drive does not partition (or run Samsung app) on my mid 2010 MBP running the same OS.

The drive does mount, and 1 TB is available. However the software does not work. Error messages occur after one tries to launch the app titled "T3 Log In Activator for Mac" after its installed from the .pkg titled "T3 Security Enabler for Mac". In addition it is not possible to partition the drive. So if all you want is 1TB you get it. You do not get Samsung's encryption capabilities. In my case I wanted to partition the drive to run Time Machine on one partition and a boot drive on the other.

I went over this in great detail with Samsung technical support. Now my new Mac has only USB-C ports. So I purchased an expensive USB-C to USB-C thunderbolt cable from Belkin to connect the SSD to the new Mac. The technical support said that this Belkin cable was no good and to use their cable provided in the box, which I did. But then it needs the apple conversion cable USB-C to USB-A. This did not work either. Samsung blamed the Apple cable but said to return it for another which I did. Amazon had another to me within 2 days.

The second drive performed in the same fashion as the first drive. Back on the phone with Samsung, discussing the cable, and then it was decided to try it on my old MacBook Pro vintage 2010 running the same OS. Result, the same errors occurred, when using only the Samsung cable USB-C to USB-A. Samsung recommended that I return the second drive for a refund, which I have done.

Question for the community:

Has anyone else purchased this drive and has been able to partition it on a new 2016 MBP with touch bar running macOS Sierra 10.12.2?

Having researched many SSD's I am unable to find one that will work correctly. Anyone have any suggestions?

MacBook Pro, macOS Sierra (10.12.2)

Posted on Feb 1, 2017 7:08 PM

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Answer 1

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Feb 1, 2017 7:51 PM in response to Ti-maniac

I don't have the new Mac and I have no experience with the Samsung drive, but I do have one of these and I had no problem formatting it and partitioning it on a mid-2012 rMBP.

https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/external-drives/OWC-Envoy-Pro

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Answer 2

Ti-maniac Author

Level 2

193 points

Feb 2, 2017 7:52 AM in response to Ti-maniac

Thank you for your inputs. I see the Envoy SSD you are talking about. It uses USB 3.0 not 3.1 and therefore uses a different plug. I will contact MacSales and see if they are planning an update.

Again thank you, Peter

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Answer 3

Feb 2, 2017 7:59 AM in response to Ti-maniac

My advice is to stop trying to use the Samsung utilities to make your Mac use the NTFS file system. NTFS is a Windows file system. Just reformat the drive for OSX and forget about the Samsung conversion app.

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Answer 4

dwb

Level 7

33,232 points

Feb 2, 2017 8:22 AM in response to Ti-maniac

I am using the 500GB drive with a 2015 MacBook Pro. I had no reason to use the provided software because Apple has its own encryption system built into the OS. I was able to partition the drive - by deleting the default partition and starting over. The drive ships with a Windows partition so that must be removed first. I am not using the Samsung supplied cable because it wasn't long enough - I purchased a longer cable and it works fine. Since I don't have any of the newer Macs with USB C I cannot comment on how Apple's dongle works but I know many people have complained about the poor quality of third party USB C dongles.

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Answer 5

Ti-maniac Author

Level 2

193 points

Feb 2, 2017 2:40 PM in response to BobTheFisherman

Well, in fact, while I speaking with the Samsung technical support persons, the SSD was reformatted under Mac OS Extended (Journaled) GUID, and disk utility tried to partition. But the partition process failed on both SSDs that I tried with two different technical support people. So NTFS doesn't enter this problem. It is possible to reformat under Mac OS Extended (Journaled) but it is not possible to partition. (The Samsung utility does not launch / work at all.)

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Answer 6

Ti-maniac Author

Level 2

193 points

Feb 2, 2017 2:44 PM in response to dwb

to dwb,

Thanks for your reply. On your 2015 MacBook Pro, when you formatted the drive, were you using MacOS Sierra? BTW we (the Samsung tech support personnel and I) did remove the Windows partition and reformatted with Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I replied to the previous comment and mentioned that Disk Utility tried and then failed to partition the drive. I think it might be Sierra.

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Answer 7

dwb

Level 7

33,232 points

Feb 2, 2017 2:58 PM in response to Ti-maniac

The underlying code of Disk Utility isn’t all that different from previous versions but the interface is and partitioning is confusing where it was once straightforward. I have partitioned a Samsung mini SSD. Rather than talking to Samsung why not give AppleCare a call.

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Answer 8

dwb

Level 7

33,232 points

Feb 3, 2017 2:05 AM in response to S.U.

I don't remember, but I doubt it. It came formatted for windows and I had to format it for the Mac that required a different partition table. So I'm sure all I did was the weed the partition And choose 2.

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Answer 9

Ti-maniac Author

Level 2

193 points

Feb 3, 2017 11:41 AM in response to S.U.

To S.U. and dwb,

Thanks for your help.

Yes of course the drive was reformatted with Mac OS Extended (Journaled) GUID but the disk utility failed to partition the drive at the final step of the process.

This happened with both drives, and with two different Samsung technical support people. Samsung said to send it back, which I did. But at least I tried the second drive which Amazon sent promptly.

Which leads me to wonder if there is a any SSD for macOS Sierra? I thinks its Sierra because the same problem occurred on my old MacBook Pro 2010 running the same Sierra OS.

I am just going to go to the give up window for a year or so, as I see no good solution to this problem.

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Answer 10

S.U.

Level 6

9,601 points

Feb 2, 2017 7:06 PM in response to Ti-maniac

Did you erase the drive before trying to partition it?

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