Trying to use 240GB SSD pulled from gaming system (PS5?) to use in Mac laptop. Using FW adapter to access SSD, and it only shows as 33KB in old OS's utilities from SL thru El Cap. Trying to perform any operation on SSD fails. Ditto w/ USB adapter; shows same small size, but won't even let operation(s) get to the point of starting, so it can't get to actual fail. FWIW, SSD was full, but working in gaming system when it was replaced w/ 1TB SSD. Any idea what's going on, and how to (hopefully) make it usable in the old Mac laptop?
Thanks.
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FireWire adapter? Some old FW adapters are not compatible with SATA 3 devices (and can't access the full capacity of drives over certain sizes).

What type of USB adapter did you try?

What model Mac are you using?

Why not connect it to a more recent Mac to wipe it? Then assuming that the more recent Mac does the job, see if it'll mount on the old Mac and show full capacity.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/22/2022 11:45PM by Tiangou.

Make, model of 240GB SSD ?

Model of Mac laptop ? OS running on laptop ? Firewire, really?

Using /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility , it only shows 33KB for the drive?
What is the partitioning scheme ? FAT? exFAT? FAT32? other?

What operation(s) are not even starting? Disk Utility : Erase ? Paritition ? Something else?

Is there a jumper setting that renders the drive unwriteable when it's removed from the original system?
The 32KiB partition that is visible is probably the partition map that tells where the rest of the storage can be accessed, and what kind of file system it has.

If you can find the raw device address of the disk (/dev/rdsknn*), you can use the Unix fdisk(8), pdisk(8), or gpt(8) commands to force a structure onto the device.

This also smacks of an Oracle-style database (among others) that wants total control of the device.

Does the forum sponsor have a low cost storage option for the laptop ? (your definition of low cost applies)

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=TC

I’m all for reusing

But after spending more than an hour or so with no luck —My vote: new 240 GB SSD $25

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Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2022 10:07AM by jdc.

I was inspired by the Caber’s response - have you tried in terminal? You have to be careful, but this might get under the problem the disk is having…

My vote: new 240 GB SSD $25
Agree! 240GB old SSD isn't worth all that the frustration.

Adata SU760 256GB SATA-III SSD $27 @ besosville

Inland Platinum 256GB SSD 3D TLC NAND SATA III $29 @ Microcenter

But, if you're really adventurous, Unix Tutorial for fdisk. [www.tutorialspoint.com]

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/23/2022 07:33AM by MrNoBody.

Yes, need more info. Have you got it to work in anything other than the PS5? Most of the storage options for this series had very good specs but they were the gaming version of Apple, oddball interfaces that needed special workarounds in any other hardware.

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In tha 360. MRF User Map

It's a 240GB, Edge Boost Pro SATA 3, from mid 2015 (w/ label from sponsor's IL neighbor, CDW, on it.
Baby Buzz (and pal) pulled it from the PS5, but doesn't remember if it was tried in his Alienware W10 tower, as only other possible install.*
FW & USB adapters both from Seagate, and have worked w/ SATA 3 SSD's in the past.
Using 2008 (C2D) & 2011 (i7) MBP's for now.... cMP twin towers temporarily inaccessible.
Late gen MBP only has TB/USB C ports, and no handy adapters to mess w/ SSD, ditto local M1 iMac.
Edge SSD has standard SATA interface, no apparent proprietary connections... niggles, if any, must be on the chips?
Have not tried terminal, but I'm a few years past my prime in that department.**
May try to score TB/USB C style adapter, but thinking <$30 new SSD is looking better w/ each minute spent trying to reuse w/o success.
Any reason to think SSD would play nicer via TB/USB C adapter to same SATA cable, just to connect to newer Mac/OS?

If I order new SSD, any specs to look for, or to avoid?

Thanks.
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*Would not surprise me if kid tried SSD in Alienware tower to no avail, so that's a possible/likely add'l data point.

**SSD not recognized in Finder, asks to initialize then opens Disk Utility. Terminal seems kinda daunting, may try to find local techie kid to try.
/ / /

Quote
Buzz
**SSD not recognized in Finder, asks to initialize then opens Disk Utility.
/ / /

…aaaand then? Have you tried to initialize it in DU? Is that what fails?

Quote
pdq

Quote
Buzz
**SSD not recognized in Finder, asks to initialize then opens Disk Utility.
/ / /

…aaaand then? Have you tried to initialize it in DU? Is that what fails?

Yes, DU fails, as have all other utilities so far that even let you try to initialize it. Some don't even let you try, if they recognize it.
==

Stupid question: Did you opt to "show all devices" in the DU to select the drive and not the volume when erasing?

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When you open Disk Utility, click on the Device not "the volume"; does it
give you the option to Partition device?
The Device usually contains the name of the interface chip set, like
ASMT, JMicron, etc.; where as the volume will have the name you gave it
or maybe even "untitled".
If the Partition option is there, click on it and make one MBR partition.
Format as as FAT32. If that works, you can always re-do it to your desire
scheme. Good Luck.

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39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

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DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
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The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio

DU only shows name of Seagate adapter.... FW or USB, no device is shown to be able to select. In Partition window, only options are Current and 1 Partition. Both fail immediately. Error says not enough room to perform desired operation.
==

Quote
Buzz
DU only shows name of Seagate adapter.... FW or USB, no device is shown to be able to select. In Partition window, only options are Current and 1 Partition. Both fail immediately. Error says not enough room to perform desired operation.
==

Did you opt to "Show all devices" from the View menu?

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What Doc said (I should've mentioned that)...

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39°36'17"N 75°44'43"W

DuckDuckGo
The search engine that doesn't track you.

DemComm Records 2021 Greatest Hits
includes:
Taxman by Joe & Nancy's Rich Ice Cream Band
The Humpty Dance by The Harris-Brown Hookup
Lets Spend The Night Together by The Fang-Swalwell Gang
Díaz-Canel Is A Friend of Ours by The AOC Squad
My Old Kentucky Retirement Home by MitchMcC & The Soggy Boxer Boys
Burning Down The House by Merrick & The Goons
Back In the USSR by Bernie's Red Square Trio