Samsung T5 drive - should I reformat ??

A Samsung T5 newbie question:

 

I have a new Samsung T5 which I am going to use to store my Logic project files, and sound libraries for plug-ins (NI etc)

 

QUESTION - Should I re-format before I start using the drive ?

 

If yes, I would appreciate any tips on how to do this, and any general advice on using the T5.

 

Thanks

Yes, use Disk Utility to format the drive: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208496

I see that there are two format options. Is "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" the one to go for ?

 

"...Format: Choose APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled). Disk Utility shows a compatible format by default..."

Choose APFS unless you need Mac OS Extended (for example for the reasons explained in the link you quoted, compatibility with older macOS versions etc...).

Hi David,

 

I have erased drive. I don't see any menu options to reformat the drive ?

 

Appreciate suggestions

 

This is all detailed in the article I linked to earlier: the options for a format type appear when you click "Erase". See step #4.

Okay, got it now - I was expecting another step for re-formating.

 

The drop-down menu option did not have "APFS" option so I chose the "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)"

 

Once it's formatted Mac OSX Extended, you can erase again and choose APFS.

Triplets: thanks - I did not know that.

 

Is it worth switching to APFS ? I have just spent a couple of hours copying files over, and setting up the new Samsung T5

 

Always learning!

APFS is designed for SSD drives.

So unless you want to use the drive for Time Machine or connect to computers with operating systems older than High Sierra, you should use APFS.

Ok - that's tomorrow's task!

Remember a reformat will erase everything!

Thanks for the important reminder.

 

I still have all the files on my original Lacie drive.

 

I was not going to delete anything for a couple of weeks until I was 110% sure the Samsung T5 was working correctly and Time machine was backing up everything properly.

I was not going to delete anything for a couple of weeks until I was 110% sure the Samsung T5 was working correctly and Time machine was backing up everything properly.

 

Like I said earlier, if you gonna use this drive for Time Machine, LEAVE it as Mac OSX Extended.

My Time machine lives on another drive - a LaCie 4TB spinning drive.

 

The Samsung T5 SSD is going to have my Logic project files, and plug-in libraries.

Ok, just double checking

Triplets: I was going to erase the T5 and reformat to APFS as you suggest. However the dialogue box that comes up does not have the APFS option ??

I seem to recall having to repartition my SSD drive when I got it in order to be able to APFS format it. You should check whether it’s using a GUID partition table (and if not repartition it to do so) WARNING fiddling with the partition table of a drive can/will erase the data on it.

I am getting way out of my comfort zone ...!

 

I will stick with "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)" option. Everything seems to be working fine.

Yes you'll be fine with MacOS Extended (Journaled).