Calling Samsung T7 Touch SSD users

[Poncho]

I posted this in another, very long, thread where it was buried, so re-posting it here in the hope someone has all or some of the answers.
If you launch Disk Utility and erase a Samsung T7 Touch and format it as Mac OS Extended (journaled) will the encryption volume will be nuked in the process? Can you just erase the part of the SSD (Volume) without the Samsung encryption software on it and then Carbon Copy Clone to there? Do you have to install and run the Samsung encryption software before doing any of this and secure the whole disk, then decrypt and reformat it in Disk utility? Can the Samsung T7 encrypt data already on it before the Password/encryption software is run or does the encryption process erase any pre-installed data? Most importantly for my intended use case, can you plug in a Samsung T7 Touch SSD, install and activate the fingerprint encryption software supplied and then use Disk Utility to create two partitions on it, one to install a bootable OSX clone on and the other to simply be a place where you can store data? Or will doing this mean you have to erase the whole drive and lose the encryption volume. And if you have done this, can you download and re-install the Samsung encryption software and get the drive back to how it was in factory state?

 

[Fishrrman]

"If you launch Disk Utility and erase a Samsung T7 Touch and format it as Mac OS Extended (journaled) will the encryption volume will be nuked in the process?"

I think I answered you in the other thread.
You should bookmark the thread so you won't lose it.

My guess is NO, disk utility WILL NOT remove a protected partition that has been created by the Samsung software.

You should visit Samsung's site and see if they have a utility app that controls this.
I think it might be on this page:

Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.

www.samsung.com

You will probably need to
- run the utility
- remove the protected partition and the Samsung pre-installed software
AND THEN
- you can use disk utility to completely erase the drive and start over.

Remember that once you do this, any "extra features" controlled by the Samsung software will be gone.
What is "the touch" about?
Does that have to do with "unlocking" the drive?
I'll guess that once you remove the Samsung software, this won't work any more.

 

[Poncho]

I think I answered you in the other thread.

Which thread was that? I don't think you did, so does that mean someone else has a similar question?

Anyway, thanks for the reply. Yes, the Samsung T7 Touch can be unlocked using your fingerprint, once set up that way.

 

[John_Jefferson]

I posted this in another, very long, thread where it was buried, so re-posting it here in the hope someone has all or some of the answers.
If you launch Disk Utility and erase a Samsung T7 Touch and format it as Mac OS Extended (journaled) will the encryption volume will be nuked in the process? Can you just erase the part of the SSD (Volume) without the Samsung encryption software on it and then Carbon Copy Clone to there? Do you have to install and run the Samsung encryption software before doing any of this and secure the whole disk, then decrypt and reformat it in Disk utility? Can the Samsung T7 encrypt data already on it before the Password/encryption software is run or does the encryption process erase any pre-installed data? Most importantly for my intended use case, can you plug in a Samsung T7 Touch SSD, install and activate the fingerprint encryption software supplied and then use Disk Utility to create two partitions on it, one to install a bootable OSX clone on and the other to simply be a place where you can store data? Or will doing this mean you have to erase the whole drive and lose the encryption volume. And if you have done this, can you download and re-install the Samsung encryption software and get the drive back to how it was in factory state?

Hi mate did you work out your questions with the T7. I’ve just bought one. If I reformat to Mac OS Journaled does that also wipe the open partition containing the security software? Concerned I’m going to lose Touch ID function when I erase and format

 

[Gabor115]

Hi! It seems like there are no problems with formating. After setting up the drive, I reformated it to macOS Journaled. The read-only partition is still intact with all the setup software in it. Logging in using fingerprint is also working fine. No new setup was necessary.

 

[RusHayer]

Hello! I have a question for Samsung T7 Touch SSD users. Can I use it as bootable external drive for iMac? I saw some messages that Touch version can cause some issues? Is it true? Thanks!

 

[datumax]

Better question: now that this drive has been discontinued, has anyone looked into opening one up and upgrading the SSD?

 

[Fishrrman]

Rushayer:
"I have a question for Samsung T7 Touch SSD users. Can I use it as bootable external drive for iMac?"

It should work.
Why don't you try it and get back to us with your results?

datumax:
"now that this drive has been discontinued, has anyone looked into opening one up and upgrading the SSD?"

I could be wrong, but I don't think there's an "upgradeable drive" inside.
Just... memory chips and a controller circuit.