Disk Utility APFS Conversion Failure

[jparker402]

I have a 2021 MacBook Pro 14" running Sequoia. Am using a Samsung T7 external hard drive to back up Carbon Copy Cloner. I discovered that I originally formatted the T7 to Extended (Journalled) for reasons that I no longer remember. Just discovered that fact and decided to reformat to AFPS using the conversion option in Disk Utility. Have tried several times, and each time I end up with conversion failed. I do not see an explanation as to why. Only option I see is to finish and go back to where it was. I am starting to believe that it is never going to convert, and am now wondering if I even want to convert it at this point. Comments welcomed.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

There are many references to this in web searches. The iFixIt steps starting about 25% down this page with Step 1 seems promising.

A number of posts talk about doing this formatting in Mac Recovery Mode (booting while holding down Command and R key until you see the macOS Utility Screen). After using Disk Utility in Recovery Mode to get this done, reboot again to switch back to normal mode.

However, you might try making this a 2 step process: first reformat it as ExFat (for PCs). Disc Utility can do it quickly. Then reformat what will now be an ExFat drive as APFS.

 

[jparker402]

There are many references to this in web searches. The iFixIt steps starting about 25% down this page with Step 1 seems promising.

A number of posts talk about doing this formatting in Mac Recovery Mode (booting while holding down Command and R key until you see the macOS Utility Screen). After using Disk Utility in Recovery Mode to get this done, reboot again to switch back to normal mode.

However, you might try making this a 2 step process: first reformat it as ExFat (for PCs). Disc Utility can do it quickly. Then reformat what will now be an ExFat drive as APFS.

In either of these two ways, do you have any idea what happens to the drive? I was led to believe by Apple that if the APFS conversion on Disk Utility would leave the data intact (given that the conversion would have worked, I guess).

 

[Bigwaff]

I discovered that I originally formatted the T7 to Extended (Journalled) for reasons that I no longer remember.

Is the partition scheme GUID?

 

[jparker402]

Yes.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

In either of these two ways, do you have any idea what happens to the drive? I was led to believe by Apple that if the APFS conversion on Disk Utility would leave the data intact (given that the conversion would have worked, I guess).

There are online references to methods of preserving data. However, I personally wouldn’t trust that at all. If data is to be saved on a disc to be reformatted, I’d back up that data-probably TWICE- before formatting.

 

[Fishrrman]

Is the t7 used only for a CCC backup?

Then... don't "convert" it.

REFORMAT the drive using disk utility. Completely erase it and start over.

Then... do a "full" CCC backup again (it will take longer than an incremental backup).

Yes, it's a little more work.
But doing it my way will "get you where you want to be"...

 

[jparker402]

Is the t7 used only for a CCC backup?

Then... don't "convert" it.

REFORMAT the drive using disk utility. Completely erase it and start over.

Then... do a "full" CCC backup again (it will take longer than an incremental backup).

Yes, it's a little more work.
But doing it my way will "get you where you want to be"...

Thanks. Was coming to that conclusion since it looked like this conversion process was a lost cause. By suggesting the I reformat (erase) and start over, I gather you think I should go with APFS?

 

[Brian33]

Was coming to that conclusion since it looked like this conversion process was a lost cause. By suggesting the I reformat (erase) and start over, I gather you think I should go with APFS?

EDIT: I'm assuming from this its a HDD? But I thought T7 was an SSD? If SSD, definitely go with APFS.

"Am using a Samsung T7 external hard drive to back up"

If you only want a CCC backup that is a single point in time (that is, no backup history), then I'd format an HHD as HFS+. That would avoid possible problems mentioned below, and HFS+ has little downside for this kind of use.

On the other hand, if you want to be able to go "back in time" to retrieve older file versions (similar to Time Machine), then I would use CCC's snapshot feature, which, like Time Machine, requires APFS. This is what I've decided for my own CCC backups. It works really well -- way better than the old CCC "SafetyNet" feature, where you'd have to hunt through a myriad of folders to find the version you want, and (AFAIK can't restore the whole system to a specific past date.

Some claim APFS will inevitably severely fragment files and cause a HDD to become slow -- maybe even fail. I don't really know (haven't searched for evidence yet). My own decision is that IF the disk starts "thrashing" too much (will probably take years) and the effect is really bad, then I'll just erase the backup disk and start a new backup history. Simple solution. Plus, Apple and Howard Oakley (eclecticlight.com) seem to think APFS is acceptable for HDDs.

(I do not use backup history like an archive -- I don't normally count on it existing. I use it in unusual circumstances, like when I (rarely) need an old file version, or if I need to "un-do" a macOS upgrade after trying it for awhile, for example.)

 

[NoBoMac]

Ever use the Samsung Magician software? Did it come pre-installed and left it on? Encrypted the drive with the software?

These "helpful data protection" programs that come with drives tend to cause more problems than good. And one of the problems is situations like this. Need to wipe the drive to remove remnants of the tool. Aka, seen threads where persons needed to format to exFAT then to Apple format(s) to make things work and get rid of the bloatware.

Been a while I've formatted a T-series drive, but any new drive that I get, I make sure to wipe away these pre-loaded pieces.

My own decision is that IF the disk starts "thrashing" too much (will probably take years) and the effect is really bad, then I'll just erase the backup disk and start a new backup history.

This. Seen thrashing with HFS and OG Time Machine and this is the "fix" for me as the important stuff is already archived other places and highly unlikely I need to recover something from over a year ago (probably forgot that I even had the file(s) back then).

 

[Fishrrman]

"By suggesting the I reformat (erase) and start over, I gather you think I should go with APFS?"

If it's going to be a CCC backup, yes.

 

[ChrisA]

What you want to do is what Disk Utility calls "erase" and then choose APFS. After they use Time Machine to do your backups. It is much more efficient.

 

[NoBoMac]

Don't even need to pick APFS, just need to wipe/erase it to exFAT or whatever as Time Machine will reformat on its own to APFS and create a volume that is typed as "Backup" for Time Machine.

 

[ChrisA]

Don't even need to pick APFS, just need to wipe/erase it to exFAT or whatever as Time Machine will reformat on its own to APFS and create a volume that is typed as "Backup" for Time Machine.

Oddly, my backup disk has an APFS file system on it. There is no "Backup Fie System" Even if the volume label is "backup" the files system can be anything. I have one on a Synology NAS that is, under it all "BTRFS"

You can check the files system by right clicking the disk icon and them selecting "get info"

 

[NoBoMac]

diskutil apfs list will give more details.

 

[Bigwaff]

Oddly, my backup disk has an APFS file system on it. There is no "Backup Fie System" Even if the volume label is "backup" the files system can be anything. I have one on a Synology NAS that is, under it all "BTRFS"

Time Machine over SMB uses mounted disk images. Your Synology NAS BTRFS file system will have "sparsebundle" disk image files created and managed by Time Machine.

 

[Fishrrman]

Folks...

The OP is using CarbonCopyCloner to backup to a t7 SSD.

CCC will want APFS for this job.

His "easiest way" is to just erase the drive to APFS, and use CCC to do a "full clone" from the get-go.

A few mouse clicks, and... done.

 

[jparker402]

Weirdest thing happened this afternoon with my Samsung drive that i have connected to CCC. In the beginning of this thread I told you that the drive was formatted to Extended. And I tried to convert it to APFS using the conversion button in Disk Utility. And it failed about three times before I got back on the forum. Today I started to reply to the CCC maker's email that has asked me how it was going. Forgot the term for "extended" so took thee easy way out by opening the Samsung drive in Disk Utility to see the correct term, and the fool thing is not formatted to APFS!!! At some point after I gave up on it because it said it failed and this afternoon, it converted itself! (At least that is what it says.) Magic?