Reuse SSD as an external drive and back-up image


Joop

Joop

Member
Local time
1:19 AM
Posts
34
Location
Alberta
OS
windows 11
I transferred all the back-up files to my new PC.
Do I need any software to re-format/erase to use it as an external back-up SSD?
I took the SSD out before disposing of the old PC, thus I can't use the PC to do that.
When I tried to have a look at the Macrium Reflect image, the folder showed empty and the reflect folder had only xml files in it.
Not that it matters since I had all the files I wanted to keep.
However, I am curious as to if I had needed it to recover the system, how to go about it.
version 24H2
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    System Model HP OmniStudio X All-in-One Desktop 32-c0xxx
    CPU
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 155H, 3800 Mhz, 16
    Memory
    32 GB
    Hard Drives
    one two tera bytes
After every new PC I remove the HDD or SSD, place it in an external USB drive enclosure and use it as an external dribe for whatever mission I have in mind. Use your favorite disk management software to format and to assign a drive letter. (y)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro @2N23
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7
    Memory
    16gb
    Hard Drives
    M2 2TB SSD
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    ioBit
rk911 said:
After every new PC I remove the HDD or SSD, place it in an external USB drive enclosure and use it as an external dribe for whatever mission I have in mind. Use your favorite disk management software to format and to assign a drive letter. (y)
Click to expand...
I am totally inept when it comes to PC/software issues, could you give me some advise how to go about it?
To me, a PC is like a car, I know how to drive it, but have not a clue about all the workings of an ICE.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    System Model HP OmniStudio X All-in-One Desktop 32-c0xxx
    CPU
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 155H, 3800 Mhz, 16
    Memory
    32 GB
    Hard Drives
    one two tera bytes
There's 2 types of SSD drives, one is the 2.5" drive with SATA connections and the other is an NVMe M.2. I have cases for both types I've salvaged from junked computers, mostly Notebooks. The 2.5" drive is usually silver-colored with a label but may be other colors.

NVMe
1737435450568.webp
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe M.2
  • Operating System
    Win11 Pro RTM Version 24H2 Build 26100.4202
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 4TB Seagate HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
I can't do that on a forum, thru e-mail or on the phone. You'll need someone...a friend, neighbor or a tech at a computer store near you...to do that.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro @2N23
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell
    CPU
    AMD Ryzen 7
    Memory
    16gb
    Hard Drives
    M2 2TB SSD
    Browser
    Edge
    Antivirus
    ioBit
If you need to look at/reformat the old SSD, I often use AOMEI free Partition Assistant.
Then in this case I would probably change it to GPT if not already, and make it a single NTFS partition and then use it for backups. Old SSDs are great, especially the NVMe's.

I use SSK cases for external NVMe's.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Mint Cinnamon 22.1, (win 11Pro 24H2 rarely)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    DIY: LianLi case, ASUS mobo
    CPU
    I9-13900k
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-E Gaming wifi-6E, latest AMI BIOS 3001
    Memory
    G.Skill Ripjaws S5 32GB Kit DDR5 6000.
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX™ 3060 Ti VISION OC 8G (rev. 2.0)
    Sound Card
    ASUSTek USB Audio driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid ("realtek")
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell S3221QS (curved 32")
    Screen Resolution
    4K but I usually display at 1K
    Hard Drives
    Sam 980 Pro 1T M.2, 990Pro, WD 570, others(all NVMe)
    PSU
    Corsair RM750e fully modular
    Case
    Lian Li 207
    Cooling
    CPU:Thermalright aio A-E-360 V4 TOP(Thermalright anti-bend plate), CASE: 2 front fans IN, 2 bottom fans in.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K70 RGB Core
    Mouse
    RedDragon Predator
    Internet Speed
    500Mbps Comcast; I226-V NIC
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    On linux nothing except firewall, on win BitDefender AV Free
    Other Info
    Standalone: Terabyte Image for Linux
    win: WuMgr, StartAllBack, , Revo Uninstaller Pro Portable.
    Been doing computers since '62(IBM 7070/4(just missed their 650!!!). Managed a bunch of 360's. Various RS computers, a commodore, an IBM PC w DOS 3.11, and others mainly DIY (COMPUTER SHOPPER!!!) w 95, 98, xp, vista, me, 7!!!, 8, 10!!!, 11.
    I use Wondershare Filmora Basic to process my vlogs. Pocket 2
  • Operating System
    win 10, Mint
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo P15s
    CPU
    i7-10510U 1.8-4.9GHz
    Motherboard
    Intel SoC
    Memory
    16GB DDR4
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia Quadro P520 2GB DDR5 supports 4K external via HDMI or USB-C
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC3287 HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1K
    Hard Drives
    NVMe various
krism said:
If you need to look at/reformat the old SSD, I often use AOMEI free Partition Assistant.
Then in this case I would probably change it to GPT if not already, and make it a single NTFS partition and then use it for backups. Old SSDs are great, especially the NVMe's.

I use SSK cases for external NVMe's.
Click to expand...
Since there was no critical information on that SSD, I just did the quick format in windows.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    System Model HP OmniStudio X All-in-One Desktop 32-c0xxx
    CPU
    Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) Ultra 7 155H, 3800 Mhz, 16
    Memory
    32 GB
    Hard Drives
    one two tera bytes
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Mistakenly formatted an external drive
Replies
5
Views
1K
jumanji
jumanji
Curious about booting from an external drive
Replies
9
Views
1K
ICIT2LOL
ICIT2LOL
Intermittent IO problem with an external drive
Replies
8
Views
3K
MrYossu
MrYossu

Latest Support Threads

Latest Tutorials

Back
Top Bottom