2012 iMac 27" External SSD Boot Drive Failure

[TypeMRT]

I made the transition to using an external SSD (Samsung 840 256GB + OWC Express USB3) for booting & the internal Apple 1TB for data. Now the SSD won't boot. I booted from the Internet recovery partition and Disk Utility is telling me the SSD has "Invalid Node Structure" error that can't be repaired.

Data Rescue only recovered about half the data from the SSD so I'm bummed. Do you think it's an SSD problem or an enclosure problem? I plan to RMA both if I can but I'd like to know if one of them should be replaced with a different brand/model. Thanks!

 

[FoolMeOnce]

Most likely it's the enclosure.

 

[PavelT]

I made the transition to using an external SSD (Samsung 840 256GB + OWC Express USB3) for booting & the internal Apple 1TB for data. Now the SSD won't boot. I booted from the Internet recovery partition and Disk Utility is telling me the SSD has "Invalid Node Structure" error that can't be repaired.

hi. i use a similar set up for external ssd booting as you. but i use a 840 pro with the OWC express usb3 enclosure. once i set the external as a startup disk, i had no problems. BUT i do want to say that the quality on the OWC express is just awful. it is so flimsy and cheap plastic. its so fragile. my bet is, that is is most likely the enclosure.

 

[TypeMRT]

hi. i use a similar set up for external ssd booting as you. but i use a 840 pro with the OWC express usb3 enclosure. once i set the external as a startup disk, i had no problems. BUT i do want to say that the quality on the OWC express is just awful. it is so flimsy and cheap plastic. its so fragile. my bet is, that is is most likely the enclosure.

The OWC Express is definitely on the flimsy side and the connector has a little too much wiggle.
Any recommendations for a better enclosure? Something small & sturdy, but not too rugged since it'll live on my desk. Thanks!

 

[Nuke61]

The OWC Express is definitely on the flimsy side and the connector has a little too much wiggle.
Any recommendations for a better enclosure? Something small & sturdy, but not too rugged since it'll live on my desk. Thanks!

LaCie Rugged - you can leave it in its orange bumper case, or you can remove the bumper and show off its nice aluminum case

 

[PavelT]

The OWC Express is definitely on the flimsy side and the connector has a little too much wiggle.
Any recommendations for a better enclosure? Something small & sturdy, but not too rugged since it'll live on my desk. Thanks!

yeah, the only 2.5 enclosure i ever had is this owc express one, so i dont have much reccomendations. and i wouldnt reccomend it again of course. but i have also heard/seen bad things about lacie as a whole (shells,drives,etc) so i dont trust lacie much all either. i have witnessed at least 8-10 lacie rugged drives fail.

 

[Nirvi]

Fix

hey try this http://african-heart.blogspot.com/2010/07/fixing-invalid-node-structure-in-mac.html

When I got "Cannot repair drive after 3 attempts," I tried step 3 again & it worked. Hope this helps.