How to copy 1.7tb to external SSD?

[gradi]

I have about 1.7tb on an external SSD. I have bought another external SSD and I want to copy everything on SSD #1 to SSD #2. I am using an M2 Pro MBP on Ventura 13.6. Of course, I want to ensure data is copied without corruption, can handle any errors without having to restart from the beginning, and be reasonably fast. What do people recommend?

I could use Finder to do the copy -- copy and paste. Will it ensure data integrity? Will it be able to start from where it left off in the case of some error?

I use FreeFileSync every day for other purposes. I can use it for this massive copy and with the verify option turned on gives a bit more assurance of data integrity (but not a guarantee) and it also can be restarted from where it left off in the case of some problem.

From experience I know this will take many hours to do the copy so I hope to make a good choice before I start.

 

[gilby101]

I would use ChronoSync which, as well as being fast, does have options for verification as well as recovering from errors. FreeFileSync may do much the same - does it copy appropriate extended attributes?

 

[glenthompson]

I use Carbon Copy Cloner for other tasks so it’s a natural for this.

 

[ovbacon]

I have about 1.7tb on an external SSD. I have bought another external SSD and I want to copy everything on SSD #1 to SSD #2. I am using an M2 Pro MBP on Ventura 13.6. Of course, I want to ensure data is copied without corruption, can handle any errors without having to restart from the beginning, and be reasonably fast. What do people recommend?

I could use Finder to do the copy -- copy and paste. Will it ensure data integrity? Will it be able to start from where it left off in the case of some error?

I use FreeFileSync every day for other purposes. I can use it for this massive copy and with the verify option turned on gives a bit more assurance of data integrity (but not a guarantee) and it also can be restarted from where it left off in the case of some problem.

From experience I know this will take many hours to do the copy so I hope to make a good choice before I start.

It depends on what kind of data is on it.

 

[gradi]

It depends on what kind of data is on it.

Many thousands of photos (raw, TIFF, JPEG), text files, etc. A few short videos also.

 

[Fishrrman]

CarbonCopyCloner.

It's FREE to use for the first 30 days.

It will do the job, and do it right.

OR...
SuperDuper.

It will do the same thing.

SD is a little less complicated to use than CCC.
CCC can do a little more, but again, SD is the easier one to use.

 

[gradi]

I decided to use FreeFileSync with the verify option on. The copy took 3.5 hours.

 

[Slartibart]

Out of curiosity: because that seems to be quite slow (~130 Mb/s) - even with verify, even on AS. That was via USB or Thunderbolt? What file system do your SSDs use?

 

[gradi]

It is a 4tb Samsung T7 Shield that uses USB. APFS file system.