Put OS on an SSD to speed up but home folder issues

[flyersgl]

I have an early 2015 iMac with a standard 1TB drive (sorry, not in a place for more specific info, but I don't think that important to the this question) and it's been slow forever. I recently installed Catalina on an SSD and the world instantly sped up, yes! But I had an initial issue that I thought had to do with the breaking up of iTunes -- my music wouldn't sync -- and while a few kind folks on MacRumors offered suggestions to cure, what I have since realized (with some spare holiday time at home) is that the fresh install isn't finding my home folder on the hard drive. So, it is saving new documents & downloads in new "home" folders, failing to sync iTunes and also not exporting photos correctly to my back up drive.

I am prepared to strip it all down and start all over if need be, but is there any easier way to get it to point to the home drive on the hard drive? Of note, I never set up a distinct account for me as a user because nobody else uses my computer, so I don't have a user account to move and then point to. Though, I could create and then populate one, which might be a little less work than starting over.

Also, Apps work fine, all the photos and tunes are accessible. My thought was to move most used apps to SSD, but not sure what problem to try to solve first!

As always, appreciate whatever thoughts anyone can offer. Thank you.

 

[3SQ Machine]

Maybe a more experienced macOS person will chime in, but I thought EVERY Mac must have at least one administrator user account. What happens when you open migration assistant on the external ssd? Does it point to your internal HDD when you select "transfer from another mac?"

 

[Fishrrman]

How LARGE an SSD did you get?
Does it have room for your entire libraries? (photos, music, movies)
Or... is it smaller?

On the SSD, you should have:
- The OS (of course)
- Your applications

You should also have [at least] your "basic" user account.

BUT -- if the SSD isn't large enough to "hold everything", you can keep SOME of the items from your home folder on the slower internal drive, and they will still work just fine.

You'll have to "re-direct" the apps for these libraries, so that they "find and use" the libraries that are now "outside of" your home folder.

Just hold down the option key when you start the app (example: Photos), and it will ask which library to use. Select the one you want.

I've seen complaints from others about synching when moving from iTunes to Music.app. I don't use it, can't help. Perhaps this is a question better asked in the dedicated Catalina forum here at macrumors...