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Samsung X5 with Mojave 10.14.6 on 2019 iMac

S

stefankm

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 8, 2018
4
1
Hi,

I am trying to run a Samsung X5 with my iMac, unfortunately I havn't been successfull in getting the SamsungPortableSSD software 1.6.6 to recognize the device... although the drive mounts normally and is accessible from macOS.
This seems be be a common problem with the software version 1.6.6 and the X5 on Mojave. There a several threads in the Apple forums suggesting that version 1.6.2 does work and the problems were introduced with Catalina support in the driver.

The Samsung support wasn't very helpfull. All I got were three identical requests for screenshots which I sent three times and steps to reinstall the software, which I did numerous times (the software gets installed, the kext is loaded). I also mailed the support team my plea for the old version (which is not available on their website anymore), but all I get the the same reinstallation guide again and again.

Does perhaps someone still have the 1.6.2 version of the Samsung Portable SSD tool? As I understand it is one package for both the T5 and the X5, so if you still have the T5 package, it should contain the X5 kext as well.

Any help is highly appreciated!
Thanks!
Best,
Stefan
 
Best if you supply details about your iMac. Samsung update 1.6.6 is for 2017 models+ only and life Apple theynbdo not maske former releases available.

Go down to 'Devices' on this link and check on Apple for the 2017 iMac. Good luck.

www.samsung.com

Samsung Portable SSD X5 | Specs & Features | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Samsung Portable SSD X5 delivers fast speeds and safeguards data. It has a 2TB capacity and the fastest bandwidth up to 40Gb/s that brings speed and performance.
www.samsung.com www.samsung.com
 
I have a couple Samsung X5s and the first thing I did when getting them was to reformat them and get rid of unnecessary stuff, including that Samsung proprietary software, which I don't need and don't want and don't use. My devices work perfectly fine formatted as APFS with Catalina, and prior to that the one I had at the time Mojave was the primary OS, worked well with that, too.
 
Catalina unfortunately is not an option. I have a lot of old 32bit software which cannot be easily converted to 64bit.
I also intend to use the X5 as my new boot volume as I made the fatal descision to buy my imac (2019) with a fusion drive.
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It is a 2019 imac, unfortunately with a terribly slow fusion drive.
[automerge]1585295160[/automerge]
I understand that the software is required for firmware updates, drive health data and the security features.
 
Nevermind, after begging for days, the Samsung support has sent the old version, but it doesn't work, neither. Needless to say that the tool works without problems on Win10 :confused:.
It seems even 700€ for a SSD isn't reason enough for proper mac software tools :mad:
Thanks for your replies!
 
stefankm said:
I understand that the software is required for firmware updates, drive health data and the security features.
Click to expand...
Unless you're using the drive cross-platform, you're best off using Filevault anyway.
 
Clix Pix said:
I have a couple Samsung X5s and the first thing I did when getting them was to reformat them and get rid of unnecessary stuff, including that Samsung proprietary software, which I don't need and don't want and don't use. My devices work perfectly fine formatted as APFS with Catalina, and prior to that the one I had at the time Mojave was the primary OS, worked well with that, too.
Click to expand...

Not concerned about firmware updates? I agree about everything else.
 
I don't have an X5 at the moment, I came to this thread because I may get one. I have several Samsung T5s which have fairly regular firmware updates, maybe twice in past year, last one quite recent.
 
Just found this in the X5 Manual :

"In case of X5, Samsung Portable SSD Software update is available for both macOS and Windows OS versions. But X5 FW update is available for Windows OS version only"

Guess Samsung don't regard firmware updates for X5 important enough to make them available for Macs, unless there is some technical reason.
 
Last edited:
Mike Boreham said:
Guess Samsung don't regard firmware updates for X5 important enough to make them available for Macs, unless there is some technical reason.
Click to expand...
The T5s will get firmware updates through the Mac utility but Samsung's internal SSDs require creating a boot disk (or Windows) to update firmware. Some of these updates have been pretty important as well, unfortunately.
 
DON'T USE the Samsung software. And don't worry about not using it.

The drive will run best with the Mac if you completely "wipe" the drive using disk utility and "start from scratch".
 
I have a Samsung T5 which I’m trying to use as a time machine drive in Mojave.
I start the backup process and it fails about 5-10 minutes later. I bought the drive a year or 2 ago. Would a firmware update fix this or is there another reason?

tnx
 
multimania said:
I have a Samsung T5 which I’m trying to use as a time machine drive in Mojave.
I start the backup process and it fails about 5-10 minutes later. I bought the drive a year or 2 ago. Would a firmware update fix this or is there another reason?

tnx
Click to expand...
It's hard to say why the backup might fail. There have been several firmware updates in the past 2 years, however.
 
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Thanks for the answer! So do I need to install the firmware through the Samsung app or something?

thanks
 
Hi. I installed the firmware. Formatted the drive and started time machine. The backup went to about 60gb out of around 600gb and it fell over. I just don’t understand. I’m beginning to think the T5 is not a reliable time machine drive.
 
multimania said:
Hi. I installed the firmware. Formatted the drive and started time machine. The backup went to about 60gb out of around 600gb and it fell over. I just don’t understand. I’m beginning to think the T5 is not a reliable time machine drive.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't personally waste an SSD on Time Machine, but you might look for logs which might indicate what's happening.
 
multimania said:
Hi. I installed the firmware. Formatted the drive and started time machine. The backup went to about 60gb out of around 600gb and it fell over. I just don’t understand. I’m beginning to think the T5 is not a reliable time machine drive.
Click to expand...

It is possible that the T5 is the problem, but unlikely IMHO. You could try running Disk First Aid from Recovery to see if the boot volume has any warnings or errors. You could try making a TM backup to a different drive and if that works when the T5 doesn't there is a basis for laying blame on the T5.
 
I appreciate your replies/insights. Ok. I have a LaCie 2big 8tb. Can I use that? I have other data on this. I’m unsure whether time machine would need a complete clean drive or whether it can just backup to the free space on it alongside my existing data. I don’t wish to partition the LaCie. If that’s possible that would confirm one way or another whether it’s a system or drive issue.

this is all a bit over my head.
 
multimania said:
I appreciate your replies/insights. Ok. I have a LaCie 2big 8tb. Can I use that? I have other data on this. I’m unsure whether time machine would need a complete clean drive or whether it can just backup to the free space on it alongside my existing data. I don’t wish to partition the LaCie. If that’s possible that would confirm one way or another whether it’s a system or drive issue.

this is all a bit over my head.
Click to expand...
Time Machine is best used on a dedicated disk because the backup will eventually grow to use the entire disk.
 
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