Stuck on which HD to delete from Finder

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wessongroup Author

Level 1

9 points

Stuck on which HD to delete from Finder

Mac removal of 2 HDD in the finder

just moved over from intel to a old Mac Mini 1 and ended up with two HDD (ssd)

Named the new Mac mini as Mac mini which shows up on the desk top when using the finder to select all HD box checked

Using the disk utility this is the arrangement and number of volumes and/or HD

Internal

APPLESSD AP0512Q

Container disk3

mac-mini volumes

mac-mini (grayed out)

mac-mini snapshot

Macintosh HD-Data

Have been going through the topic and still can’t figure out which one to “delete” and/or “erase”

My choices appear to be the grayed out HD and/or the snapshot

However, I’m not confident and have concerns over all my Time Machine backups are corrupted with two HD which if I erase the HD and install a new

fresh version of the os I will lose data

Any help would be welcome .... my old intel knowledge has me lost in the new Mac proceedures .... wiping a disk and reinstalling a backup used to be really simple ..... I'm having to do a lot of home work at 82 ;)

[Edited by Moderator]

Mac mini

Posted on Aug 29, 2025 01:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Luis Sequeira1

Level 9

71,976 points

Aug 29, 2025 02:12 AM in response to wessongroup

Why do you think you should delete anything? Apart from the fact that naming is unusual, there used to be nothing there out of the ordinary. Also this has nothing to do with Intel or Apple Silicon, the disk structure is the same (unless you came from a very old version of macOS).

For several years now the system is on a separate volume from the data, and is mounted as a readonly snapshot. All is well.

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Answer 2

Owl-53

Level 10

100,165 points

Aug 29, 2025 02:02 AM in response to wessongroup

Delete >> None

Your volume naming is different from mine

Though, the Drive Structure is the same

The Macintosh HD Snapshot is Sealed Key Protection (SKP) and Read Only

It Is also the volume that the computer Boots from

The Macintosh HD - Data is where your User Account is located

🦉

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Answer 3

wessongroup Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 29, 2025 02:44 AM in response to Owl-53

Hey thanks much ..... glad to hear NOT to delete and/or erase

Not sure why mine are showing up that way .... will have to do more reading about the finder

Retired in 2008 and was a heavy user, but, I quite following what has been going on until I made the move from my old intel mac mini ... to this new set up that has replaced everything that I had used for years ....

The old repair utility and the listing of two different volumes system and data was a shocker

Again that have been really upset of the fact that I do NOT KNOW the OS on the mac any more .... behind the cure big time

Just got a 2T external that I intend to use as a testing site for installing the OS and using the migration app and trying out thing to pickup on what I can and can't do

Will have to set it up as a startup disk and then install a fresh version of OS 15.6.1 and then I'm not sure how I use my time machine back up of my "mac mini"

It used to be pretty straight foreward .... will see how it goes

Again thanks for the guidence .... greatly appreicated ;)

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Answer 4

wessongroup Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 29, 2025 02:57 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Had read it in a seach here .... and it followed with a thanks from a guy that had deleted his data and lost it from following the suggested solution .... hence my concern over seeing this suggestion and the potential high risk it posed to the data stored and/or present on the HD

Not sure what is unusual about the naming have only one mac-mini, but, do have a macbook pro, with that name and have a Macbook Air ... which I us as the name of the device have a total of 4 external HDD 2-10T for mp4 media files and one other for a backup HD called New HD which is a startup and another, the last is a TimeMachine mac-mini backup daily .... I don't have a work load any more .... just surf and movies a little news ... such that it is

Must say thanks as it all helps

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Answer 5

Owl-53

Level 10

100,165 points

Aug 29, 2025 03:03 AM in response to wessongroup

A little background on where I am coming from.

Earlier Retirement, my choice, not pushed to the sidewalk in 2007

Had the old Powerbook Motorola PPC variety

Point being, Yes things in the Apple Eco-System have changed a great deal over the years

What we thought we knew then may not apply today

We are pleased that the current issue seems resolved

Going forward

Should additional question arise and not doubt they may

Come on Back to these Forums

There are a whole raft of contributors will to help

As my Mum used to say ( RIP )

The only stupid question is it question not asked

From one retiree to another

Very Best 🦉

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Answer 6

wessongroup Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 29, 2025 03:17 AM in response to Owl-53

Was in finance and bailed(retired) in 2006 .... .around the late 1990's a number of folks along with my self looked at the creit worthness of the loans being made in commerical and SFR .... and what was going to happened when the check came due and/or loan reindexed..... and look at where we are now .... IF the manufacturing side does not take off .... like some are hoping for ..... seems we will be looking at the same picture again

Started using a Mac SE30 in 89 and kept with the mac ... will say traveling on planes was a real treat :)

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Answer 7

Owl-53

Level 10

100,165 points

Aug 29, 2025 03:35 AM in response to wessongroup

Thank you for sharing the above

Former, National Traffic Control Officer for Long Haul Trucking, Rail, Sea Containers, and Air Freight for our National Postal Service

They never even know about Apple computers aside from the name

So absolutely no on-hand training at all

What was learned was basically trial and error until I discovering these Forums

A fantastic place to observe, try new tricks and learn

Hope to see you around some time

🦉

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