Setup ssd as removable device

How do I setup a SSD in a usb enclosure to be recognized as a removable device? Not partitioned.
I need it setup to appear as a usb flash drive. It's for music in my truck. The head unit will read usb flash drives, but not anything partitioned.

 

Why not just use a normal flash drive...? SSD for read-only music that would be 100% overkill.

 

5400RPM is good enough for music... heck... 3200RPM will do.... heck... a CD will do

But you can use an sata-to-usb that will treat your SSD as removeable.

 

I understand the alternatives, but I have reasons to use the ssd. First is that I already own it and don't want to buy a 64gb flash drive. Second is a spinning drive will not be good in freezing weather and below. Third is that I want to do it this way.
The SSD is connected to my pc via a usb to sata adapter right now. I had to partition it in order to access the drive. Windows saw it as a disk drive. I need Windows to see it as a flash drive. For it to work in my truck it needs to NOT be partitioned.
I am transferring from it right now. When its done, I will delete all partitions and see if windoze treats it as a removable usb flash drive.

RMPrepUSB may do it. It says it will format a usb device to appear as a floppy disk...No partition table.

 

When you mean partitioned, do you mean it has more than one partition on it right now?

Check google for formatting to a specific format (Fat32 should work I believe) within Windows.

Don't allow the SSD drive to freeze or cook itself inside the truck - it too will stop working or die in extreme temps.


Good luck.

 

No, just one partition. But the way it is now, you have to partition it to even format it. Just like any hard drive, Solid state or spinning. It needs a partition table.
USB flash drives do not have any partition table.
I'll check the temperature specs of the SSD. It has to be better than a spinning drive with bearings.

snvp325s264gb
operating range 0° to 70° C
storage range -40° to 85° degrees C


From Sandisk on USB flash drives.

OEM Flash Drives do have this documentation and the Cruzer Micro should be similar if not the same.
Temperature
• Operating: 0° C to 45° C
• Storage: -20° C to 60° C

So the SSD is better than a flash drive temperature wise..

 

That is exactly the same with a removable drive (the format creates the partition).

As for the operating range - the 0C end indicates a non-condensation environment. And the 70C range would probably indicate a reduced performance (throttled) scenario.

In either case; effectively the same as a HDD, temp-wise.


If you're using Win8 or possibly Win7 (and possibly 'Pro' needed...) try formatting it as exFAT.


Good luck.

 

You'd need to format the SSD (not sure why you still even want to do this, but fine) as FAT32, because more than likely the head unit won't read it as NTFS. After that it shouldn't matter if Windows sees the drive as removable or not, but then you have to worry about extra power adapters and USB bridges, more things to break.

I still say just getting a flash drive would make it a lot more simple. Also I wouldn't worry about extreme cold temperatures with flash storage, extreme hot temperatures on the other hand...

 

Correct, the drive can not be NTFS for the head unit to access it.
Yes I'm using Win7 pro. exFAT..I will investigate that. As long as windoze sees the drive after I eliminate the existing partition.

Windows Drive Management let me format it to exFAT. Primary/active, same settings as my flash drive. Windows explorer does not see the drive. unplugged the SSD at the usb and replugged it, still no joy......Hmmmm

 

You could try formatting to FAT32 using something like gparted.

 

Yes Linux gparted is on the list to attempt. I am guessing that maybe there is something in the controller that tells windoze if it's a flash drive or a "disk" drive. If it reads disk drive, windoze ignores the drive without it having a partition table.
Many, many days ago, they used a drive overlay that fooled an OS into believing that a drive was something other than what it really was.

 

I plugged the drive back into the external USB case. It's formatted as exFAT..Windoze loads the drivers for removable (flash) storage and says everything loaded ok and the drive is ready for use. But, Windoze explorer still does not show the drive.
I started Rmusbprep and it sees the drive and correctly id's it. Rmusbprep shows the drive as unmounted. How do I force Windoze to mount the drive?

 

Did you assign a drive letter to the drive, does it show as partitioned as exFAT in disk management?

As for the drive registering as a thumb drive and what not, my guess would be that the SATA to USB controller or the drive's own controller are responsible for declaring what they are to the OS and if I'm right, you might not be able to achieve what you want to do.