# How to properly format and prepare the SSD drive for Umbrel installation **URL:** \ **Category:** Support and Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [December 13, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178 "2021-12-13T17:00:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lo\_ol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@lo\_ol](https://community.umbrel.com/u/lo_ol)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/1 "2021-12-13T17:00:06Z")
Hello, I did a 1st Umbrel installation but it failed so I am starting again from scratch Then, here is my question: how to properly format and prepare the SSD drive for Umbrel installation? Thanks a lot for your advices, Best Io ---
**Author:** ![DarthCoin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.umbrel.com/darthcoin/32/1628_2.png) [@DarthCoin](https://community.umbrel.com/u/DarthCoin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/2 "2021-12-13T17:09:05Z")
Just be empty. No more no less. No need to be formatted or partitioned. Just empty, no partitions. The process of setup will create partition and format it in ext4. ---
**Author:** ![lo\_ol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@lo\_ol](https://community.umbrel.com/u/lo_ol)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/3 "2021-12-13T17:11:27Z")
ok but the SSD drive has now an Umbrel installation that failed and need to be formated so ext4 is best ? ---
**Author:** ![DarthCoin](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.umbrel.com/darthcoin/32/1628_2.png) [@DarthCoin](https://community.umbrel.com/u/DarthCoin)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/4 "2021-12-13T17:14:00Z")
I would just connect that drive to another PC, delete the partition and leave like that. But yes, if you really want to do it yourself, at least do it in ext4. ---
**Author:** ![lo\_ol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@lo\_ol](https://community.umbrel.com/u/lo_ol)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2021, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/5 "2021-12-13T17:40:48Z")
Ok, thanks for your recommandations 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Perly](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.umbrel.com/perly/32/1663_2.png) [@Perly](https://community.umbrel.com/u/Perly)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 10:50am UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/6 "2021-12-14T10:50:43Z")
Actually I have experience of a Samsung ssd fresh out of the box not working but another Crucial working on the exact same set up other than the drive. ---
**Author:** ![lo\_ol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@lo\_ol](https://community.umbrel.com/u/lo_ol)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/7 "2021-12-14T18:10:55Z")
I format my Crucial MX500 SSD - CT1000MX500SSD1 - 1 To - Serial ATA - SATA 6.0 Gb/s recommended by Umbrel in ext4 thanks to EaseUS software I did also new clean install on my microSD card of Umbrel v0.4.9 but my Raspberry Pi 4 model B - 8GB keep having a red light and no install occurs ☹ Do you want me to open another ticket? ---
**Author:** ![jonsyu](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.umbrel.com/jonsyu/32/1803_2.png) [@jonsyu](https://community.umbrel.com/u/jonsyu)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2021, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.umbrel.com/t/how-to-properly-format-and-prepare-the-ssd-drive-for-umbrel-installation/5178/8 "2021-12-14T18:16:49Z")
Yes, please open another ticket since this is a separate topic, thanks!