Problems with SSD

[Seanog]

I had a 2017 21" iMac with slow HDD. The local apple dealer collected it and installed a SSD. I collected it and saw it had vertical lines on screen that weren't there when he collected it. He denied responsibility. The SSD had problems so back it went and he installed a WD Blue SSD. I don't know if the one that gave trouble was the same make. I got spinning balls so I bought a 2019 iMac with HDD and took the SSD out the 2017 Mac and put it in the 2019 Mac myself . Still getting spinning balls.
If I get a different SSD how do I load my data onto it without copying the faults on the original SSD?

 

[Rodananne]

Firstly, its unlikely the vertical lines are a direct result of the HDD replacement. It is much more likely that the VDU cable has been damaged, dislodged or simply requires replacement, this is standard procedure with screen removal in MacBooks and I imagine with iMacs as well.
When you say "spinning balls" I'm trying to get this straight in my head, so you now have a 2019 iMac, you have installed a 2017 SSD into it and you get spinning balls.
Are you sure that the SSD from the 2017 model is compatible with the 2019 model? If so bear in mind the spinning balls could also be a likely result of faulty or insufficient RAM, in fact it's more likely the cause.

As for migrating your data from one SSD to the other there are three possible ways; From a Time Machine Backup (cheapest and most popular), by purchasing a USB external HDD/SDD drive housing and restoring from that or probably least likely, from device to device via Network connection if you could get both of them working.

The screen is not likely a software problem, more likely GPU or Screen connection issue so, creating a full Time Machine Backup from either device is entirely possible but not if you have faulty or insufficient RAM chips.

My advice would be to replace the RAM chips in the device of your choice with a minimum total of 16GB. Purchase a USB external HDD/SDD drive housing and Start up the iMac from that (Pressing the option key on startup). Make a Time Machine backup of the start up SSD on a seperate EHD. Instal a new copy of the latest macOS that the internal drive can take from the App Store restart from the internal Drive which should open with the "Welcome Screen" then during setup choose the Time Machine backup as the source to restore your data from.

 

[Seanog]

Firstly, its unlikely the vertical lines are a direct result of the HDD replacement. It is much more likely that the VDU cable has been damaged, dislodged or simply requires replacement, this is standard procedure with screen removal in MacBooks and I imagine with iMacs as well.
When you say "spinning balls" I'm trying to get this straight in my head, so you now have a 2019 iMac, you have installed a 2017 SSD into it and you get spinning balls.
Are you sure that the SSD from the 2017 model is compatible with the 2019 model? If so bear in mind the spinning balls could also be a likely result of faulty or insufficient RAM, in fact it's more likely the cause.

As for migrating your data from one SSD to the other there are three possible ways; From a Time Machine Backup (cheapest and most popular), by purchasing a USB external HDD/SDD drive housing and restoring from that or probably least likely, from device to device via Network connection if you could get both of them working.

The screen is not likely a software problem, more likely GPU or Screen connection issue so, creating a full Time Machine Backup from either device is entirely possible but not if you have faulty or insufficient RAM chips.

My advice would be to replace the RAM chips in the device of your choice with a minimum total of 16GB. Purchase a USB external HDD/SDD drive housing and Start up the iMac from that (Pressing the option key on startup). Make a Time Machine backup of the start up SSD on a seperate EHD. Instal a new copy of the latest macOS that the internal drive can take from the App Store restart from the internal Drive which should open with the "Welcome Screen" then during setup choose the Time Machine backup as the source to restore your data from.

The Lines came from the way he carried it to his car, under his arm, screen facing inwards. I have CCTV so looked afterwards. It's the only answer as it was Ok when it left here.. He installed an SSD and I collected the 2017 iMac. When I used it I saw immediately there was something wrong, so took it back, Without computer for a week as Drive had to be sent to Manufacturer, I don't know who. Collected again with 2TB WD Blue installed. I started getting spinning balls. WD do not do a program where you can test a drive for problems on a Mac, Windows only as I understand. I thought it might be the Computer, so bought a S/H 2019 iMac with a HDD. I swapped the HDD out for the drive from the 2017 iMac...........and still get the spinning balls.....which suggests to me a problem with the WD Blue Drive. But if I "Restore", am I not copying the errors from the existing Drive?

 

[Rodananne]

Put plainly I believe the spinning balls indicate a lack of RAM, how much do you have.? Eg 8gb would be common. You may need 16GB or the RAM you have may be faulty. The only other explanations would be full storage (20% free is recommenced). You screen may be worn out or corrosion at the cable connection can cause the same problem. It’s unlikely to be software.

 

[Rodananne]

Bottom line here is you habe a 9 year old iMac and that is well past the expected life span of the components. Yes some users have kept vintage macs running longer that that but not without support and technical knowledge like http://macvintage.com/