Question Is there a device that can initialize and format a new SSD without a working computer?

[Steven Roussos]

My very old SSD is having reliability issues causing frequent BSOD crashes, I believe. I plan to buy a new one, and an offline SSD cloning device, to attempt to get back up with existing OS, settings and files ASAP. But those devices require an initialized and formatted SSD. I am not confident that the laptop will stay up long enough to initialize the new SSD in an external enclosure. Are there any harware devices that can initialize and format a new SSD without a working computer? If not what would you suggest I do? Thank you!

 

[USAFRet]

If the current drive is having major issues, whatever clone device you're looking at probably won't work.
A "clone" requires a fully functioning source drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Here's what I would do:

Obtain a new drive.
Install it in the system.
Install a new Win 10 or 11 (whichever it is), on this new drive.

Later, obtain a USB dock of some sort.
Connect your old drive in that dock, and see if you can recover whatever personal files are on it.

Later, when the system is up and running on the new drive, start a comprehensive backup routine, so that a dead drive does not compromise your OS, applications, and data.