Boot/startup from USB ssd?

[Attonine]

heres a good one for you....

2009 17" MBP finally died. Power supply issue, terminal. Unfortunately a day before it died I wiped my time machine as I had an emergency and needed to use the storage.

This MBP had a replacement SSD, which I have removed. I have an SATA -USB cable and can read the disc.

I have a new MBP arriving tomorrow, but I haven't been able to work out how I can get my stystem data from this SSD into the new MBP, in effect an initial startup as though I were using time machine.

As far as I can work out, I can't boot from this SSD if it is connected via USB.

I'm a bit stuck. Any ideas how I can use this SSD to setup the new MBP?

 

[CoastalOR]

Here are Apple's instructions on how to move your content to a new computer:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350

You should be able to connect your USB SSD to the new MBP and run Migration Assistant to move your data, accounts, and preferences. If your MBP is a 2016 or 2017 then you may need a "dongle" to connect USB A to the MBP USB C ports.

 

[Attonine]

Brilliant.

It's been so long since I've had to look into this stuff, I wasn't sure migration assistant was still around.

New MBP arrives today.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
Here's what to do:

1. When you get the new MacBook, take it out of the box and put it on the table. DON'T boot it yet.

2. Connect the OLD drive (via USB) to the new MacBook

3. NOW power-on the new MacBook for the first time.

4. Go through the initial setup. At the appropriate moment, the setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate data from another computer or drive.

5. "Point" setup assistant to the old drive connected via USB.

6. Setup assistant will now ask you to select what you wish to migrate. You have to carefully read through the options. Check what you want to bring over. I think you probably want to bring everything.

7. Let setup assistant do its thing -- it will take a little while.

8. When setup assistant is done, it should present you with a login screen. Login to the new MacBook (using the same password as you did on the old one), and you should pretty much be "right back where you were before". The whole process goes very well.

Get back to us and let us know how you made out.

NOTE: It's possible that some apps you were using may be outdated, and may no longer run under the new OS. In that case you have to decide whether to upgrade them or toss them...

 

[Attonine]

Already done. Worked like a charm. I just wasn't sure the SSD would show up as an option. It did, all good.