Can I put my 10.6.8 SDD from my 2009 MBP into a 2011 MBP

[john402052000]

I've had constant hard freezes with my 2009 MBP. You can see the previous thread here:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/need-advice-on-buying-a-2009-mbp.2011273/#post-23928972

At the bottom you'll see I purchased a 2011 13" MBP off ebay. My current 2009 MBP has a 500G SSD. The OS I'm running is 10.6.8. I'm wanting to know if I can just replace the hard drive in the 2011 MBP I just purchased with the SSD in my current machine. I'm very hesitant to try to upgrade the OS on the 2009 unit because I can get up to 40 hard freezes daily.

thanks,

John

 

[CoastalOR]

I think it would probably work if there is not a missing (needed for 2011 MBP) or a extra conflicting (from 2009 MBP) driver problem.

I would recommend a plan B. Get an external enclosure for your 2009 SSD (here is a good inexpensive one), install the SSD, connect it to the 2011 and try to boot using the option key. Be patient during boot up because of the slower USB2 ports. If you can boot and operate form the external SSD, albeit a little slower, then you are good to go and can proceed to replace the 2011 spinner HDD with the SSD. BTW, having the external enclosure can also be used with the old 2011 HDD afterwards.

 

[john402052000]

Thanks for the reply.

I have an external enclosure from when I replaced the stock drive in my 2009 with the SSD drive. You're recommending this method as a way of making sure my 2009 SSD running 10.6.8 will boot up on the 2011 without first installing it in the 2011 MBP?

 

[CoastalOR]

Yes, correct. It would be good to know the SSD with 10.6.8 will work on the 2011 before you open it up, install the SSD, close it up and then find it does not work. If the SSD in the external does NOT work, then it would be easier to fix it by installing a OS on the external SSD (using the 2011 with the original HDD), get it working and then installing the SSD in the 2011.

 

[john402052000]

Thanks. Will do. Just waiting for it to get here.