iM 4,1-14,4 Cloning entire HD on 2011 Macbook Pro to HD on 2009 iMac (read details)

[rwh63]

in summary: i have an early 2011 pro with an HD of 320 gb that is almost maxed out. last year i found a 2009 imac (see thread if interested), and in the process of trying to activate it, installed a Crucial 1 TB SSD HD. That attempt ultimately failed. i was able to connect my laptop to the imac via firewire in order to install high sierra on the imac (same end of the line OS as the pro). i want to recover the Crucial, and just thought, can i hook up again via firewire, clone my pro HD to the Crucial, then swap the Crucial into the pro? one sticky point may be that the imac graphics card has kind of failed, so maybe no screen availability on the imac.

oh, my pro usb ports are shot, that's why no mention of them.

feasible, too complicated, no way??!

 

[halledise]

you could be 'foobah-ed' there.
it would be a futile task imho.
time to embrace 2023.
that said, you could buy a 2013 MBAir or Pro and easy install an OWC flash drive with mucho terrorbytes then use migration assistant to transfer all your data.
OWC

 

[Fishrrman]

Open up the old iMac.
Physically remove the Crucial SSD.
Put it into an external enclosure like this:

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

www.amazon.com

Connect it to the MBP.
Now you can do what you need with it:
- get data
- reformat
- install OS
- etc.

If you want to (ultimately) install it into the MBP, I suggest:
1. Get any data OFF OF IT (using the enclosure)
2. Reformat it
3. Use SuperDuper (free) to clone the contents of the MBP internal drive to the SSD
4. Do a "test boot" to make sure the clone works
5. Power down and "do the drive swap".

It should then be "ready to go..."

 

[rwh63]

Open up the old iMac.
Physically remove the Crucial SSD.
Put it into an external enclosure like this:

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

SABRENT 2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

www.amazon.com

Connect it to the MBP.
Now you can do what you need with it:
- get data
- reformat
- install OS
- etc.

If you want to (ultimately) install it into the MBP, I suggest:
1. Get any data OFF OF IT (using the enclosure)
2. Reformat it
3. Use SuperDuper (free) to clone the contents of the MBP internal drive to the SSD
4. Do a "test boot" to make sure the clone works
5. Power down and "do the drive swap".

It should then be "ready to go..."

thx for that input. perhaps you did not notice that my usb ports are basically broken.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I'm with #2 here and I'm certainly a fan of stretching as much life as you can out of expensive Apple hardware. Apple has long since left those behind... which also means security updates are left behind. Software apps will start breaking if they have not already (for example, High Sierra Safari will start having trouble with select websites embracing more modern standards until you pretty much can't use it. As time passes, that will only get progressively worse.).

If you are able, take the Great Leap Forward to a modern Mac. I presume money is an issue, so maybe focus on Mac Mini or even refurb Mac Mini and then a good- but inexpensive- screen (prob NOT ASD in spite of what fans will push). The leap to a 2021-2023 Mac Mini will be an enormous jump forward in hardware and software and Silicon Macs will likely have full Apple support for 5+ years and security updates for about 7 more years (hopefully).

I would not be seduced by a good price on Intel Macs at this point. Sonoma might the last macOS updated for all Intel Macs or they may... that's MAY... get only 1 more update. Then, they will be left behind quickly.

If money is tighter than modern Mac pricing, PCs can be had for much less, work with any monitor just fine and have enormous competition driving down all related parts in them (like RAM & SSD). Fans ridicule PC but it rules the world and we Apple people are in the expensive walled garden niche. PCs run software just fine and have access to far more software than we Mac people. Windows 11 is a fine operating system- just different than macOS.

Get that Crucial 1TB drive back out to use with your next computer and maybe sell the rest for parts to help fund a leap to 2020s tech.

You squeezed a LOT of extra time out of your MB... maximized whatever you paid for it. Step into a much newer Mac or PC and enjoy up-to-date everything & reliability for the next few years.

 

[rwh63]

I'm with #2 here and I'm certainly a fan of stretching as much life as you can out of expensive Apple hardware. Apple has long since left those behind... which also means security updates are left behind. Software apps will start breaking if they have not already (for example, High Sierra Safari will start having trouble with select websites embracing more modern standards until you pretty much can't use it. As time passes, that will only get progressively worse.).

If you are able, take the Great Leap Forward to a modern Mac. I presume money is an issue, so maybe focus on Mac Mini or even refurb Mac Mini and then a good- but inexpensive- screen (prob NOT ASD in spite of what fans will push). The leap to a 2021-2023 Mac Mini will be an enormous jump forward in hardware and software and Silicon Macs will likely have full Apple support for 5+ years and security update for about 7 more years.

I would not be seduced by a good price on Intel Macs at this point. Sonoma might the last macOS updated for all Intel Macs or they may... that's MAY... get only 1 more update. Then, they will be left behind quickly.

If money is tighter than modern Mac pricing, PCs can be had for much less, work with any monitor just fine and have enormous competition driving down all related parts in them (like RAM & SSD). Fans ridicule PC but it rules the world and we Apple people are in the expensive walled garden niche. PCs run software just fine and have access to far more software than we Mac people. Windows 11 is a fine operating system- just different than macOS.

Get that crucial 1TB back out to use with your next computer and maybe sell the rest for parts to help fund a leap to 2020s tech.

You squeezed a LOT of extra time out of your MB... maximized whatever you paid for it. Step into a much newer Mac or PC and enjoy up-to-date everything & reliability for the next few years.

Thx for the contribution! Money is not an issue, I just like what I have (like built in ports like FireWire, ethernet, thunder/mini display, SuperDrive (yes, I use it!)).

I was leaning towards a MacBook Pro several years ago, but then would have been stuck with that crappy keyboard! I also don’t like the new flat thin metal skin of the newer laptops and pads.

I know that I will need an upgrade in the near future, maybe even a lightly used one.

I won’t be spending $2-3k on a laptop though.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

MBair 15” has lots of people I know gushing and they are not biased fans. Skin or case it to adapt to something other than Apple’s case choices.

Again, refurb store can get you a little more Apple proprietary guts for less and then put some money towards accessories like a disc reader, Thunderbolt 3 to 2 to FireWire adapter, and/or a hub for other ports. I’ve seen some hubs with FireWire up to a few years ago: might still be out there. OWC had one.

You can probably pull the SuperDrive and put it in an enclosure with a modern connector on it. I use optical disc myself and nothing wrong with it.

One more possibility: I recall seeing a home project working a new Mac Mini’s tech guts into an old iMac case. Maybe this one. If you otherwise like that iMac, you might seek that out on YouTube and make yourself an M2 iMac. If me, I wouldn’t have a lot of confidence in what will soon be a 15-year-old screen, but it might be an option.

 

[rwh63]

Oh, btw, I am still using my first gen SE!! I like the small size. I would have still been using my 4s if I could. I have been in check out lines, and people ogle with delight wondering what it is 😂. Tim Apple, bring back little phones!

 

[Fishrrman]

A 2011 MacBook Pro with broken USB ports?
And you're trying to "fix" it?

Time for something new, my friend.
(or at least Apple-refurbished)

I'd suggest a MacBook Pro 14". Beautiful Mac, fast, best MBP I've yet owned.

 

[rwh63]

A 2011 MacBook Pro with broken USB ports?
And you're trying to "fix" it?

Time for something new, my friend.
(or at least Apple-refurbished)

I'd suggest a MacBook Pro 14". Beautiful Mac, fast, best MBP I've yet owned.

i hear ya. i knew that many would suggest a replacement. btw, how diy upgradable are the new macbook pros, for memory and hd? or not user serviceable.

 

[Fishrrman]

The new MBPs have non-replaceable RAM and SSDs.
(just about ALL Apple computers are like that now)

So... when you buy... buy "for the future", because what you're buying IS NOT "upgradeable".

That's just "the way it is".

But even the entry-level MBP 14" comes well-equipped with 16gb of RAM and a 512gb SSD.

 

[YoitsTmac]

I get super thrifty with my computer purchases because I feel Apple is unreasonable. I got my M1 Air (512/16) for $1,000. Later, I traded it for a 14” M1 Pro with $400 in the middle.

There are tons of great options on eBay for open box or used for as little as $1,299. I saw an open box M2 Pro 1TB and 16GB RAM for $1,699. But that’s approaching refurb pricing there.

Personally, the M1 Air has been one of my most favorite, if not the favorite Mac I have ever used. I only went to the pro for the dual external monitor support. Best of luck friend!

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

OP, if you like the flexibility to upgrade RAM & SSD over time, there's no future with Mac. But Windows PC still offers that in abundance, with great competition for both kinds of parts... unlike Apple where pricing for upgrades is considered insane by even some of the biggest fans. For example, for the cost to only upgrading a Mac to Apple 8TB SSD, I was able to buy an entire gaming PC with good graphics card and load it with 10TB of fast SSD plus 64GB of RAM. I call that "old fashioned boot camp" and chose to buy a PC instead of hoping virtual PC with ARM Windows could cover all client bases.

As a long-term Mac-only guy (using Windows only in bootcamp on Intel Macs when necessary), I'm quite enjoying having BOTH platforms again and getting reacquainted with a much bigger world that is Windows and PC. Apps that benefit from raw power get run on PC. Apps that benefit from power sipping get run on Mac. Apps that run on both now get parsed out for processing speed vs. power per watt: SOME I used to run on Mac have shifted to the PC.

If you want the ability to evolve your next PC, go Windows PC. With Mac, Apple is sole storekeeper of all internal parts, with zero competition to motivate market rates. Fans will defend this for one reason or another but no consumer wins when there is no competition for things we buy. Sellers always exploit a point of complete dominance. There's just too much money in it.

Note too that if RAM or SSD go bad, there's no replacement, even from Apple. Instead, you have to buy an entire new computer. If PC, you just replace the bad RAM or SSD and continue.

Two other options:

• some of those late generation Intel Macs still had some flexibility for third party RAM and SSD. So if you want it, those will run Sonoma... though many believe Sonoma is the end of the road for Intel support. My guts say MAYBE one more macOS generation next year but that's barely leaning guts.
• Hackintosh but those too are facing the same trouble of macOS dropping support for Intel hardware.

 

[rwh63]

Thx for the ideas! Enjoy the input.

 

[rwh63]

iMac is officially dead.

 

[rwh63]

Ordered a Sabrent enclosure.