Data transfer help (MacBook Pro 2009 to MBP 2014)

[rockoder10]

Hey guys,

My MBP (Mid 2009 MacBookPro5,4) finally crapped out and don't have the funds for a new one, so got a MBP (Mid 2014, MacBookPro11,1) from a friend. I am going to increase the HDD to a 1 TB SSD, but I need to transfer the data/files/apps from my 2009 to the new-to-me 2014, and was wondering how. It seems almost none of the ports match up, so I would love some buying info on what I need to initiate the transfer. I know usually you'd just do it over Wifi, but the 2009's wireless card finally crapped out and won't pick up wifi, hence the new laptop. I would just use a cat 5, but this 2014 doesn't have an ethernet port. HELP!

 

[CoastalOR]

Here is the latest instructions from Apple on how to connect 2 Macs for Target Disk Mode (TDM):

Transfer files between two Mac computers using target disk mode

You can connect an Intel-based Mac to another Mac using a USB, USB-C, or Thunderbolt cable, then transfer files.

support.apple.com

It looks like for TDM for the 2 Macs you have you would need a Thunderbolt (2014 MBP) to Firewire Adapter:

Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter

Easily connect your Thunderbolt-equipped Mac to a FireWire device with the Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter. Small and compact, it connects to the Thunderbolt port on your Mac computer, giving you a FireWire 800 port that supplies up to 7W for bus-powered peripherals like hard drives and aud...

www.amazon.com

and a Firewire 800 cable.

Another alternative:
Is to use an external drive to make a clone of the 2009 MBP (assuming it boots) using Carbon Copy Cloner using the free 30 day trial. Connect the cloned external drive to the 2014 MBP and use the Migration Assistant app to migrate the information to the 2014 MBP.

 

[rockoder10]

Thanks. I got a Thunderbolt to ethernet and going to connect them using a CAT5, hopefully that will work.

 

[justashooter]

You could open the 2009, remove the drive, put it in a usb3 case (they are about $10), and then transfer your files. You would then have an external drive for backups, etc. It is pretty easy to do. Instructions at https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbookpro_15_unibody_mid09_hd/