MacBook pro late 2011, well known problem with graphic processor, but..

[Harald3000]

Hello everyone, and thank you for reading!
I have had an MacBook pro late 2011, i7-processor, almost 10 years! i upgraded it with an SSD 1 TB some years ago, and it was great! This year, the graphic processor broke, and i understand this is a well known problem, apple even had a replacement program (but not anymore as far as i understand). Well, i cannot expect my laptop to last forever, so I accept what has happened and probably its "good night" for my long lasting friend.

There is a problem that i need to solve. I havent been able to upgrade os x for a few years. I have backups, but not for the last 6-12 months. I want to get my pictures out from the 1 TB SSD on the macbook pro. How do i do this? I have invested in a Ipad pro 1 TB, and i am thinking of taking out the SSD, make an eksternal SSD HD with USB C, and connect it direktly to my new ipad - although I dont really expect it to work..

My second possibility is to use my wifes macbook air (128 GB), and make a new "user", then connect the eksternal SSD HD usb C to it, and hopefully import the pictures here - and up in the iCloud. The problem here is as far as i am thinking, the lack of HD-space on the macbook air. May be this makes it impossible.

Do anyone of you out there have tips, or have had similar problems that you have overcome? I would be really happy to hear.

Sincerely
Harald

 

[Analias]

Flash the gmux and put it back in service. https://doslabelectronics.com/Demux.html

 

[Stephen.R]

If your wife’s MacBook is reasonably up to date, you could create a user as you mentioned, connect the ssd from the 2011 to it, and use that storage space (on the now external 1tb ssd) to create a photos library and thus upload the files to iCloud.

 

[Analias]

It'd be easier to hold down the option key and boot from the external drive (2011 drive) then let it upload to icloud.

 

[caupljx]

There are a number of ways you can do this. You can disable the AMD GPU and only use the integrated one, there is a thread here and on github that shows how to do this. My 2011 macbook pro's second GPU failed this year (after replacing it four years ago under Apple's extended warranty), and I was able to disable the GPU and it works fine now (actually typing from this machine despite I bought a new 16').

You can also just take the SSD out and use as an external drive. You can either boot from the external drive on your wife's MBA (I did this when I haven't fixed the GPU issue and my new 16' has not arrived) or plug it as external drive. I think it can connect to your ipad pro as well via usb-c but given the size of your photos might not be a good idea to transfer directly to iPad.

 

[Harald3000]

If your wife’s MacBook is reasonably up to date, you could create a user as you mentioned, connect the ssd from the 2011 to it, and use that storage space (on the now external 1tb ssd) to create a photos library and thus upload the files to iCloud.

Thank you very much!
[automerge]1587117708[/automerge]

If your wife’s MacBook is reasonably up to date, you could create a user as you mentioned, connect the ssd from the 2011 to it, and use that storage space (on the now external 1tb ssd) to create a photos library and thus upload the files to iCloud.

Thank you very much!
[automerge]1587117746[/automerge]

It'd be easier to hold down the option key and boot from the external drive (2011 drive) then let it upload to icloud.

Thank you very much!
[automerge]1587117768[/automerge]

There are a number of ways you can do this. You can disable the AMD GPU and only use the integrated one, there is a thread here and on github that shows how to do this. My 2011 macbook pro's second GPU failed this year (after replacing it four years ago under Apple's extended warranty), and I was able to disable the GPU and it works fine now (actually typing from this machine despite I bought a new 16').

You can also just take the SSD out and use as an external drive. You can either boot from the external drive on your wife's MBA (I did this when I haven't fixed the GPU issue and my new 16' has not arrived) or plug it as external drive. I think it can connect to your ipad pro as well via usb-c but given the size of your photos might not be a good idea to transfer directly to iPad.

Thank you very much!

 

[Fishrrman]

When the time comes to retire the 2011, open it up and take the SSD out.
Then you can re-purpose it to whatever needs you have.

Then, put the SSD 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

You'll need a Phillips #00 driver for the screws, and a TORX T-6 to take "the nubs" off the sides of the drive (a pair of needle-nosed pliers can do this, too).

One more thing:
When you do get a new Mac, you'll want to "migrate" your data from the old one to the new one.
With the drive removed and in an enclosure like the one above, this is very easy to do.

BUT...
You DO NOT want to press the power-on button on the NEW Mac (for the very first time) UNLESS you have the drive removed and "available"... so that the setup assistant can find it and migrate your old account to the new Mac...

 

[Harald3000]

When the time comes to retire the 2011, open it up and take the SSD out.
Then you can re-purpose it to whatever needs you have.

Then, put the SSD 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

You'll need a Phillips #00 driver for the screws, and a TORX T-6 to take "the nubs" off the sides of the drive (a pair of needle-nosed pliers can do this, too).

One more thing:
When you do get a new Mac, you'll want to "migrate" your data from the old one to the new one.
With the drive removed and in an enclosure like the one above, this is very easy to do.

BUT...
You DO NOT want to press the power-on button on the NEW Mac (for the very first time) UNLESS you have the drive removed and "available"... so that the setup assistant can find it and migrate your old account to the new Mac...

Thanks a lot!

 

[Harald3000]

Thank you all for helpful answers! I now believe i will find a solution. Today I opened my macbook Pro and took out the 1 TB SSD, an d put it into a closure with USB C cable. I tried a few different things, like connecting it to my wifes macbook air, and it worked (it is recognised as SSD, with my files on it). I havent yet tried to make a new user and import pictures to icloud, or tried to boot from the ssd, but I will. First I need better internet connection with broader capasity up/down.

I also tried to connect the SSD to my ipad pro, and yes, I could find the SSD in "files". I found all different picture and library folders and stuff that i dont know much about. Because my Ipad pro also is 1 TB, I have plenty of space to import all the pictures in my library, if possible..
Does any of you have experience with this, and know how to do it?

Sincerely
Harald