Will A Drive Swap Work?

[EchoSierra]

I'm currently using a 2010 MBP (7,1) with a failing keyboard. I have a 2012 MBP (9,2) coming. Will it work if I just swap my boot disk into the new machine? Or will OSX balk at it due to the change in hardware config? Running 10.10.5 Yosemite if that helps.

 

[DeltaMac]

The hard drive from the 2010 will swap just fine with the 2012.
(OS X is NOT Windows 😀 )

I should mention that the 2012 would be a great choice to upgrade to an SSD, and, you could use the old hard drive from the 2010 to update an SSD. The 2012 would thank you for that by providing a MUCH faster experience because of the SSD, even using your same software.
If your 2010 ALREADY has an SSD (Maybe you have upgraded to that 😀 ), then that simple swap would also give you a good result of somewhat higher performance, because the SATA bus is faster in the 2012.

 

[EchoSierra]

It is an SSD 😉 I upgraded a while back to lower the power consumption and to protect against physical damage such as drops that may damage HDDs but not affect SSDs.

So, the OS won't balk at the sudden hardware/serial number change? (So, it will just update itself automatically?) What about my iCloud/Apple ID? Will that balk at the sudden change?

 

[liya1201]

The 2012 Mac can't take the OS pre-installed in 2010 machine. Since you have upgraded to Yosemite, it would be fine to just swap the HDs like DeltaMac has said. Apple ID/iCloud should works fine too. However, you might received an email saying that you login into a new machine...

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
Some suggestions on what you could do when the new MBP arrives.

- First, take the SSD out of the old MBP
- DON'T open the new MBP yet
- Connect the SSD to the new MBP. You can use either an external USB3 enclosure, a USB3/SATA dock, or a USB3/SATA dongle adapter like this:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-...478&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=sabremt+usb3+to+ssd
- Now, try a "test boot" (reboot and hold down option key until startup manager appears)
- Do you see the external SSD as being "available for boot"? If so, select it with the pointer and hit return.
- Do you get a good boot?

If you DO -- now it's time to swap the SSD into the new MBP
If you DON'T -- it's time to either upgrade the OS on the SSD (a "dirty install"), or, wipe it clean and then do a "completely fresh" install of the newer OS.

 

[chabig]

It is an SSD 😉 I upgraded a while back to lower the power consumption and to protect against physical damage such as drops that may damage HDDs but not affect SSDs.

So, the OS won't balk at the sudden hardware/serial number change? (So, it will just update itself automatically?) What about my iCloud/Apple ID? Will that balk at the sudden change?

No. The OS won’t balk. As DeltaMac said, this is not Windows. There are no OS ties to the hardware.