Botting Mac Mini from Macbook Pro backup

[Applelad]

Anyone know if I can do this (thinking about buying either a 2011 or 2012 model depending on the one that is most likely to work). I have a backup from a 2011 macbook Pro running Mavericks. Want to put it into a Thunderbolt caddy and boot the mac mini from it.

 

[redheeler]

Starting with the mid 2011 all Mac minis have a Thunderbolt port so it should work just fine.

 

[Applelad]

Starting with the mid 2011 all Mac minis have a Thunderbolt port so it should work just fine.

In theory but I couldn't boot my friends macbook air from my backup because my backup didn't have the right drivers or something. Just wondered if anyone had actually done it and had any experiences to share.

Thanks

 

[cfedu]

Anyone know if I can do this (thinking about buying either a 2011 or 2012 model depending on the one that is most likely to work). I have a backup from a 2011 macbook Pro running Mavericks. Want to put it into a Thunderbolt caddy and boot the mac mini from it.

As long as the OS on your backup is compatible with the computer that you are using to boot, you should be fine.

 

[Applelad]

I've gone for the 2012 model - with fingers crossed. Will update with how I get on.

 

[paulrbeers]

well,Just wondered if anyone had actually done it and had any experiences to share.thanksImage

As long as the original computer is running an OS that is supported by the New machine there is no issue. Unlike Windows where you generally can't move a drive from machine to machine, OSX has no limitation (different architecture).

Now what I mean by the first sentence is important. For example if the Donor machine is runniong OSX Lion, but the new machine came only with Mt. Lion (or newer) OS, then it wouldn't work because OSX Lion wouldn't have the proper kexts (drivers) for the new machine. Also at times Apple makes special builds of OSX right after they are released so if you bought a BRAND new model even though your Donor machine might be running 10.9.2 and the brand new model is running 10.9.2, it is more than likely the new machine is running what basically amounts to 10.9.2A and won't work either. It isn't usually until the next point release after a new model that the drivers will be in the universal build (i.e. in the above case it wouldn't be until 10.9.3 that you could easily swap drives from one machine to another).

Anyway, those are all exceptions. Generally if both machines are running the newest OSX and are at least a few months old you will have no problems moving drives (internally or externally) from machine to machine...

Of course there is always the other option of doing a Time Machine backup. Formatting the drive, dropping a new OS onto the drive and copying the time machine back over. That will even cover the exceptions mentioned above....