Connect 2012 rMBP directly to M1 MBA

[Quackers]

I'm after suggestions please (I'm not up to date on these things).
My 2012 retina MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 2 (I believe) and USB-A connectors and I want to connect that directly to the M1 MBA I'm about to order, for transfer of data/settings.
I see no Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C adapters on the Apple site so am a little unsure.
I'm also ordering a Caldigit TS3 + dock so at a pinch I could plug it into that but that would mean USB2 speeds, I think.
Any suggestions would assist me greatly
Thank you.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I looked into this, regarding transferring my music over.

My Google results lead me to believe that two Macs can't be connected via USB to transfer data. I had to format an external drive, and use that.

If you can get a USB-C to ethernet dongle, assuming your old machine has an ethernet port? That may work?

Good to see you're on the verge of buying your M1 .

 

[Quackers]

I looked into this, reading transferring my music over.

My Google results lead me to believe that two Macs can't be connected via USB to transfer data. I had to format an external drive, and use that.

If you can get a USB-C to ethernet dongle, that may work?

Are you on the verge of buying your M1, then?

Thanks. I suspected that may be the case.
I am about to order an 8C/16GB/512GB M1 MBA now
It looks like I'll connect the MBP to the dock and the dock to the MBA and just have USB2 speed. No biggie.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Thanks. I suspected that may be the case.
I am about to order an 8C/16GB/512GB M1 MBA now
It looks like I'll connect the MBP to the dock and the dock to the MBA and just have USB2 speed. No biggie.

You don't fancy the M1 MBP?

Apparently there are numerous display issues with the Air.

 

[Nate Spencer]

Two ethernet adapters and a crossover ethernet cable will work. If you have 802.11ac wifi you might get 500 Mb/s.

 

[Quackers]

You don't fancy the M1 MBP?

Apparently there are numerous display issues with the Air.

I have no doubt that the MBA will be more than enough for me.
I don't need the best of everything, I won't even recognise the differences to be honest.
It's unlikely to get stressed at all in my hands.
If there's a problem with the screen or anything else I'll deal with that when it happens.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

I have no doubt that the MBA will be more than enough for me.
I don't need the best of everything, I won't even recognise the differences to be honest.
It's unlikely to get stressed at all in my hands.
If there's a problem with the screen or anything else I'll deal with that when it happens.

Hopefully you'll experience no issues.

They're great machines, which I'm sure you'll be happy with.

Will you be getting rid of your old machine?

 

[Quackers]

Two ethernet adapters and a crossover ethernet cable will work. If you have 802.11ac wifi you might get 500 Mb/s.

That sounds like a lot of hoo-ha
I have upgraded the wifi card in the rMBP so yes, I do have ac wifi.
Thanks for the info anyway ?

 

[Quackers]

Hopefully you'll experience no issues.

They're great machines, which I'm sure you'll be happy with.

Will you be getting rid of your old machine?

No, I'm keeping it.
Apple will give me £130 as a trade in but I'd rather keep it than give it away
It's still very usable and anyway I might need it to repair the M1

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

No, I'm keeping it.
Apple will give me £130 as a trade in but I'd rather keep it than give it away
It's still very usable and anyway I might need it to repair the M1

That offer is an insult.

You're right, better off keeping it.

How long will you have to wait for your M1?

 

[Quackers]

Apparently 15/1 to 22/1

 

[deeddawg]

Probably be simpler to use migration assistant with whatever external drive you're using for your TimeMachine backups. Avoids any challenges of linking the two computers for data transfer.

If you haven't been doing local backups then this would be a good time to begin. External USB hard drives aren't expensive, though they're slow. If you buy one supporting USB3 it'll still be USB2 slow with the 2012 system but will be more tolerable with the M1.

USB2 slow shouldn't be an issue since it seems you've got a few weeks time to make the backups...

 

[Quackers]

Probably be simpler to use migration assistant with whatever external drive you're using for your TimeMachine backups. Avoids any challenges of linking the two computers for data transfer.

If you haven't been doing local backups then this would be a good time to begin. External USB hard drives aren't expensive, though they're slow. If you buy one supporting USB3 it'll still be USB2 slow with the 2012 system but will be more tolerable with the M1.

USB2 slow shouldn't be an issue since it seems you've got a few weeks time to make the backups...

Yep, also another option which I've used before without problem.
It's not that much data to be transferred if I'm honest - less than 50GB all told, so it's not a problem I can't live with.
Thanks for the reply

 

[nothingtoseehere]

I see no Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C adapters on the Apple site so am a little unsure.

How about this one?
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter

Then booting the old MBP in Target Disk Mode, using it directly as external disk, or using Migration Assistant.

 

[David Hassholehoff]

I'm after suggestions please (I'm not up to date on these things).
My 2012 retina MacBook Pro has Thunderbolt 2 (I believe) and USB-A connectors and I want to connect that directly to the M1 MBA I'm about to order, for transfer of data/settings.
I see no Thunderbolt 2 to USB-C adapters on the Apple site so am a little unsure.
I'm also ordering a Caldigit TS3 + dock so at a pinch I could plug it into that but that would mean USB2 speeds, I think.
Any suggestions would assist me greatly
Thank you.

You are looking for this: Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2
I agree that this should be the fastest and most reliable connection.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Apparently 15/1 to 22/1

You'll receive it earlier than that.

Mine was initially scheduled for delivery later this month, but it arrived last week.

Glad you ordered the config you wanted, rather than just going for lower level store stock. I'm glad I went with a 512 HD, because my music library has already taken up half of that .

And 16gb of RAM is sensible. I know that many people say that 8gb is fine, but for the sake of 200 quid, it's worth upgrading.

Looking forward to hearing your views of your new M1, when you get it.

 

[Quackers]

You are looking for this: Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2
I agree that this should be the fastest and most reliable connection.

Thanks, yes there is one of those but the connectors are the wrong way round (male/female).
I'll manage

 

[Quackers]

You'll receive it earlier than that.

Mine was initially scheduled for delivery later this month, but it arrived last week.

Glad you ordered the config you wanted, rather than just going for lower level store stock. I'm glad I went with a 512 HD, because my music library has already taken up half of that .

And 16gb of RAM is sensible. I know that many people say that 8gb is fine, but for the sake of 200 quid, it's worth upgrading.

Looking forward to hearing your views of your new M1, when you get it.

All ordered now
The Caldigit TS3 + arrives Friday
The magic mouse 2 and a USB-A to USB-C adapter arrive Saturday
The M1 MBA............who knows?

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

All ordered now
The Caldigit TS3 + arrives Friday
The magic mouse 2 and a USB-A to USB-C adapter arrive Saturday
The M1 MBA............who knows?

I bought the USB-A to USB-C adapter from my "local" Apple Store on Friday. I needed it to connect my little external drive (robbed from my Xbox One X!) for transferring data.

I did think about getting a Magic Mouse, but I want to keep my system completely portable. The trackpad is great on these machines. However, I can understand you buying one.

The build up is all part of the fun, so enjoy it!

 

[Quackers]

How about this one?
https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MMEL2AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter

Then booting the old MBP in Target Disk Mode, using it directly as external disk, or using Migration Assistant.

I don't have a male Thunderbolt 2 cable

 

[Quackers]

I bought the USB-A to USB-C adapter from my "local" Apple Store on Friday. I needed it to connect my little external drive (robbed from my Xbox One X!) for transferring data.

I did think about getting a Magic Mouse, but I want to keep my system completely portable. The trackpad is great on these machines. However, I can understand you buying one.

The build up is all part of the fun, so enjoy it!

It's my first Bluetooth anything!
I've always used a Logitech USB mouse. I think that's IR.......maybe. No wire just a plug in USB thing and magic!

 

[4sallypat]

I don't have a male Thunderbolt 2 cable

When I first received the M1, I had issues using the Time Machine backup and wireless data transfer during the OS setup (before it loaded the desktop).
It would just sit there and "see each other" but did not complete the data transfer.

I then used a Thunderbolt 1m cable ($29) + Apple TB3-TB2 adapter ($49) and got the data transferred by direct cable connection between a 2012 Mini and M1 Mini.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

I don't have a male Thunderbolt 2 cable

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD862LL/A/apple-thunderbolt-cable-05-m

just don't want to count how many cables, adapters, dongles etc. I already bought from Apple

 

[Quackers]

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/MD862LL/A/apple-thunderbolt-cable-05-m

just don't want to count how many cables, adapters, dongles etc. I already bought from Apple

Ah that's the way Thank you!
It's good to know I can connect them via thunderbolt. I might need that if I break my M1 ?
Or I could just buy one from you!

 

[Quackers]

When I first received the M1, I had issues using the Time Machine backup and wireless data transfer during the OS setup (before it loaded the desktop).
It would just sit there and "see each other" but did not complete the data transfer.

I then used a Thunderbolt 1m cable ($29) + Apple TB3-TB2 adapter ($49) and got the data transferred by direct cable connection between a 2012 Mini and M1 Mini.

Yes, I'm seeing that kind of thing mentioned on here.
It does seem like thunderbolt connections are a big thing with the M1.
Thank you!