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Move SSD from MacBook Pro 15'' Late 2008 to iMac 27'' Late 2009

ciarals

ciarals

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 26, 2010
92
10
Italy
Hello everyone. I have an iMac 27'' Late 2009 (with Sierra) currently configured with a HDD 1TB and a MacBook Pro 15'' Late 2008 (with El Capitan) currently configured with a SSD Samsung 850 EVO 1TB.

I would like to take away the HDD inside the iMac and install the SSD from the MacBook Pro inside the iMac. I know that it's possible but the question is: can I do it without formatting/re-installing/doing something? Will the iMac function properly without any driver or Windows-style problems?

Thank you!
 
I read somewhere that this "swapping HD from one mac to another" is possible without any changes made to the HD ...

... but maybe it's better to clone the SSD first
 
apfelmann said:
I read somewhere that this "swapping HD from one mac to another" is possible without any changes made to the HD ...

... but maybe it's better to clone the SSD first
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply... If I have to "lose" time cloning and copying, I think I will format the entire drive and reinstall things from scratch: never did it and maybe this is the right excuse to do it.

But, if swapping works, well, it would be really great. I think that in all Macs are installed the same identical drivers so that should not be a problem but I really don't know. That's why I would like some opinion :)
 
Some more questions:
  • Do you think that the iMac will boot perfectly to El Capitan despite the different hardware that it will find instead of the hardware installed in the SSD?
  • At least, will the Recovery Partition work? Will I be able to use the El Capitan Recovery Partition of the SSD to reinstall El Capitan from scratch?
Thanks!
 
I have done a swap similar to this before, about a year ago. I had a 840 evo in my 2009 IMac, and wanted more performance out of my old 2011 15" MBP. (5400rpm HDD). Since they were both running Yosemite, I just switched them. There was not a single hiccup, it just worked for me! The Macbook Pro just booted right up, and I had all of my desktop files, and the speed of an 840 evo in my Macbook.

Since your two computers are very similar hardware wise with core 2 duos there should not be any issue.
 
cookies81 said:
I have done a swap similar to this before, about a year ago. I had a 840 evo in my 2009 IMac, and wanted more performance out of my old 2011 15" MBP. (5400rpm HDD). Since they were both running Yosemite, I just switched them. There was not a single hiccup, it just worked for me! The Macbook Pro just booted right up, and I had all of my desktop files, and the speed of an 840 evo in my Macbook.

Since your two computers are very similar hardware wise with core 2 duos there should not be any issue.
Click to expand...
Thank you for you answer, I'm glad that it worked for you, so hopefully it will work for me too :)

Just one little specificaton: my iMac has a 2.8 GHz Quad Core Intel "Core i7" I7-860 inside, while my MacBook Pro a Core 2 Duo. Can this change in the hardware cause any probem?
 
Last edited:
ciarals said:
Thank you for you amswer, I'm glad that it worked for you, so hopefully it will work for me too :)

Just one little specificaton: my iMac has a 2.8 GHz Quad Core Intel "Core i7" I7-860 inside, while my MacBook Pro a Core 2 Duo. Can this change in the hardware cause any probem?
Click to expand...

I had no idea that the 2009 Imacs had the core i7's, my 23.8 inch 2009 has a core 2 duo!

I could not tell you for sure, but this is how I test that before I swap; Get an external hard drive enclosure, put the ssd from your mac in, connect it to the Macbook. Turn on the Macbook, hold the option key when it chimes. That brings you to boot menu, select the hard drive you plugged in. If it boots from the drive externally, it should swap without any problems.

If the drive boots from the hard drive externally your'e good to go.
 
cookies81 said:
I had no idea that the 2009 Imacs had the core i7's, my 23.8 inch 2009 has a core 2 duo!

I could not tell you for sure, but this is how I test that before I swap; Get an external hard drive enclosure, put the ssd from your mac in, connect it to the Macbook. Turn on the Macbook, hold the option key when it chimes. That brings you to boot menu, select the hard drive you plugged in. If it boots from the drive externally, it should swap without any problems.

If the drive boots from the hard drive externally your'e good to go.
Click to expand...
Yea, it's really a great computer, future-proof for that years (and still rocking), that's why I'm doing this upgrade. I'll surely follow your suggestion, thank you!
 
ciarals said:
Yea, it's really a great computer, future-proof for that years (and still rocking), that's why I'm doing this upgrade. I'll surely follow your suggestion, thank you!
Click to expand...
If you treat them right those older Imacs can last forever! Especially with an i7, and that SSD will be great. Good luck :)
 
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