New M1 MBP doesn't read old external SSD boot drive

[T Coma]

I'm picking and choosing which files to bring over from my 2011 iMac / High Sierra on an as-needed basis. It boots from a Lacie Thunderbolt 1 external SSD, which also has a USB 3 port. I've brought very little over in the month since I got the new 16" M1 Pro. I may end up storing my Photos album on an external drive, since the Photos data package is by far the biggest part of the boot drive, at 365 GB (there is also an iPhoto package at 140 GB, not sure if I will need to copy that.) Since the Lacie external is TB1/USB3, I thought I could just plug it directly into the new MBP via a USB-C / A dongle, but no such luck. The issue isn't whether or not I can bring the data over; there are multiple ways to do that. I'm just wondering why the MBP couldn't see the Lacie external, much less mount it. I tried through a powered hub too, but also to no avail. I tried multiple USB 3 cables, all of which work on other drives but that did not help. Also the adapter works fine for everything else. Is there some incompatibility here?

 

[MacCheetah3]

Is there something I am overlooking? If the drive is Thunderbolt capable/compatible, it should have a USB-C port, no? Have you tried a USB-C to USB-C cable?

Also, is the drive showing in Disk Utility and/or System Information (formerly System Profiler)?

 

[jav6454]

Can the drive start as a mountable drive?

 

[T Coma]

Is there something I am overlooking?

Yes. The part saying that the drive is Thunderbolt 1, which was pre-USB C. Also, that the MBP cannot see the drive, and that includes Disk Utility, System info, Finder, etc.

 

[justashooter]

Have you tried plugging in the Lacie to your old computer using USB3? Does that work. What I'm getting at is maybe the USB3 port on the Lacie is bad. Maybe the USBA to C dongle is bad? I use these, small and work great https://www.microcenter.com/product/612960/j5create-usb-type-c-31-to-type-a-adapter-2-pack

 

[MacCheetah3]

Yes. The part saying that the drive is Thunderbolt 1, which was pre-USB C. Also, that the MBP cannot see the drive, and that includes Disk Utility, System info, Finder, etc.

My mistake. I skipped over it being TB 1. TB 3 to TB 2 (which is also TB 1 backward compatible) can be iffy and relatively expensive. So, I’ll stick to focusing on USB 3.

One other thing that came to mind: Does the drive (enclosure) have supplemental/auxiliary power? Is the USB A cable used a Y (or pigtail)? In other words, is there a possibility the drive is not receiving (enough) power via the USB adapter/cable?

 

[Boyd01]

If the drive is powered by the USB port, I would also guess that it's an issue of not getting enough power. Perhaps try using a powered USB hub?

 

[Fishrrman]

Is the LaCie drive "open-able"? (many are not)
If so, I suggest opening the enclosure, taking the drive OUT of it, and trying it in another enclosure or dock.

Another approach -- yes, I realize this is "clunky", but "what works.... works":
Forget about connecting the LaCie drive to the MBP.

Get a USB3 flash drive of sufficient capacity, I reckon 16/32/64gb.

Plug the flashdrive into the NEW MBP.
Use disk utility to erase it to HFS+ (Mac OS extended with journaling enabled, GUID partition format).

Now, connect the LaCie drive back to the OLD iMac (we know it works there).
Plug the USB flash drive in, as well.
Copy a chunk of the files you wish to migrate to the flashdrive.

Take the flashdrive back to the NEW MBP, and get the files moved over.
Then... repeat as much as needed.

Certainly not "the best way".
But sometimes "a man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do..."

 

[T Coma]

Have you tried plugging in the Lacie to your old computer using USB3? Does that work. What I'm getting at is maybe the USB3 port on the Lacie is bad. Maybe the USBA to C dongle is bad? I use these, small and work great https://www.microcenter.com/product/612960/j5create-usb-type-c-31-to-type-a-adapter-2-pack

This sounds like a reasonable troubleshoot. Unfortunately the iMac is Thunderbolt 1 and USB 2 only, so I cannot boot through USB 2. The dongles (adapters and USB A to C) are all new and work fine for everything else. The light on the Lacie does light up when it's plugged in, regardless of which port is used, and of which cable/adapter is used. It is formatted APFS, Mac OS Extended Journaled, not encrypted, although I don't know if that matters since Disk Utility doesn't even see it.

While typing this, I tried to read it on my wife's 2019 MBP via the USB port, and again no luck. The LED on the drive lights up, but that's it. Doesn't show up on the Disk Utility there either.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
Did you try my suggestion to you in reply 8 above?

Maybe there's some kind of incompatibility in the LaCie enclosure/drive that just isn't going to work with the new MBP. You may have to look for "a workaround". That's why I suggested what I did in my reply to you above.

 

[MacCheetah3]

I'm picking and choosing which files to bring over from my 2011 iMac / High Sierra on an as-needed basis. It boots from a Lacie Thunderbolt 1 external SSD, which also has a USB 3 port.

This sounds like a reasonable troubleshoot. Unfortunately the iMac is Thunderbolt 1 and USB 2 only, so I cannot boot through USB 2.

This seems contradictory to me. (My apologies if I’ve overlooked something again.)

While typing this, I tried to read it on my wife's 2019 MBP via the USB port, and again no luck. The LED on the drive lights up, but that's it. Doesn't show up on the Disk Utility there either.

When you connected the Lacie drive to the MBP, were you using the same cables used to connect to the iMac? Did you add any adapters? In other words, can you mount the drive to any other using the exact same cable setup as the 2011 iMac (which you original stated the drive was operating with fine)?

 

[chrfr]

Yes. The part saying that the drive is Thunderbolt 1, which was pre-USB C. Also, that the MBP cannot see the drive, and that includes Disk Utility, System info, Finder, etc.

You might get yourself the Apple Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter (which is also compatible with Thunderbolt 1) and connect that to the new computer, then use the drive's existing Thunderbolt 1 cable and plug it into the adapter.
Otherwise I'm not especially clear on how you've tried to connect things so far.