Paul Melzer
Level 1 (106 points)

Q: New SSD installed, why won't boot-up recognize TM back-up disc?

2008 15" Macbook running OS 10.9.5. Time Machine backups are okay, on an Iomega eGo 1Tb external.


I installed a new SSD (Crucial), but when rebooting to the back-up drive I get the flashing question mark. Reinstalled the old hard drive and all is back to the old normal. Any suggestions? Could it have to do with the version of USB cable? But why would no problem with the external in combo with old drive? Should I put another Time Machine backup on a newer or different external, then try again installing the new drive? Should I try a different usb cable than the one supplied?


Thanks in advance.

MacBook, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5)

Posted on Jan 9, 2016 8:56 AM

by Mike Sombrio,Apple recommended
Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio
Level 6 (17,233 points)
Apple Watch
A:

Your 2010 Macbook Pro uses Internet Recovery which your 2008 MBP does not. You NEED either your original gray install disc or a Snow Leopard retail disc. Time Machine backups are not bootable.

Posted on Jan 9, 2016 12:40 PM

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Paul Melzer

Q: New SSD installed, why won't boot-up recognize TM back-up disc?

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  • by 867,

    867 867 Jan 9, 2016 10:31 AM in response to Paul Melzer
    Level 1 (44 points)
    Jan 9, 2016 10:31 AM in response to Paul Melzer

    You need to insert the disks that came with your MacBook and then hold down the alt/option key when booting, then click the drive or the CD

  • by Paul Melzer,

    Paul Melzer Paul Melzer Jan 9, 2016 11:24 AM in response to 867
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Jan 9, 2016 11:24 AM in response to 867

    We didn't need to do this on the last two (2010 MBP and another MB) we replaced [from different external TM backups]—when we rebooted the computer, it opened to disk utility window and we partitioned the new disk, then restored from the TM.

  • by Paul Melzer,

    Paul Melzer Paul Melzer Jan 9, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Paul Melzer
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Jan 9, 2016 12:01 PM in response to Paul Melzer

    We didn't need to do this on the last two (2010 MBP and another MB) we replaced [from different external TM backups]—when we rebooted the computers, they both opened to disk utility window and we partitioned the new disks, then restored from the TMs.

  • by Mike Sombrio,Apple recommended

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jan 9, 2016 12:40 PM in response to Paul Melzer
    Level 6 (17,233 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 9, 2016 12:40 PM in response to Paul Melzer

    Your 2010 Macbook Pro uses Internet Recovery which your 2008 MBP does not. You NEED either your original gray install disc or a Snow Leopard retail disc. Time Machine backups are not bootable.

  • by Paul Melzer,

    Paul Melzer Paul Melzer Jan 9, 2016 12:54 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Jan 9, 2016 12:54 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Ah, okay thanks. I thought Recovery was part of the OS, not the hardware.


    So the install disc will get us to the disc partition step, then the Recovery from the TM backup? We would prefer not having to actually install the older OS before restoring from TM, but I now suspect this may not be possible. Can you point to [published] some steps for this?

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jan 9, 2016 6:40 PM in response to Paul Melzer
    Level 6 (17,233 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 9, 2016 6:40 PM in response to Paul Melzer

    INsert the install disc and restart while holding the C key. Choose your language and at the next screen click the Utilities menu in the top menu bar and select Disk Utility. Partition the hard drive as one partition and select the GUID partition scheme. Format as Mac OS Extended Journaled and when DU is done quit back to the installer screen and choose to install OS X. When it's done just choose your Time Machine backup during setup. Complete instructions are here starting at step B http://pondini.org/TM/14.html

  • by Paul Melzer,

    Paul Melzer Paul Melzer Jan 14, 2016 4:39 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Jan 14, 2016 4:39 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    I do not have the install discs, alas. So I tried restoring from the TM backup disk to the new ssd (both drives external, using disk utility), however this merely copied a TM backup, so that's out. I'm trying to find a workaround to not having the original install disk (not to mention having to reinstall the original OS then going through upgrades before restoring from TM), so I'm now wondering about cloning the new ssd, and whether

     

    1) this needs to be done via a software like CCC or Superduper, or

    2) this can be done via Disk Utility (shown here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhNma0ZjrWs), and then

    3) whether this "clone" will be an exact clone.

     

    Thanks Mike for your past help on this. (And any further advice, from you or others.)

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jan 14, 2016 4:45 PM in response to Paul Melzer
    Level 9 (50,439 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 14, 2016 4:45 PM in response to Paul Melzer

    Paul Melzer wrote:

     

    We didn't need to do this on the last two (2010 MBP and another MB) we replaced [from different external TM backups]—when we rebooted the computer, it opened to disk utility window and we partitioned the new disk, then restored from the TM.

    Because that one was not 2008. it was a 2010 or newer.

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jan 14, 2016 5:23 PM in response to Paul Melzer
    Level 6 (17,233 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 14, 2016 5:23 PM in response to Paul Melzer

    Use Firewire Target Disk Mode to connect the 2008 Macbook to your 2010 Macbook and run Disk Utility to partition and format the drive. The go to the Mac App Store, download El Capitan and install it on the SSD in the 2008 Macbook. How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode - Apple Support

  • by Paul Melzer,

    Paul Melzer Paul Melzer Jan 14, 2016 5:46 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Jan 14, 2016 5:46 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Again, thanks. I already have partitioned the sad (through the 2010 MBP). It seems, to this relative novice, that installing a cloned drive would be simpler than what you suggest, Mike. Is cloning a bad thing? Or will not work in this case?

  • by Mike Sombrio,

    Mike Sombrio Mike Sombrio Jan 14, 2016 5:52 PM in response to Paul Melzer
    Level 6 (17,233 points)
    Apple Watch
    Jan 14, 2016 5:52 PM in response to Paul Melzer

    Sorry I didn't answer ypur questions. The question I have about all pf that is will a 2008 Macbook boot from USB? I don't know.

    IF it will: put the old HDD into an external enclosure or docking station and connect it to the macbook. Start up holding the Option key and select the HDD as the boot drive. You can use Disk Utility http://macs.about.com/od/backupsarchives/ss/diskbackup.htm or CCC or Super Duper, your choice.

    Cloning will make an exact copy of what was on the old HDD.

  • by Paul Melzer,

    Paul Melzer Paul Melzer Jan 14, 2016 10:29 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (106 points)
    Jan 14, 2016 10:29 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Thank you , Mike. I'll try this out over the weekend.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jan 15, 2016 6:30 AM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 9 (50,439 points)
    Desktops
    Jan 15, 2016 6:30 AM in response to Mike Sombrio

    It will, just use a clone (CCC preferably)

  • by Rick Seaman,

    Rick Seaman Rick Seaman Feb 9, 2016 8:23 PM in response to Mike Sombrio
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 9, 2016 8:23 PM in response to Mike Sombrio

    Mike,

    I have a mid 2012 MacBook Pro with the latest software and 8Gig of Ram.  How easy is this conversion for my model?  I am some what confident I can do this.  My computer is 500 gig now, thinking of a 1TB SSD.

    Thanks in Advance,

    Rick

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