Screen gone on old MacBook. Is there anyway to look at the keychains.

Keychain files are typically deep in the recesses of the Library folders, of which there are three. When you use the Migration Assistant and your machine has a bigger drive than the source drive, all those files come over, and can either replace the account, or create a new one. Just run that utility from the new machine's Applications -> Utilities and see if it will import the data. Any applications with a do not enter sign that come in are not compatible with the system on the new Mac.

If any of those applications are needed and you can't find an upgrade, you may be better off getting a used or refurbished Mac that can run the older operating system in question.

Keep in mind:

2011 - 10.7 Lion was released.

2012 - 10.8 Mountain Lion

2013 - 10.9 Mavericks

2014 - 10.10 Yosemite

2015 - 10.11 El Capitan

All mid-2009 Macs could only run up to El Capitan. Unless you were running Snow Leopard on the old Mac, getting another Mac that can run El Capitan will still work with your old applications.

If you were running Snow Leopard, you must get an early 2011 Mac with the original discs, or early 2010 Mac or older with the Snow Leopard retail to run the system.

You may be able also to add an external display to your old Mac to access the data if you put the drive back in.

The problem is, the new Mac may not be capable of running the older operating system you had on the old hard drive.

As long as there is no damage to the hard drive, and there is capacity on the new Mac, you should be able to use the Migration Assistant to bring over your user data and applications. Note M1 Macs aren't fully Intel compatible, though clicking get info on Intel Apps and checking Rosetta will activate the 64 bit applications on the new Mac. Any Mac running Catalina or later will only run 64 bit applications. If you have older applications brought over with Migration Assistant and a do not enter sign appears on them, then you'll have to find a newer version of those applications to use them on the newer Mac.

Keychains should be brought over by the Migration Assistant.

If the hard drive of the new Mac is not at least as big if not bigger than the old Mac, you won't be able to use migration assistant, and importing keychains will be nearly impossible.

Target Disk Mode can be used over Thunderbolt, or over Firewire, or over ethernet. It can't be used over USB 3.0 or earlier.

https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/transfer-files-mac-computers-target-disk-mode-mchlp1443/mac

and it works hand in hand with the Migration and/or setup assistant if the drive is functional in the older Mac.

If you can attach an external display to your old Mac, and it shows the thunderbolt or Firewire logo upon holding the T key at startup, then you can use it as a target Mac for the new Mac.

Question isn't too clear.

Connecting an external display

The display will automatically connect to your old MacBook and you can view the contents of the computer.

Keychain

This is universal and if you go into settings you can view the keychain from any device.

Encryption Key

Do you have an encrypted drive that you would like to access from your new MacBook and want to view the key from your old MacBook because you can't remember the password? For FileVault?

> So if I use the migration assistant can I just choose to import the keychains folder and leave everything else?

You would need to copy over the settings without the applications. It could bring over other stuff. it will tell you how big the transfer is before making it.

Keychain files are encrypted.

Moving the files around won't help much unless you make that moved file the ACTIVE keychain -OR-

look at it with Keychain Access .app

Use an external display or TV set on the old Mac, then examine it in place using Keychain Access app. (it's in the /Applications/Utilities folder)