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User profile for user: kim_xx
kim_xx Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Booting new device from external ssd with older MacOS


Good day, I would appreciate your assistance.

I’ve been using an external SSD (SanDisk Pro) to boot my late 2013 iMac, and it has been working great, giving my iMac a new lease on life. I’ve relied on this SSD for several years, and all my data is stored on it. However, I’m now ready to upgrade my device and purchase a new M3 MacBook Pro.

I have a few questions:


  1. I would like to continue using my SSD on the new M3 MacBook Pro. Will I be able to boot from the SSD and use it as I did with my iMac? The SSD is currently running macOS Catalina.
  2. Will I be able to upgrade the software on my SSD to be compatible with the new M3 MacBook Pro’s operating system? If so, how safe is this process, and what is the best way to go about it?


Thank you in advance for your help.

iMac 27″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 23, 2024 2:33 AM

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4 replies
User profile for user: kim_xx
kim_xx Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Oct 23, 2024 6:39 AM in response to dialabrain

Dear Dialabrain, Thank you for the explanation, makes sense.


Could you perhaps assist by answering the following:


  1. If I rather purchase an i9 processor MBP will that work better ?
    • And in this case will it be possible to update the OS on my SSD without erasing any data ie. same as updating the OS on any mac just download the new OS and install on SSD ? eg. Big Sir or Monerety


Thanks

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User profile for user: D.I. Johnson
D.I. Johnson
User level: Level 7
24,251 points

Oct 23, 2024 7:51 AM in response to kim_xx

When you get your new Mac, the easiest way to migrate your stuff from that external SSD will be to connect it to the new Mac before you you start it up the first time to work through the set up. The Setup Assistant will ask if you want to migrate your data from another Mac or drive, and that is when you will pull your user account and its data directly from the SSD.

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Booting new device from external ssd with older MacOS

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