How to access data from old MacBook backup drives on MacBook Pro

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Level 1

58 points

How to access data from old MacBook backup drives on MacBook Pro

I have some back up drives from an older MacBook retina and would like to access that data in my current MacBook pro. How would I do this.

Posted on Oct 6, 2026 10:59 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 6, 2026 11:16 AM in response to deflumeri

Hi,

How were these backups made?

Are these Time Machine backup drives?

3rd party backups like Carbon Copy Cloner or superduper!? etc...

Or are these just drives where files were dragged onto to back them up?

Can you connect them to the Mac?

If so, what happens when you do? Do they show up in Finder?

You'll need to provide some details and context about the drives and how data was backed up onto them before anyone can offer any specific advice.

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Answer 2

Oct 6, 2026 2:37 PM in response to deflumeri

Ahh, so you are looking for the connections. Yeah that was not specifically clear from your first post.

That drive has a Mini-USB port, a Firewire 800, and a Firewire 400 port in addiiton to the barrel jack power port.

Your best bet if your current Mac is running macOS 26 Tahoe or 27 Golden Gate, is to use the Mini-USB port as firewire support has been dropped on macOS 26 and by extension 27.

You'll need a Mini-USB to usb-c adapter, or a mini-usb to usb-a and then usb-a to usb-c adapter.

click here ➜ Cable Matters Mini USB to USB-C cable - Amazon.com

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Answer 3

deflumeri Author

Level 1

58 points

Oct 6, 2026 2:25 PM in response to Phil0124

They may be time machine back-ups of MacBook older version and/or storing specific data. The drive is a La-Cie. I need to get a connector that will run from that LaCie (with ports for which I do not have any more.) I am including a picture showing the the ports on this older LaCie. I don't know the names of them. But I need a cable to run from that drive to my newer MacBook pro 14 inch. Perhaps you can tell me what to get.

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