Q: Cant get my macbook pro 2009 to connect to thunderbolt display. Works with new mac book pro, but not old one.?

The only way a ThunderBolt Display will work is to be connected to a ThunderBolt port on a computer. The 2009 MBP does not have a ThunderBolt port. Hence the reason it doesn't work on it.

I have an early MacBook Pro and it DOES have a Thunderbolt port. In my case, my laptop isn't seeing the Thunderbolt port at all.

Thunderbolt and Mini DisplayPort look the same, except Thunderbolt has a lightning bolt symbol next to it.

http://i.i.cbsi.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/03/15/ThunderboltVSDisplayPort.png

Yep. I broke out my magnifying glass and found the tiny icon. Obviously I only looked at the shape before and the directions of "connect with a Thunderbolt cable". This is turning out to be an expensive solution but I just can't give up my 17" MacBook Pro! At least, not until they (hopefully) start making them again.

Thanks so much for your help!