Derek Windram
asked on
Imac A1311, late 2009, 21.5" - how to recover data from defunct Imac
I have a late 2009 Imac A1311 which has a damaged connector strip on the logic board. Happened when the front section fell forward – clumsiness, my mistake. In panic, I bought a used one – same model. My problem is – all my programs etc are on the hard drive of the damaged one. What's the best way of transferring all the info from the dud to the “new” one?
Pretty sure it's all backed up on the Time Machine drive. But – how do I transfer from the backup drive to the “new” machine?
Can I transfer from the Time Machine drive? It didn't seem to offer the option to restore. The original machine is El Capitan, and the “new” one is the previous version, Yosemite. Easy enough to update the “new” one, if that turns out to be the pdroblem.
Another option would be to repair the original – fitting a new logic board, but that seems a bit of a lengthy job, and my eyes aren't great close up – all these screws.. !
At a pinch, I could transfer the hard drive physically into into the new mac.. but that wouldn't be the best solution. I'm accustomed to repairing all my computers, - but I'm a unsure of the best solution.
Pretty sure it's all backed up on the Time Machine drive. But – how do I transfer from the backup drive to the “new” machine?
Can I transfer from the Time Machine drive? It didn't seem to offer the option to restore. The original machine is El Capitan, and the “new” one is the previous version, Yosemite. Easy enough to update the “new” one, if that turns out to be the pdroblem.
Another option would be to repair the original – fitting a new logic board, but that seems a bit of a lengthy job, and my eyes aren't great close up – all these screws.. !
At a pinch, I could transfer the hard drive physically into into the new mac.. but that wouldn't be the best solution. I'm accustomed to repairing all my computers, - but I'm a unsure of the best solution.
serialband
Pop the drive out of the old one and move it to the new one. Why wouldn't you consider it the best solution?
I'd also vote you simply swap the hard drive into the new computer. If it’s the same model of Mac it'll be completely seamless.
1) Search YouTube for a walkthrough of breaking down your exact version of iMac.
2) You'll require suction cups for disassembly.
3) Pull out the drive.
4) Insert the drive into a dock. Thunderbolt fastest.
5) You can then plug this dock into a new iMac + either access the files or do a migration from they docked drive to regenerate any users you'd like to regenerate.
Following this procedure, you won't have to tear down another machine to install your drive.
I generally like leaving Macs untouched whenever possible, as sometimes even simple opening of cases creates complex challenges during reassembly. Depends on many factors.
2) You'll require suction cups for disassembly.
3) Pull out the drive.
4) Insert the drive into a dock. Thunderbolt fastest.
5) You can then plug this dock into a new iMac + either access the files or do a migration from they docked drive to regenerate any users you'd like to regenerate.
Following this procedure, you won't have to tear down another machine to install your drive.
I generally like leaving Macs untouched whenever possible, as sometimes even simple opening of cases creates complex challenges during reassembly. Depends on many factors.
Removing the hard drive is complicated. iFixit shows the process here.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2308+Hard+Drive+Replacement/1766
If you have an external Time Machine backup, it is possible that you can open that TM backup on the new iMac, maybe.
plug in the drive into the new iMac, control-click on TM in the dock and select "browse other TM disks". This will let you browse that TM disk as you usually would when using TM normally and restore what you want where you want to. If you try to restore something you'll be prompted for a restore location. This would be a file recovery, not a hard drive recovery.
OR boot with COMMAND+R keys down to run Recovery from Time Machine backup - this usually works well from same or older macOS version, from newer to older macOS not so much.
If the hard drive is removed from old iMac, Migration Assistant may be an option. A clone of the old hard drive to new iMac with SuperDuper is likely to work. Booting from the external old drive is also likely to work.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iMac+Intel+21.5-Inch+EMC+2308+Hard+Drive+Replacement/1766
If you have an external Time Machine backup, it is possible that you can open that TM backup on the new iMac, maybe.
plug in the drive into the new iMac, control-click on TM in the dock and select "browse other TM disks". This will let you browse that TM disk as you usually would when using TM normally and restore what you want where you want to. If you try to restore something you'll be prompted for a restore location. This would be a file recovery, not a hard drive recovery.
OR boot with COMMAND+R keys down to run Recovery from Time Machine backup - this usually works well from same or older macOS version, from newer to older macOS not so much.
If the hard drive is removed from old iMac, Migration Assistant may be an option. A clone of the old hard drive to new iMac with SuperDuper is likely to work. Booting from the external old drive is also likely to work.
ASKER
Ah! You sound like just the person to tell me the difference between hard drive backup and file recovery? I've always "thought" that a physical hard drive transplant would leave something behind, perhaps in the RAM. Am I wrong? :) I need to access Photoshop & other programmes...everything, in fact.
ASKER
David Favor, Thank you for your reply - can you point me in the direction of a suitable Thunderbolt drive, please?
If the physical process is too difficult and time consuming for you, then you can connect the disk to an external USB to SATA connector and boot from it or use Migration assistant to transfer the data.
Thunderbolt has three versions - 1, 2, and 3. There are many models available now. 1 and 2 have the same port design. TB 3 is different. Everymac.com will give you specifications for your exact Mac model.
Your iMac (2009) does not have Thunderbolt.
Other World Computing has been a Mac source for twenty years. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/
Most external hard drives are Thunderbolt 1 interfaces, unless otherwise noted.
The Iomega Rugged Thunderbolt and USB 3 drive is nice.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Lacie/STEV1000400/
As is the Buffalo model if you want a portable
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Buffalo/HDPA1.0TU3/
I prefer desktop drives, it is my perception that they last longer. Portable drives tend to be abused by their users.
I am fond of The Wirecutter comparisons.
http://thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/storage/
Your iMac (2009) does not have Thunderbolt.
Other World Computing has been a Mac source for twenty years. https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/Thunderbolt/
Most external hard drives are Thunderbolt 1 interfaces, unless otherwise noted.
The Iomega Rugged Thunderbolt and USB 3 drive is nice.
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Lacie/STEV1000400/
As is the Buffalo model if you want a portable
https://eshop.macsales.com/item/Buffalo/HDPA1.0TU3/
I prefer desktop drives, it is my perception that they last longer. Portable drives tend to be abused by their users.
I am fond of The Wirecutter comparisons.
http://thewirecutter.com/leaderboard/storage/
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ASKER
Thaks for all your comments -I'm away from base at the moment - I'll attend to this on my return, this weekend sometime. Thank you for all your comments so far.
For future reference - will transplanting a hard drive into an identical model computer transfer ALL the information? I've always figured there would be some loss, maybe some residuals in the ram. Am I wrong? It'd be good to know!
For future reference - will transplanting a hard drive into an identical model computer transfer ALL the information? I've always figured there would be some loss, maybe some residuals in the ram. Am I wrong? It'd be good to know!
ASKER
Ok - here's the situation now. I've organized a USB 3.0 sata hard drive cable from the original hard drive, which shows up nicely on the desktop of the "new" machine. Now - all I need to do is to transfer the info to the new machine. Presumably, this will overwrite all work carried out on the new machine.
Not a problem, as all my important info (pretty sure) has been uploaded to dropbox.. Important looking folders appear to be "system", "users", library, and Applications.
Do I just drag these onto the resident drive?
Apologies for the delay in coping with this, but I've been working round this fairly gingerly! I live in the sticks, virtually in isolation, with a temperamental internet connection..
All of your comments have been helpful - thanks to all the contributors - I wouldn't have gotten this far without you!
Not a problem, as all my important info (pretty sure) has been uploaded to dropbox.. Important looking folders appear to be "system", "users", library, and Applications.
Do I just drag these onto the resident drive?
Apologies for the delay in coping with this, but I've been working round this fairly gingerly! I live in the sticks, virtually in isolation, with a temperamental internet connection..
All of your comments have been helpful - thanks to all the contributors - I wouldn't have gotten this far without you!
"Do I just drag these onto the resident drive? " NO, not recommended
Use the Migration Assistant application with the old HD plugged in via USB and mounted on the desktop .. it will manage the copying of the users/settings and applications from the old drive
Alternatively you CLONE the old HD onto the new one but drag & drop is not recommended (or even possible when it comes to active system files and folders) .. you cannot overwrite a booted OSX system with other system files as you're likely to make a mess .. exactly the same as any other OS like Windows or Unix.
Use the Migration Assistant application with the old HD plugged in via USB and mounted on the desktop .. it will manage the copying of the users/settings and applications from the old drive
Alternatively you CLONE the old HD onto the new one but drag & drop is not recommended (or even possible when it comes to active system files and folders) .. you cannot overwrite a booted OSX system with other system files as you're likely to make a mess .. exactly the same as any other OS like Windows or Unix.
ASKER
Eoin,
Thank you for that! One more thing.. the host computer is currently Yosemite - the original machine was El Capitan. I think it would be a good idea to upgrade the host machine to El Capitan, before Migrating. Can you see any problems in that area?
Thank you for that! One more thing.. the host computer is currently Yosemite - the original machine was El Capitan. I think it would be a good idea to upgrade the host machine to El Capitan, before Migrating. Can you see any problems in that area?
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Unless you have El Capitan Available already as a previous "purchase", you can only upgrade to Sierra. Pretty Soon, only High Sierra.
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Serialized .. Yes, I discovered that yesterday. Fortunately,I have El Capitan on a USB key - should have it all tucked up today!
ASKER
I used a Ugreen "Sata to USB" connect the original drive to the main machine, after backing up all of the info from the original drive to Dropbox. Took some time.....left it overnight... 4 hours to migrate... the only things I'm missing, and they're only two so far, are my username and passwords for a couple of sites, - Spotify and Amazon. Netflix and several others appear to be ok. There many duplications showing up - but `i reckon they were already duplicates, being stored in multiple folders on the original disk - now they all show up adjacent to each other, so the duplication is obvious.
I'm not sure if "migration" overwrites all the original info on the host computer. If it just tacks itself onto existing info - that would explain some of the dupes, as I'd been using the host machine to work on, whilst waiting to fix the lame duck. Migration sounds to me like it would be the latter. Easy enough to check up on tho' ... Thank you all for all your help. I'd never have managed on my own.
I'm not sure if "migration" overwrites all the original info on the host computer. If it just tacks itself onto existing info - that would explain some of the dupes, as I'd been using the host machine to work on, whilst waiting to fix the lame duck. Migration sounds to me like it would be the latter. Easy enough to check up on tho' ... Thank you all for all your help. I'd never have managed on my own.
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I AWARDED points for all the help here... look like it's been lost... I'll resolve it tomorrow - (Right now I have connection problems)
ASKER
thank you all..