Swap content of 2 MacBook Pros

[YannikMarian]

Hi all,

newbie here so hopefully this is the right sub-forum! Here's the situation: I have two MacBook Pros (late 2013; early 2015) and I want to swap both systems, meaning that afterwards MacBook A should contain B's data content / configurations etc. and vice versa. Basically only the hardware should change. I assume it is not as simple as just exchanging the SSD's right?

Not sure if this is relevant but the late 2013 version has Sierra, while the newer one still runs on Yosemite due to software incompatibility.

Many thanks in advance!
Yannik

 

[b0fh666]

time machine to external disk and back

 

[LarryJoe33]

Time Machine is one way, but if I was trying to do what you are trying to do, I would use Carbon Copy Cloner (free for 30 days). This should be very easy, the only caveat is that the images created were from different hardware (MBP's) but I don't think this matters.

1
Plug in an external drive to either machine. Format it and create two partitions using Disk Utility - 2013 MBP, 2015 MBP for example.

2
Use CCC to clone the 2013 to the 2013 MBP partition on the external drive. Maybe three clicks. Do the same for the 2015 to 2015 MBP

3
Restore 2015 MBP to 2013, 2013 MBP to 2015

 

[YannikMarian]

Time Machine is one way, but if I was trying to do what you are trying to do, I would use Carbon Copy Cloner (free for 30 days). This should be very easy, the only caveat is that the images created were from different hardware (MBP's) but I don't think this matters.

1
Plug in an external drive to either machine. Format it and create two partitions using Disk Utility - 2013 MBP, 2015 MBP for example.

2
Use CCC to clone the 2013 to the 2013 MBP partition on the external drive. Maybe three clicks. Do the same for the 2015 to 2015 MBP

3
Restore 2015 MBP to 2013, 2013 MBP to 2015

Thanks! So will this also copy also include the OS (yosemeti vs. sierra)? This is needed, because some deleveloper tools are only running on yosemite.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Thanks! So will this also copy also include the OS (yosemeti vs. sierra)? This is needed, because some deleveloper tools are only running on yosemite.

Yup it's a perfect image.

 

[LarryJoe33]

Let me know how it goes !