[cchaynes]

Ok

so I have a new iMac on order....yay! more screen real estate and 1TB!

now, how about using Migration assistant to move over to it?

thoughts? I have never used it, does it work well? Are there drawbacks? Do i have any control over what gets moved?

Moving manually to a new mac provides a nice opportunity to do some spring cleaning, but sometimes after a couple of years, you forget what it is you modified!

while we are on the subject what will happen to my TM backups? If i migrate and name my new imac the same, will it still be a valid backup or will i have to start anew?

Thanks!

C

 

[monokitty]

Do not perform a manual transfer - trust me. (Unless it's 2 folders on your desktop.)

Migration Assistant is great because it transfers only your personal data and Applications, not your operating system. This means your personal data transferred is moved to a fresh, unused operating system. You can control what comes over in 4 categories:

Category 1: User Account
Sub-category: Which folders within that user folder (i.e; Pictures, Movies, etc.).

Category 2: Applications (all or none - you cannot choose which ones)

Category 3: Files and Folders (same as Applications - you do not choose which ones)

Category 4: Preferences (I think..)

Also, you'll want to run M.A. right away - if you create a new user account on your new Mac, and then use M.A. later, it does not move your old data into the account you've already created, but will create another user account. (Seriously, don't go down this road. If you're using M.A., use it right away when the new machine boots up, and prior to even being given the option to create a user account from scratch.)

If you have a TM backup, you can restore the data from that backup to the new Mac, bypassing M.A. entirely.

Whether you restore from a TM backup, or use M.A., your new Mac will look identical to your old one.

 

[cchaynes]

it is TM backed up, is that he preferred way?

or just do a FW or usb with migration assist?

it almost seems like it will take away that "new mac" feel!

one more quick question

i use AppTrap (it allows you to uninstall all associated file when you drag an application to the trash)

would this come over too? (it is in sys prefs) and works automatically but only for apps installed after you install it....

so would it still work

i just like to keep things tidy...(perhaps there is a better way, but i like to junk things automatically that i dont know where they were installed by the application

 

[monokitty]

I prefer Migration Assistant over restoring from a TM backup, but that's just a personal preference. It really doesn't matter. Restoring from a TM backup is really best to restore that same machine if something happens to it.

I'm not sure if AppTrap will continue to work on the new Mac, but I don't see why it wouldn't. If not, you can easily reinstall it.

FYI: Applications like Macromedia or Adobe suites may require reinstallation or reactivation. Moving those types of applications between machines does not always work properly. You'll know soon enough if the transfer of such an application worked properly or not the second you launch it after the transfer on the new machine.

 

[cchaynes]

it should be pretty simple

i only have to move my iphoto and itunes libs

all of my other files are in drop-box, so they will replicate automatically...

other than that, apps and prefs...