Michael Graubart

Q: Transferring all contents of hard disk to another computer

I want to transfer the entire contents of my hard disk on my 'source computer', an eMac (PPC) with OS X 10.4.11, to a 'target computer', a Mac mini, PPC, at present running OS X 10.4.2. I am not interested in using one computer into a boot disk for the other. I want to create a back-up computer that is complete in itself for use in the eventuality of a technical failure of the first one.

 

I have looked at <https://discussions.apple.com/message/3625359?searchText=Transferring all contents of hard disk to another computer#3625359>, but I have a number of questions.

 

1. In that very useful article, the Mac mini is not listed as a possible target computer. Does that mean that I cannot use Migration Assistant for this task? In that case, can I use Carbon Copy Cloner (please see 4.below)?

 

2. Does Migration Assistant transfer all the invisible files and folders?

 

3. Should I upgrade the operating system of the Mac mini (the target computer) to 10.4.11 before proceeding, or will Migration Assistant transfer the OS from my source computer to the Mac mini at the same time as it is transferring files, apps, etc.?

 

4. I have got a version of Carbon Copy Cloner that runs on my 'source computer'. I have tried using that, but an error message appears, saying that my 'target computer' (the Mac mini) cannot be found. (Yes, I checked in the mini's System Prefences/Sharing what the mini's name is.) Should I set System Pref./Sharing/Personal file sharing on or off on the source computer? On the target computer? Should I use Target Mode?

 

5. Similarly, how should I set the permissions under 'Firewall' on the source computer? On the target computer?

 

Thank you in anticipation of any help.

 

.

eMac G4 (PPC), 1.25 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Feb 1, 2013 11:33 AM

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Q: Transferring all contents of hard disk to another computer

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  • by Klaus1,

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Feb 1, 2013 11:57 AM in response to Michael Graubart
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Feb 1, 2013 11:57 AM in response to Michael Graubart

    Migrating from PPC Macs to Intel Macs:

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-2295

  • by Michael Graubart,

    Michael Graubart Michael Graubart Feb 1, 2013 1:43 PM in response to Klaus1
    Level 2 (275 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 1, 2013 1:43 PM in response to Klaus1

    Both my computers are PPC ones, not Intel.

  • by Klaus1,Helpful

    Klaus1 Klaus1 Feb 1, 2013 2:38 PM in response to Michael Graubart
    Level 8 (48,821 points)
    Feb 1, 2013 2:38 PM in response to Michael Graubart

    Sorry Michael, misread your post.

     

    How to use Migration Assistant:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4413?viewlocale=en_US

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1963

     

    Troubleshooting Firewire target disk mode:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

  • by Michael Graubart,Helpful

    Michael Graubart Michael Graubart Feb 1, 2013 4:17 PM in response to Klaus1
    Level 2 (275 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 1, 2013 4:17 PM in response to Klaus1

    Thanks very much, Klaus 1. I shall try all this in the next few days.

  • by Michael Graubart,

    Michael Graubart Michael Graubart Feb 2, 2013 1:34 AM in response to Michael Graubart
    Level 2 (275 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 2, 2013 1:34 AM in response to Michael Graubart

    Klaus 1, I should have added that the article to which the first link you hve kindly given leads is about OS X 10.6, and both my computers are running 10.4. But I imagine the procedure will not be that different. I shall find out as soon as I can get back to experimenting with this.

  • by rccharles,Solvedanswer

    rccharles rccharles Feb 3, 2013 1:36 PM in response to Michael Graubart
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Feb 3, 2013 1:36 PM in response to Michael Graubart

    I want to transfer the entire contents of my hard disk on my 'source computer', an eMac (PPC) with OS X 10.4.11, to a 'target computer', a Mac mini, PPC, at present running OS X 10.4.2.

     

    I'd upgrade the mini to 10.4.11 before transfering the data before using migration assistant.  Seems safer.

     

    I am not interested in using one computer into a boot disk for the other. I want to create a back-up computer that is complete in itself for use in the eventuality of a technical failure of the first one.

     

    Not sure of the plan for backup when the eMac changes.  Not sure you would not run into problems if you ran migration assistance twice.

     

    Migration assistant isn't designed as an exact backup.  It's for assisting to to move to a new computer.

     

    I have looked at <https://discussions.apple.com/message/3625359?searchText=Transferring all contents of hard disk to another computer#3625359>, but I have a number of questions.

     

    1. In that very useful article, the Mac mini is not listed as a possible target computer.

     

    Do not know where the list came from. Actually, in this case you run migration assistant on the mini.  You set  up the eMac in target disk mode.

     

    Target disk mode makes the computer appear as an external hd.

     

    I want to transfer the entire contents of my hard disk on my 'source computer', an eMac (PPC) with OS X 10.4.11, to a 'target computer', a Mac mini, PPC, at present running OS X 10.4.2.

     

    How do you define "entire contents"?  You will get most with Migration Assistant not all.

     

    I am not interested in using one computer into a boot disk for the other.

     

    I want to create a back-up computer that is complete in itself for use in the eventuality of a technical failure of the first one.

     

    You would use CCC to do this.  When things change, you would run CCC update.  Do not know if you can clone from eMac to Mini and have mini boot.  Give it a try.  eMac in target disk mode.  Try holding down the option key then power on. This brings up the startup manager. Click on your eMac hd. Click on right arrow key.

     

    2. Does Migration Assistant transfer all the invisible files and folders?

     

    migration isn't for all.  do not know about invisible files.  Probably from home directory.

     

    3. Should I upgrade the operating system of the Mac mini (the target computer) to 10.4.11 before proceeding, or will Migration Assistant transfer the OS from my source computer to the Mac mini at the same time as it is transferring files, apps, etc.?

     

    Yes.  Migration Assistant will not mess with OS.

     

    4. I have got a version of Carbon Copy Cloner that runs on my 'source computer'. I have tried using that, but an error message appears, saying that my 'target computer' (the Mac mini) cannot be found.

     

    You need to boot the mini in target disk mode & connect with firewire cable.

     

     

     

    (Yes, I checked in the mini's System Prefences/Sharing what the mini's name is.) Should I set System Pref./Sharing/Personal file sharing on or off on the source computer?

     

    Not relevant to Target disk mode. 

     

    On the target computer? Should I use Target Mode?

    Yes, in the case of CCC.

     

    If you have a second Mac computer, you may want to try to copy over as many files you can. One way is to use target disk mode.

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661

    http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/8443.html

     

    "Installing OS X 10.4 'Tiger' on DVD-Challenged Macs Using FireWire Target Disk Mode"

    http://lowendmac.com/misc/06/0710.html

     

    Here is a picture of  a firewire port:

    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/IEEE_1394_Firewire_PCI_ Expansion_Card_Digon3.jpg/800px-IEEE_1394_Firewire_PCI_Expansion_Card_Digon3.jpg

     

     

    5. Similarly, how should I set the permissions under 'Firewall' on the source computer? On the target computer?

     

    Thank you in anticipation of any help.

     

    .

  • by Michael Graubart,

    Michael Graubart Michael Graubart Feb 4, 2013 1:54 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 2 (275 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 4, 2013 1:54 AM in response to rccharles

    Thank you very much for your comprehensive answers, RCCHarles. Enormously helpful.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Feb 4, 2013 10:37 AM in response to Michael Graubart
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Feb 4, 2013 10:37 AM in response to Michael Graubart

    Glad to be of assistance.  Let us know what you do. 

     

    Robert

  • by Michael Graubart,

    Michael Graubart Michael Graubart Mar 24, 2013 3:41 AM in response to rccharles
    Level 2 (275 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 24, 2013 3:41 AM in response to rccharles

    I had a great deal of other work to do, Robert, so I had to postpone my cloning operation (which I was slightly scared of in case something went wrong and I lost all my stuff) till a couple of days ago, but since you kindly asked what I did, this is how it went:

     

    I did not update the operating system on the target computer (which was 10.4.2) before doing the cloning (the source computer has 10.4.11).

     

    I connectred the two machines with a FireWire cable, started the target computer in Target Mode and used Carbon Copy Cloner, following the instructions in <https://discussions.apple.com/message/3625359?searchText=Transferring all contents of hard disk to another computer#3625359> exactly.

     

    It all went incredibly smoothly (taking about 2 hours), and I ended up with the target computer (now with OS 10.4.11, the operating system having been cloned along with everything else) identical to the source one (even displaying the same desktop picture, and with internet and e-mail settings all complete). The only problem was with one app. with a registration situation that did not like it being on two machines, and I eventually sorted that out with the manufacturers of the app.

     

    Thank you again, Robert, and everyone else.

  • by rccharles,

    rccharles rccharles Mar 24, 2013 10:55 AM in response to Michael Graubart
    Level 6 (8,486 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Mar 24, 2013 10:55 AM in response to Michael Graubart

    Glad to hear of you success.

     

    Rober