migration without migration assistant...

Question

migration without migration assistant...

This may sound like a newbie question, but bear with me.

I'll be getting a new macbook air in a few days, and I'm wondering how I can transfer over all the items from Mail, bookmarks from Safari, iTunes, iPhoto, and Address Book WITHOUT using Migration Assistant. The reason is that my files have been "migration assisted" about 5 times, and each time the new mac has been a lot slower than a clean intall unit. I figure that its time to make a clean break with the past and start over. Is there a way to do that from within each app, or am I grasping at straws? I saw this page:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6185507

but I am wary of fiddling around with moving files inside the System.

Also, what is Apple's best method of syncing between macs nowadays? I can't keep up with all the changes to syncing. iSync doesn't even exist anymore, really, does it? We have a 24"iMac that is our primary computer.

Thanks in advance!

17" powerbook, 24" Alum iMac, MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.5.3), 2 gb ram

Posted on Jun 10, 2008 8:46 PM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Jun 10, 2008 8:54 PM in response to Khyber Courchesne1

if you don't want to use migration assistant your only option is to move files by hand. the post you reference provides a VERY good list of things to transfer. all the files mentioned there live in your users Library directory so you are not moving any system files by copying them.

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Answer 2

Network 23

Level 6

12,351 points

Jun 10, 2008 9:52 PM in response to Khyber Courchesne1

Yeah I always hang on to a backup clone of my old system, and when I want something on my new system to match the old system, first I look through the Library folder of my old system and manually copy over whatever Application Support or Preferences file is needed, pretty much along the lines of that post you linked to.

Many of user files for those items, like Mail, iTunes, etc. are relatively self-contained and easy to move over and have the new Mac see them and replicate your setup in that app.

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Answer 3

RodneyW

Level 4

3,041 points

Jun 11, 2008 4:54 AM in response to Khyber Courchesne1

I won't add to the good advice re: migration.

In relation to syncing - what are you trying to achieve? i.e. what do you want to sync between the computers? Files? Settings? Keychains? Mail accounts?

iSync is still there, and is incredibly useful for syncing third party products (such as mobile phone Address Book and Calendar) to your Mac. I use it to sync my Nokia 6234 - it has made the phone more useful!

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