Transfer info to new iMac?

I just purchased a new 27" iMac, which I will get in January. How do I transfer over all the information from my present iMac to the new one?

20" Intel Core 2 Duo; iBook G4; iMac-flat, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Duo 2GB ram; HP 7410 wireless AIO printer

Posted on Dec 24, 2009 9:00 AM

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15 replies

Dec 24, 2009 9:41 AM in response to Joanne Walen

Although I am on record of being nervous of Migration Assistant (nervousness especially if migrating from other than Intel), here is the relevant Article. I migrated from a 24" 2.8 Intel iMac to my i7 using Ethernet. Something went wrong with iTunes but that was fixed easily by downloading iTunes. My modest amount of music was unharmed.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3322

Edit: Firewire should be faster but at the time of migration it was easier for me to use Ethernet.

Message was edited by: ScotMij

Dec 26, 2009 11:37 AM in response to Joanne Walen

Joanne Walen wrote:
I just purchased a new 27" iMac, which I will get in January. How do I transfer over all the information from my present iMac to the new one?


Rather than use migration assistant, another approach is to manually transfer just what you need (from your identity on your preexisting mac) and then reinstall your applications. That way, you don't inadvertently transfer corrupted files and you start with a fresh slate on your new Mac.

You can start up your old mac with the T pushed down, engaging Target Mode, and plug it into your new mac with a Firewire cable. To your new mac, your old mac will just look like a hard drive. Then, you select the folders on your old computer you'd like to be on your new one, and simply slide them over.

Dec 26, 2009 11:46 AM in response to MattiMattMatt

MattiMattMatt,
Oh, I really like that idea of starting with a "clean slate"; now, I'll just have to find all my applications. What do I do about those I have no CDs for, that I downloaded? Also, will I be able to migrate my Stickies file? Seems to me I had trouble with that once before--and I can't really afford to lose the information I store there. And can I then just plug in my external hard drive where my Time machine files are?

Jan 8, 2010 3:23 PM in response to steve copeland

I just realized that after I made the transfer, I now have a modem icon in my menu bar. I don't use dial-up, so how can I get rid of it? It only bothers me because it's not supposed to be there. I can't do anything through Network Preferences, at least as far as I can see.

Anyone have a suggestion?

Edit: I have had a bit of trouble with my i7 recognizing my external hard drive every time I turn on the machine. When I try to back up, I get an error message, then have to go through the process off identifying the hard drive again. Anyone else have this problem?

Message was edited by: Joanne Walen

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Transfer info to new iMac?

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