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How best to transfer data from a new iMac with Catalina to an older iMac with El Capitan

Hello


What will be the easiest way to move all of my collected data, files and photos from my 'new' iMac (Catalina) onto a 'clean' (empty) older iMac (El Capitan) which I have acquired? My intention will then be to wipe my new machine and start completely afresh without all of my clutter accumulated from 10+ years of 'playing' on the Internet!


The machines are side by side on my desk and are ready to spring into action!


Your advice will be much appreciated.

iMac 27" 5K, macOS 10.15

Posted on Oct 21, 2019 2:39 PM

Reply
5 replies

Oct 22, 2019 4:47 AM in response to HunterBD

I did a similar things some time ago.... I found the most straightforward option (for me, a bit of a dullard when it comes to tech!) was to buy a 2 TB hard disc, drop everything from one Mac, plug it into the other and drop it all on there.


I am sure there are more elegant quicker ways with ethernet, fire-wire etc. and no doubt others will chip in.


Good thing getting the HD was I now have another drive!

Oct 22, 2019 5:46 AM in response to HunterBD

FWIW, you don't really need two machines, just an external

drive large enough to hold your user data. Then, using

Recovery on the "new" machine, wipe and re-install

Catalina. Alternatively, create a Catalina installer on the

"new" machine on a USB stick and install from it. Then

install the desired apps and copy the user data from the

external drive that you want.


Doing it with two unrelated machines with different versions

of macOS simply complicates things more than needed.

Oct 22, 2019 4:01 PM in response to Duchy777

Thank you for your suggestion. I'll certainly consider that as an option.


I have all the data on my NEW machine backed-up to a 2TB external hard drive already but I don't think I can use my OLD machine to recover the information from that in its current form.


I'm currently trying Migration Assistant (for the first time in over 10 years of using a Mac!)



Oct 22, 2019 4:08 PM in response to woodmeister50

I appreciate your help - but I WANT the data/info put on to my old iMac (still operational) before I wipe my NEW machine (nearly two years old now!). I want to keep my Time Machine back-up of the new machine, currently on a 2TB external hard drive, 'intact', as it were, as a safety measure - at least in the short term.


I'm trying Migration Assistant overnight.

How best to transfer data from a new iMac with Catalina to an older iMac with El Capitan

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