Swapping all files on drives from Mac Pro 2019 to Mac Pro 2013

I have two Mac Pro's a 2019 and a 2013. I need to take all the information on one machine and swap to the other. The harddrive structures are different on both machines so before I attempt to do this I wanted to ask here.


Both units are running Monterey 12.7 and have time machine backups on separate external drives as well.


Any help here?


RD

Mac Pro, macOS 10.13

Posted on Oct 25, 2023 3:46 AM

Reply
9 replies

Oct 25, 2023 9:43 AM in response to dagwaremedia

You said you wanted to move FILES, and expressed concern about file formats. File sharing takes care of the file format issue for you, in both directions. Migration Assistant can do the job as well, but consumes the entire attention of both computers for the duration of the (slow) transfer.


Applications should always be re-installed from Primary sources, not copied around.


If you want to copy preferences and settings, that is a job for Migration Assistant. Note that a Migration does not change the SOURCE computer in the slightest.


...

Oct 25, 2023 9:59 AM in response to dagwaremedia

"I need to take all the information on one machine and swap to the other," do you mean, making an exact copy of the macOS Image of say the MBP 2019 to the MBP 2013 OR vice versa... if yes-- then use the the "Restore" function in the Utility App in Recovery Mode to the destination MBP in target mode or use an external drive to copy the macOS IMAGE of one then Restore the macOS image on the destruction MBP.

Question marked as Helpful

Oct 25, 2023 11:32 AM in response to dagwaremedia

"Not all just 8 or 9 apps and files for those apps," ... I think your choice of words is confusing many here, maybe you should try using words like "install" or "reinstall" 8 or 9 Apps from one MBP to another MBP and by files for those Apps-- can't fully understand your meaning-- do you mean some files created with the needed Apps?... I don't see what the problem is here... you have Time Machine for both machines "Yes" Browse through Time Machine snapshots of either and select whatever you need to either of the MBPs you want or drag the DMG files of the App need and install.

Oct 26, 2023 6:52 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

OK update on this situation, I did a migrate from my Mac Pro 2013 to Mac Pro 2019.


My Mac Pro 2013 has a 2TB drive


My Mac Pro 2019 has a 5TB drive but its 2 partitions ( 1 is 2TB the other is 3 TB. I migrated everything except the system and users ( they are the same ) I got a message saying not enough room on the drive, I get that. So I ended up migrating the just applications.


I thought I would get a list of applications and I could choose which ones to migrate but it ended up migrating ALL my apps. Now I do not have the files for all of these because I ran out of room.


This is getting complicated now so let me ask if I could do the following:


On my Mac Pro 2019 The unit I want to migrate

only CERTAIN apps and files to OR ALL apps and files from my 2013 Mac Pro)


As mentioned it has a a 5TB drive which is split into 2 partitions ( 2TB and another 3TB) . I also have another internal drive that has my Time Machine backups of that machine.


So FIRST I would need to delete the 2 partitions so I have one, 5 TB partition then DELETE everything on the drive except the OS.


Migrate a Time machine backup of my Of my Mac Pro 2013. Which would then give me ALL my files prefs and apps that are on my 2013 ( this is fine!) thats exactly what I want


Once thats done I go to my 2013 Mac Pro delete everything except the OS and migrate the time machine back up from my 2019 on to my 2013 Mac Pro


This to me seems easier as my goal is to


Have all my Mac Pro 2013 files prefs folders apps etc. on my Mac Pro 2019


and have all my Mac Pro 2019 files prefs folders apps etc. on my 2013 Mac Pro


Is this the best way to do???

Swapping all files on drives from Mac Pro 2019 to Mac Pro 2013

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