Questions regarding data transfer on my 2007 iMac and Apple Support Communities functionality

Apple_user_2024 wrote:

1- if I can re-connect this old imac to internet, is it even safe to go to any webpage because my OS 10.6.8 is so out of date (in regards to virus, hacking etc…this old imac would still be using the same modem/wifi router as other up-to-date ipads) ???

Yes it is safe. The MacOS has always been quite safe and resilient. It's always best to have the latest security available for your Mac, but the likelihood of someone "hacking" into that computer is lower likelihood than being struck by lightning. It's not something I would even worry about at all.

2-if it’s safe for my imac to be online, and i go to How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

 And manually download and install “El Capitan 10.11” as you suggested, should i buy an external hard drive first and do time machine backup onto it then do install of 10.11 ?? I’m asking because i want to know if there’s a possibility that new update(10.11)  will format (or erase/lose all data (pics,music) that I’m ultimately trying to preserve from imac and place onto iPads (and afterwards icloud) ?

You should already have a backup, maybe two or three backups. And especially a 2007 Mac, 17 years old! Such an old computer can fail anytime. Any computer can fail anytime, but one that old, it is much more likely. So yes, absolutely make backups of anything of value to you immediately. Also, any update to the operating system, especially with an older Mac like this, does have the possibility of something going amiss, even the increased heating from the intensive disk activity could cause an old and failing solder joint to break. So backup up is a must.

If all you want are your pictures and music moved to an iPad, I would not even bother with the 10.11 upgrade. I would make several copies on external drives and then copy or import to the iPad from the external drive, as the link I provided describes: Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support

This way you (a) have an external drive with copies of your photos and music, and (b) you import from it directly to the iPad. No need to deal with the MacOS upgrade unless you want to use it on the old Mac. If you use the external drive for this transfer to the iPad, I think a Finder copy of your picture files and music directly to that external drive would work best.

3- if I download and install 10.11, should i download and install all other versions sequentially first (ie- 10.7 then 10.8 then 10.10 then 10.11) to mitigate any potential problems or can i jump directly into 10.11 ??

I would install them sequentially, but in principle it should work to go in one step. But going in steps is considered a more conservative approach. I have done this sort of thing (upgrading through 5 levels of the MacOS) both ways and both ways have worked for me. Make sure you have a good backup, preferably two or three.

Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter - Apple

The iPad cannot power an external drive by itself. If you get the above part, you can connect a charger to one of its ports and use the other to connect the hard drive that you use to copy your files from the Mac. Then you can import or copy the files into your iPad. An inexpensive drive like this one

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/wd-my-passport-for-mac-2tb-external-usb-3-0-portable-hard-drive-blue/6356884.p?skuId=6356884

can be used. You can use an SSD but they are more expensive.

Alternatively you can get an external hub that has its own power supply, and connect the iPad and the external drive to it.

Also see this link I provided earlier:

Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support

ca be used.

It sounds like you want to transfer your pictures and music to a new iPad (not to a new Mac).

You can do this directly but this requires MacOS 10.11, you have 10.6.8 which is why it did not work. Your Mac can be upgraded to 10.11, but this does require an internet connection. Which you don't have for the Mac? Have you explored an ethernet-USB adaptor for this Mac to get it on the internet?

The newer iPads can import music and photos from external drives.

See Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support

So assuming this Mac stays off the internet, you would need to get an external drive, copy your files from the Mac to that drive, and then connect it to your iPad and follow Apple's instructions above to import the files into your iPad.

Apple_user_2024 wrote:

Hi steve626,

the last time i connected this imac to the internet (last month), i did try update. The update window said imac was up to date and there are no new updates.

Based on this info do you have extra advice.

thanks.

How to download and install macOS - Apple Support

This site has older MacOS you can download and install. Yours should be able to go to 10.11.

But since you can't connect to the Internet (why?), you can still follow these directions, which I am reprinting from my earlier post:

The newer iPads can import music and photos from external drives.

See Connect external storage devices to iPad - Apple Support

So assuming this Mac stays off the internet, you would need to get an external drive, copy your files from the Mac to that drive, and then connect it to your iPad and follow Apple's instructions above to import the files into your iPad.

The bad news is no, you cannot use the display for anything. However you can migrate from the older Mac to the new one easily. I have provided detailed instructions below. Once you have completed the migration please recycle the 2007 at your local Apple Store (it's free) or contact Apple Recycling Programs (also free) and they will get rid of it for you responsibly.

When you buy a new Mac the easiest, quickest and most reliable method to migrate from the old Mac to the new Mac is to simply connect the old Mac's Time Machine External Hard Disk to the new Mac using a USB cable before you turn on the new Mac. You will likely need a USB A to USB C adapter, you can find them on Amazon for $10 or less. When you start the new Mac for the first time it will startup Setup Assistant (SA), SA will get to a point where it asks if you are migrating from another computer, select Yes  and follow the on-screen prompts and it's done! It is THAT simple.

If you have already done SA on the new computer then simply connect the Time Machine External Hard Disk using a USB cable and launch Migration Assistant (MA) which is located in Applications - Utilities - MA. Then follow the on-screen prompts. 

The ONLY difference between MA and SA is MA will create a new user account that you need to log into.

Both SA and MA migrate applications (not 32 bit apps), data files & settings. They do not migrate Mac OS itself. Some professional apps such as Adobe and Microsoft apps may require re-installing their apps as they will not allow them to be migrated. As long as you kept the security keys for installing their apps, it is not an issue. 

Finally, never EVER use Wi-Fi when doing Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant. Why, it simply fails in most cases. Please read and follow the directions in Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant. If you do not have a Time Machine backup of the older Mac then create one! If you are not aware of Time Machine, please read Back up your Mac with Time Machine and finally if you need an External Hard Disk to use as a Time Machine External Hard Disk then many experience users on these forums prefer the OWC Mercury Elite Pro due to it's reasonable price, high level of quality and ease of use.