A few questions: Moving my Mac files from a Time Machine Backup to another mac with newer OSX (Monterey) + More:

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A few questions: Moving my Mac files from a Time Machine Backup to another mac with newer OSX (Monterey) + More:

I have been using High Sierra OS X up to now and need to upgrade. I have another Mac with 16GB ram and 1TB solid state and hope that is ok for Monterey.

1.) The other Mac I am planning to "move to" or transfer all the files to I bought second hand. The seller did install Monterey and created a user. Should I delete all users prior to moving to this "new" Mac or do anything else for safety like reinstalling Monterey / wipe the hd or anything else?

2.) On my previous Mac with High Sierra there was some seemingly suspicious activity. Google Chrome acting like hijacked (browser sending my to suspicious sites and faked search results) and unauthorised computers seemingly trying to log into my computer at several occasions (warnings in finder and other applications like Opera etcetera).

Because of these possible security issues should I just try to focus on moving only my personal files (the user folder) rather than to restore all files (which was from the High Sierra Mac) to the new Monterey Mac ?

3.) Can I migrate or move only the Email program with the old emails and email accounts? Is it possible to do such a selective migration (Email Program + files and accounts only)? (And of course the user files manually transfer it)?

4.) If I select “Restore” from Time Machine it would only reproduce the old OSX High Sierra with it files and system so that is probably not recommended or would it keep the Monterey OsX and overwrite or delete the old OSX (High Sierra)?

I have not done this in many years. Not sure what to do. Please advise.

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Apr 17, 2024 5:26 AM

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Answer 1

Apr 24, 2024 9:24 AM in response to Norwegian_Macfan68

1. Before transferring your files to the new Mac with Monterey, it's generally a good idea to ensure that the system is clean and set up properly. Since you bought the Mac second-hand and the previous user already installed Monterey, it's recommended to perform a clean installation of Monterey on the new Mac to ensure a fresh start. You can do this by booting into macOS Recovery mode and selecting the option to reinstall macOS. This will erase all existing data on the Mac, including user accounts, and install a clean copy of Monterey.

2. Given the suspicious activity you experienced on your previous Mac, it's crucial to prioritize security when migrating your files. Instead of restoring all files from your Time Machine backup, consider manually transferring only your personal files (such as documents, photos, and videos) to the new Mac. This can help prevent any potential security threats or compromised files from being transferred to the new system.

3. Yes, it's possible to selectively migrate your email program along with its emails and accounts to the new Mac. You can do this by manually copying the Mail folder from your old Mac's Library directory to the corresponding location on the new Mac. Additionally, you can export your email accounts and settings from the Mail app on your old Mac and import them into the Mail app on the new Mac.

4. If you choose to use Time Machine to migrate your files, selecting the "Restore" option would indeed revert the new Mac back to the state it was in when the Time Machine backup was created, including the older High Sierra OS. Instead, consider using the Migration Assistant utility during the initial setup process of the new Mac. This will allow you to transfer your files, applications, and settings from the Time Machine backup to the new Mac while retaining the current Monterey OS.

Overall, it's essential to prioritize security and perform a clean setup on the new Mac to ensure a smooth and secure transition. If you're unsure about any steps or encounter any issues during the migration process, don't hesitate to reach out to Official Apple Support for further assistance.

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Answer 2

Apr 24, 2024 9:36 AM in response to Community User

Thank you @MacGenius360, that was really helpful! Much appreciated 😊!

In regard to what you wrote in 3. are there any online articles about this procedure?

"export your email accounts and settings from the Mail app on your old Mac" is that a built in feature even in older Mail program? Would be lovely if this works.

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A few questions: Moving my Mac files from a Time Machine Backup to another mac with newer OSX (Monterey) + More:

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