Migrating from Intel iMac to M4 iMac with different OS versions

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Migrating from Intel iMac to M4 iMac with different OS versions

I currently have a 2017 iMac with OS 12.6 Monterey. Connected to the iMac is an 8 TB HDD divided into 3 disks. One is Time Machine and the other two I have called My Book 1&2. These two contain many duplicates or stuff such as the Picture folder, music and video files that I didn't want on the iMac hybrid drive. I'm hoping to move to an M4 iMac in the summer and am wondering what problems I might run into during the swap over. Any help would be appreciated

iMac 27″ 5K

Posted on Jan 24, 2025 5:53 AM

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Answer 1

Mal-S

Level 5

5,062 points

Jan 24, 2025 6:23 AM in response to Granddad_Mcginty

Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,510 points

Jan 24, 2025 9:45 AM in response to Granddad_Mcginty

Please follow the steps in Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant. This assumes that the new Mac has the same amount of storage (or more) than the old Mac. If it does not please buy one that does!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Answer 3

Jan 24, 2025 6:48 AM in response to Granddad_Mcginty

Make sure you buy an iMac with equal or greater internal storage than the one you have. Otherwise the migration of your data from the old iMac will likely fail. (You can't stuff ten pounds of potatoes in a five pound bag.)

When it's time to setup your new iMac, simply connect the Time Machine backup drive to the new iMac and migrate your files during the setup. User @Mal-S has provided a link to the guidance above. 👍🏽

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Answer 4

Ronasara

Level 6

15,531 points

Jan 24, 2025 9:43 AM in response to Granddad_Mcginty

Another important point . . . do not use the disk used for backup to also store other data, formatted or not. Backup disks should be solely dedicated to back up.

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Answer 5

Jan 24, 2025 11:40 AM in response to D.I. Johnson

Thanks to all. I shall be purchasing as much storage as I can. As a great believer in N+1 (or more) I don't think that will be a problem. I will, most definitely, be returning to the community in near future with more cries of help for things not yet imagined. As this will be my last computer purchase I will most certainly plan to get it right. Again, thanks for your help.

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Answer 6

Jan 24, 2025 11:45 AM in response to Granddad_Mcginty

You're welcome.

Happy to help. 🙂

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Migrating from Intel iMac to M4 iMac with different OS versions

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