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Level 2

289 points

Restore System From Backup - Use iMac Install Disk, or Snow Leopard Retail?

I have two identical 21.5-inch iMacs. I want to move everything from iMac A to iMac B, restoring iMac B from iMac A's Time Machine backup drive.

I've done this before, so I know approximately what I'm doing. But, my question is, when I boot iMac B from a DVD to begin the process, should I use the iMac Install Disk that iMac B came with, or should I use my retail version (white box) of Snow Leopard?

The Mac OS X Install Disc that iMac B came with says it's version 10.6.4.

My retail version of Snow Leopard says it's version 10.6.0.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.7), 21.5-inch, Mid 2010, 3.2GHz

Posted on May 25, 2011 3:53 AM

18 replies

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

289 points

May 27, 2011 2:33 PM in response to C. D. Tavares

Ok, well I did it. I cloned the hard drive of iMac A to iMac B, using a FireWire 800 cable and Carbon Copy Cloner.

I'm now writing to you on iMac B and everything appears to be ok, but I've encountered one weird problem that I didn't have on iMac A.

When I go to the Mac App Store and click on the Updates button, nothing happens. It doesn't change screen. The Featured, Top Charts, Categories and Purchased buttons work, but Updates does nothing. Any suggestions?

May 27, 2011 6:13 PM in response to Reuben Feffer

I don't frequent the App Store, but I suspect it has to do with some database on your new machine remembering the serial number of the old machine. You may have to locate the data file App Store uses, move it somewhere App Store won't find it (like your Desktop) and reboot. Then next time you launch App Store, it will treat your machine as a new machine and do whatever it usually does to add a new machine to your account.

I suspect a reload from backup would have resulted in the same behavior, unless the Time Machine engineers are REALLY crafty.

Reuben Feffer Author

Level 2

289 points

May 28, 2011 5:51 AM in response to C. D. Tavares

I fixed the problem. I did some stuff, such as repairing permissions on the new machine, signing in and out of the Mac App Store, downloading a free app from the Mac App Store, and deleting the Mac App Store preferences file. Now when I click on the Updates button in the Mac App Store, the screen changes and says "All apps are up to date".

Thanks for all your help guys. FireWire Target Disk Mode is the way to go when you want to transfer EVERYTHING from one Mac to another identical Mac.

Restore System From Backup - Use iMac Install Disk, or Snow Leopard Retail?