What's the best way to transfer an old 15" MacBook Pro to a new MacBook?

Kappy wrote:

How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac

If you only need to transfer files then connect the two via Firewire cable and use Target Disk Mode to access the old computer's hard drive from which you can select and copy the data you need.

Office 2008 will work, but it would be better to upgrade it to Office 2011. If you want a seamless changeover with respect to the iDevices, then you need to transfer the entire /Home/Library/Music/iTunes/, /Home/Library/Music/iTunes Playlists/, /Home/Library/Music/imm Media/ folders to the /Music/ folder of the new computer. Also copy over the /Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.itunes.plist file to the /Home/Library Preferences/ folder on the new computer.

Be sure you de-authorize the old computer: iTunes Store- About authorization and deauthorization. Be sure to do this before any of the above is done.

Firewire, we don't have any of those cables and devices unless the new MacBook comes with it? It's all USB(2). Can we use USB (yes, it is slower)? He use it for digital cameras, Time Machine backups in Mac OS X 10.5.8, etc.

OK, I will tell my client to get a new Office 2011 then to avoid the mess. Hmm, can't we just synchronize our iDevices with iTunes to copy back to the new MacBook's new HDD?

Kappy wrote:

The new MBs have a Thunderbolt port and Apple sells a Thunderbolt to Firewire (as well as a Thunderbolt to Ethernet) adaptor. But, no, it cannot be done via USB, only Firewire. You can, of course, use an external USB drive as a transfer medium - old to EHD then EHD to new. It's faster than any network connection.

You cannot simply sync your iDevices. Syncing is basically uni-directional: computer to iDevice. If there is no iTunes Library then iTunes will end up removing everything on the iDevices and replacing it with what's in the extant iTunes Library: nothing. That is not your desired result.

Oh geez, this is getting complex now. 😟

Kappy wrote:

Not that complex. It's all pretty easy to do, if all goes well. Transferring data from an old computer to a new one is always like this.

How much does that cable cost? I assume Apple's price will be higher. Maybe I can get one from Amazon or somewhere cheaper. Prices are piling up already with new Office 2011, MacBook, and now a cable. 😟

Kappy wrote:

The new MBs have a Thunderbolt port and Apple sells a Thunderbolt to Firewire (as well as a Thunderbolt to Ethernet) adaptor. But, no, it cannot be done via USB, only Firewire. You can, of course, use an external USB drive as a transfer medium - old to EHD then EHD to new. It's faster than any network connection.

I was told that one could do direct network CAT5 cable between two MacBooks like the old days with the crosswired network cables. Shouldn't this be faster than USB2 with external HD method? It would be cheaper too (no need to buy additional stuff!).

Kappy wrote:

Ethernet will not be faster than USB, although it comes close. Furthermore, it's not as reliable as using disk drives. That's my opinion. I would also say that having an extra HDD for backup isn't all that bad.

Oh. Well, I know my client uses his external Seagate 2.5" 500 GB HDD to do weekly backups with Mac OS X 10.5.8's Time Machine for a few years. I am thinking of making a last Time Machine backup. Then, hook up the new MacBook to the old 2008's 15" MBP with a CAT5 network cable, boot it up, and do the migration.

Hi again.

Someone told me that I should do the set up assistant instead of migration set up instead. I don't want to migrate my data right away after turning on the new MacBook. Does it have to be immediately? Can't I just migrate later after ensuring the new MacBook works great?

I am planning to do a direct network cat5 cable method since it is the fastest and stable. However, the newer MacBooks don't come with network ports so I will have to get an adapter. I'd like to get an USB one, so I can reuse it with other computers that don't have Thunderbolt ports especially on non-Apple devices (Windows and Linux). Does anyone know if one exists or can I use Apple's?

Thank you in advance. 🙂

Kappy wrote:

To use the Setup Assistant you must do it at that time. Thereafter, you use Migration Assistant. They are the same utilities, just a different procedure.

You can use Apple's USB-Ethernet or Thunderbolt-Ethernet adaptor, whichever is appropriate for your model.

So I don't have to do Setup Asssistant right away to migrate my data like someone else said in the newsgroup. Thanks God! 🙂

As for the adapter, can I use USB one on non-Apple devices? I know USB is everywhere, but Thunderbolt appears to be only with newer Apple machines.