Transferring Files From Old iMac to New

Hi, how are you "adding" them?

If you drag the contents of your Music folder from your old computer to the new computer, then you want to put its contents into the Music folder on the new computer. Same for everything you copy from your Home folder. Contents of the old folder goes into the same folder on the new computer.

I think all you need to do is move the folder content from the folder on the Desktop to where it should be in the Home folder:

Documents - contents of this old folder goes into the /Home/Documents/ folder on the new computer.

Downloads - contents of this old folder goes into the /Home/Downloads/ folder on the new computer.

Movies - contents of this old folder goes into the /Home/Movies/ folder on the new computer.

Music - contents of this old folder goes into the /Home/Music/ folder on the new computer.

Pictures - contents of this old folder goes into the /Home/Pictures/ folder on the new computer.

Sites - contents of this old folder goes into the /Home/Sites/ folder on the new computer.

I'm assuming all the above folders are now on the new computer's Desktop. In your Music folder you will find the iTunes folder. Just move that entire folder. It contains all the files you had on the old computer.

You may find the following helpful, especially the last part about doing manual transfers.

A Basic Guide for Migrating to Intel-Macs

The Knowledgebase article Intel-based Mac: Some migrated applications may need to be updated refers to methods of dealing with migrating from PowerPC chips to Intel with the Migration Assistant safely. The authors of this tip have not had a chance to verify this works in all instances, or that it avoids the 10.6.1 and earlier Guest Account bug that caused account information to get deleted upon use of the Migration/Setup Assistant. However, a well backed up source that includes at least two backups of all the data that are not connected to your machine will help you avoid potential issues, should they arise. In event it does not work, follow the steps below.

If you are migrating a PowerPC system (G3, G4, or G5) to an Intel-Mac be careful what you migrate. Keep in mind that some items that may get transferred will not work on Intel machines and may end up causing your computer's operating system to malfunction.

Rosetta supports "software that runs on the PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the items that are not universal binaries or simply will not work in Rosetta:

1. Classic Environment, and subsequently any Mac OS 9 or earlier applications
2. Screensavers written for the PowerPC System Preference add-ons
3. All Unsanity Haxies Browser and other plug-ins
4. Contextual Menu Items
5. Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5 Kernel extensions
6. Java applications with JNI (PowerPC) libraries

See also What Can Be Translated by Rosetta.

In addition to the above you could also have problems with migrated cache files and/or cache files containing code that is incompatible.

If you migrate a user folder that contains any of these items, you may find that your Intel-Mac is malfunctioning. It would be wise to take care when migrating your systems from a PowerPC platform to an Intel-Mac platform to assure that you do not migrate these incompatible items.

If you have problems with applications not working, then completely uninstall said application and reinstall it from scratch. Take great care with Java applications and Java-based Peer-to-Peer applications. Many Java apps will not work on Intel-Macs as they are currently compiled. As of this time Limewire, Cabos, and Acquisition are available as universal binaries. Do not install browser plug-ins such as Flash or Shockwave from downloaded installers unless they are universal binaries. The version of OS X installed on your Intel-Mac comes with special compatible versions of Flash and Shockwave plug-ins for use with your browser.

The same problem will exist for any hardware drivers such as mouse software unless the drivers have been compiled as universal binaries. For third-party mice the current choices are USB Overdrive or SteerMouse. Contact the developer or manufacturer of your third-party mouse software to find out when a universal binary version will be available.

Also be careful with some backup utilities and third-party disk repair utilities. Disk Warrior, TechTool Pro , SuperDuper , and Drive Genius work properly on Intel-Macs with Leopard. The same caution may apply to the many "maintenance" utilities that have not yet been converted to universal binaries. Leopard Cache Cleaner, Onyx, TinkerTool System, and Cocktail are now compatible with Leopard.

Before migrating or installing software on your Intel-Mac check MacFixit's Rosetta Compatibility Index.

Additional links that will be helpful to new Intel-Mac users:

1. Intel In Macs
2. Apple Guide to Universal Applications
3. MacInTouch List of Compatible Universal Binaries
4. MacInTouch List of Rosetta Compatible Applications
5. MacUpdate List of Intel-Compatible Software
6. Transferring data with Setup Assistant - Migration Assistant FAQ
7. OS X Lion: How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac

Because Migration Assistant isn't the ideal way to migrate from PowerPC to Intel Macs, using Target Disk Mode, copying the critical contents to CD and DVD, an external hard drive, or networking will work better when moving from PowerPC to Intel Macs. The initial section below discusses Target Disk Mode. It is then followed by a section which discusses networking with Macs that lack Firewire.

If both computers support the use of Firewire then you can use the following instructions:

1. Repair the hard drive and permissions using Disk Utility.
2. Backup your data. This is vitally important in case you make a mistake or there's some other problem.
3. Connect a Firewire cable between your old Mac and your new Intel Mac.
4. Startup your old Mac in Transferring files between two computers using FireWire.
5. Startup your new Mac for the first time, go through the setup and registration screens, but do NOT migrate data over. Get to your desktop on the new Mac without migrating any new data over.

If you are not able to use a Firewire connection (for example you have a Late 2008 MacBook that only supports USB:)

1. Set up a local home network: Creating a small Ethernet Network.

2. If you have a MacBook Air or Late 2008 MacBook see the following:

1. MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)- What to do if migration is unsuccessful;
2. http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3224MacBook Air- Migration Tips and Tricks;
3. MacBook Air- Remote Disc, Migration, or Remote Install Mac OS X and wireless 802.11n networks.

Copy the following items from your old Mac to the new Mac:

In your /Home/ folder: Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, and Sites folders.

In your /Home/Library/ folder:

/Home/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder) /Home/Library/Application Support/iCal (copy the whole folder)

Also in /Home/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need including folders for any third-party applications)

/Home/Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder) /Home/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder) /Home/Library/Preferences/ (copy the whole folder) /Home /Library/Calendars (copy the whole folder) /Home /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder) /Home /Library/Safari (copy the whole folder)

If you want cookies:

/Home/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist /Home/Library/Application Support/WebFoundation/HTTPCookies.plist

For Entourage users:

Entourage is in /Home/Documents/Microsoft User Data Also in /Home/Library/Preferences/Microsoft.

Credit goes to Macjack for this information.

If you need to transfer data for other applications please ask the vendor or ask in the Discussions where specific applications store their data.

5. Once you have transferred what you need restart the new Mac and test to make sure the contents are there for each of the applications.

Written by Kappy with additional contributions from a brody.Revised 5/21/2011

Paulo W

Hi Kappy

I wonder if you could help with the following ?

I realise my question is slightly off the original topic but if you can help that would be good.

I have a MacBook Pro 2.5 GHz Intel Core i7 16 GB RAM running Lion v.10.7.5

Recently I clicked on a rogue / bad link within an email I received. It started to do some odd things in Safari and I just can't trust what's going on with it now.

I have wiped my MBP internal HD (including Recovery Partition) having made a bootable backup (Clone 1) of it first and then restored the MBP internal HD with an older carbon copy clone (Clone 2).

However 'Clone 2' is about a month out of date and I would like to manually replace / update various items which I know to be unaffected by the problem mentioned from 'Clone 1' to 'Clone 2'.

This is assuming I can manually replace / update things instead of a straight manual migrate as outlined below - see link.

Both Clones are running Lion v.10.7.5

I have manually migrated in things in the past using your / (Macjacks) very useful instructions - see link:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1765120?answerId=8343323022#8343323022

Therefore my question is:

As I haven't done this with Lion before could you kindly let me know if the same principles apply ?

If you can help with this it would be very much appreciated.

Many trhanks

Paulo W

I have similar question(s). I have shifted from a dome iMac (10.4) to a new iMac (11). Got most of my data across OK - managed to successfully manually (via a memory stick) transfer my photos & retained all my albums etc.

am finding with the music that I can get all my music into the new computer via transferring the music folder from one to the other, but i do not have any of my playlists etc. Everything that I have read seems to imply that the plaists etc shoudl also copy across. Any suggestions??????

(Oh, & I have yet to actually hook up my phone & iPad to new iTunes - wanted to wait til I got music transferred over, so hopefully that will all work ....... 🙂 )

Thanks in advance!

Jan

.... and this post successfully shows how terrible my trackpad typing is ......

Try seeing what you can do in iTunes. If that doesn't work try using the Migration Assistant.

I think that Migration Assistant doesn't work for 10.4 to 10.11. I was basically told whenI got my new iMac that I was on my own as far as transferring all my data over .... 10.4 is too far back. So far most things have carried over OK by manual means. Just hoping that I can retrieve my playlists as I do not relish trying to recreate ......

Jan

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's now worked. I made sure that all itunes folders were removed from my Music folder, trashed them rather than leave on desk top, emptied the trash & then put the copied across iTunes folder into the Music folder on new iMac, opened iTunes -- and my playlists are all there ......

The only thing that didn't copy across were my audiobooks -- I needed to put in my audible.com p/word -- which is now my Amazon one & worked when i signed into audible, to make sure ....... might have to see how I can get those in -- maybe they're in my dowlnoads somewhere???

Anyway -- amazed that this actually worked .......

Jan