jtg58
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can I  clone mac air to mac mini

In June, I bought the new 2012 Macbook Air.  I've got it set up just the way I like it and also have bootcamp set up.  I would like to clone the Mac hard drive contents to a new 2012 Mac Mini.  Is it possible to do this or is the hardware too dissimilar?

 

Thanks!

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 2, 2012 6:48 PM

by woodmeister50,Solvedanswer
woodmeister50 woodmeister50
Level 5 (5,517 points)
Mac OS X
A:

You can use Winclone to clone your Windows partition

to your Mini.  You will need to go through the Bootcamp

setup process on the Mini and Windows install process

to the point of formatting the partition to NTFS.  You should

then be able to use Winclone to copy Windows.  Point of

note:  you may have licensing issues with the same

copy of Windows on two different pieces of hardware.

Posted on Nov 4, 2012 2:15 AM

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jtg58

Q: Can I  clone mac air to mac mini

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Nov 2, 2012 6:51 PM in response to jtg58
    Level 10 (271,101 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 2, 2012 6:51 PM in response to jtg58

    You need to determine what Mountain Lion build is on each computer. If the mini's build is not the same as the MBA, then you can not safely clone it to the Mini. But you could migrate the Home folder from the MBA to the Mini.

     

    To find the build: Finding your Mac OS X version and build information.

  • by jtg58,

    jtg58 jtg58 Nov 2, 2012 9:22 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2012 9:22 PM in response to Kappy

    It looks like I have OSX version 10.8.2 on both computers, but the build version for the Mac Air is 12C60 and for the Mac Mini it is 12C2034.  Is there anything I can install, that will make them compatible builds?   Thanks!!

  • by Kappy,Helpful

    Kappy Kappy Nov 3, 2012 9:48 AM in response to jtg58
    Level 10 (271,101 points)
    Desktops
    Nov 3, 2012 9:48 AM in response to jtg58

    The Mini is the latest model, so you can clone it to your MBA or you can use Migration Assistant to migrate your MBA's Home folder, third-party applications, and system settings to the Mini. This will accomplish your desired end without overwriting operating system files. If you prefer avoiding the use of Migration Assistant you could use a backup utility, Carbon Copy Cloner 3.5.1, to "backup" the MBA's Home folder to the Mini using Target Disk Mode.

  • by jtg58,

    jtg58 jtg58 Nov 3, 2012 12:32 PM in response to Kappy
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2012 12:32 PM in response to Kappy

    I was really hoping to go Air to Mini because I already had it set up.  Since your first reply, I've started using the migration assistant.  It's working fine on the Mac side, just hope I can migrate my boot camp set up after creating the partition.  Thank you for your guidance!

  • by woodmeister50,Solvedanswer

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Nov 4, 2012 2:15 AM in response to jtg58
    Level 5 (5,517 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 4, 2012 2:15 AM in response to jtg58

    You can use Winclone to clone your Windows partition

    to your Mini.  You will need to go through the Bootcamp

    setup process on the Mini and Windows install process

    to the point of formatting the partition to NTFS.  You should

    then be able to use Winclone to copy Windows.  Point of

    note:  you may have licensing issues with the same

    copy of Windows on two different pieces of hardware.

  • by jtg58,

    jtg58 jtg58 Nov 4, 2012 3:57 AM in response to woodmeister50
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2012 3:57 AM in response to woodmeister50

    Thanks, that's exactly what my plan was. I had already made the image from Winclone yesterday.  I am a Windows system builder so I have a volume license for Win 7.   The Mac Mini is my final move to "the dark side"! LOL   Thanks again for both your's and Kappy's help!

  • by woodmeister50,

    woodmeister50 woodmeister50 Nov 4, 2012 4:41 AM in response to jtg58
    Level 5 (5,517 points)
    Mac OS X
    Nov 4, 2012 4:41 AM in response to jtg58

    Glad to help and good luck.

  • by jtg58,

    jtg58 jtg58 Nov 4, 2012 7:53 AM in response to woodmeister50
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2012 7:53 AM in response to woodmeister50

    Thanks, will past back if I have problems! :)

  • by jtg58,

    jtg58 jtg58 Nov 6, 2012 8:56 PM in response to woodmeister50
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 6, 2012 8:56 PM in response to woodmeister50

    Well unfortunately, all did NOT go well.  I started the Bootcamp Assistant, told it to partition my main drive in half, then it started the installation process with my Win 7 DVD.  I knew that it had to at least get to the point of formatting the drive in NTFS before I could proceed with restoring with Winclone.   The problem is, as soon as it is finished partitioning, it immediately reboots and tries to use the Win 7 DVD to start the set up.  Then I get this message....No bootable device, insert boot disk and press any key.   I must have tried it a half dozen times and it never got past this message.   I even used a program I had on my Macbook Air called Paragon NTFS, which actually gives me the capability of formatting a drive to NTFS within Disk Utility (without using Bootcamp assistant).   I was able to restore bootcamp thru Winclone, but it won't boot either.   Do you think the reason Bootcamp Assistant didn't work could have been the Win 7 disk or the fact that I wasn't using an Apple SuperDrive?   And is the ONLY way to format the disk for bootcamp, thru the bootcamp assisant?   Thanks for any help, this is VERY frustrating. 

  • by jtg58,

    jtg58 jtg58 Nov 6, 2012 10:18 PM in response to woodmeister50
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 6, 2012 10:18 PM in response to woodmeister50

    Spoke too soon......got it working!!  Used Paragon to format to NTFS and then restored Winclone image.  Works great!   Thanks again!