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User profile for user: TrentandShelly
TrentandShelly Author
User level: Level 1
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Setting up new iMac - best way to transfer select files

Hello,


I just got a new 27" iMac w/ fusion drive (OSX10.8.2) and upgraded from an old Power PC G5 - (OSX 10.4.8)


I'm not sure if I want to use migration assitant to transfer everything from my old computer to my new one. I also want to set up my husband as a user since he has an iPhone and iPad - but we share the iMac.


For my old computer, I have always stored my music & iTunes library on an exteral Lacie firewire drive.

1. First question is how to get my music from my Lacie firewire drive to my new 27" iMac - with no firewire connection. I just checked and it has a USB 2.0 connection - maybe that would work?

2. Second - how do I transfer files & photos from my G5 harddrive to my new iMac - I don't want to transfer all my applications - I will be buying some new applications. I also don't want all my old Mailboxes from mail transfered over. Mostly I want to transfer music, photos, files, documents.

-We have a portable external 1TB hard drive I could use for the transfer.

3. Any tips on setting up a second user with an iPhone & iPad.


Thanks for your help!


Shelly

iMac (27-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Jan 21, 2013 1:08 PM

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User profile for user: MartinR
MartinR
User level: Level 6
19,217 points

Posted on Jan 21, 2013 2:19 PM

For #1, get the Apple Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter and you can use that to connect your Lacie FW drive. And if that drive has a USB connection, you could just use that instead. Will work fine.


For #2 (using the Apple Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter), start up your old G5 in Target Disk Mode (hold down the "T" key while you power on the G5 until you see the firewire icon on the screen) Once the G5 is in Target Disk Mode, connec it to your new 27" iMac with a firewire cable and your new iMac will "see" your old G5 as if it were just an external hard drive. You can copy anything you want from it.


For #3, just create an account on your iMac for your husband. He will be able to use his account with his iPhone & iPad. Nothing special required to set this up ... unless the two of you want to share the same iTunes Library! (That's another story.)

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User profile for user: MartinR
MartinR
User level: Level 6
19,217 points

Jan 21, 2013 2:19 PM in response to TrentandShelly

For #1, get the Apple Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter and you can use that to connect your Lacie FW drive. And if that drive has a USB connection, you could just use that instead. Will work fine.


For #2 (using the Apple Thunderbolt-to-Firewire adapter), start up your old G5 in Target Disk Mode (hold down the "T" key while you power on the G5 until you see the firewire icon on the screen) Once the G5 is in Target Disk Mode, connec it to your new 27" iMac with a firewire cable and your new iMac will "see" your old G5 as if it were just an external hard drive. You can copy anything you want from it.


For #3, just create an account on your iMac for your husband. He will be able to use his account with his iPhone & iPad. Nothing special required to set this up ... unless the two of you want to share the same iTunes Library! (That's another story.)

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Setting up new iMac - best way to transfer select files

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