Migration: iMac to MB Air via Garmin g-drive mini

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Level 1

8 points

Migration: iMac to MB Air via Garmin g-drive mini

Currently I have an iMac (10.6.8), bought 2/21/2008. Capacity = 249.72 GB, and in all this time I've only used 55.89 GB ["Get Info" on "Macintosh HD"].

My backup is a Garmin g-drive mini. It's only the 500GB version, but obviously that's plenty for me. It came with three cables: FW800, FW800-400, USB2.0.

If I get a MacBook Air (I'm thinking 13 inch, 128GB), I assume that once the little guy is up and running (with the latest Office for Mac installed), I just connect the USB2.0 cable to my g-drive, attach the other end to a USB3.0 port on the MB Air, fire up the g-drive and follow the instructions that will automatically pop up. If there's no pop up, I assume I'll go into "Migration Assistant" and order my new "Assistant" around.

After that, my MB Air will know that I've played Iggy Pop's "**** for Life" about twice as often as I've played Modest Mouse's "Black Cadillacs," etc., and I'll be able to listen to The Killers' "Human" while I work on my latest article under a tree in my backyard. Mail will know all my mailboxes and Safari will have all my bookmarks. My iPhone 4 will sync with my MB Air just as it does with my iMac. Most importantly, the article I've been writing for weeks will be intact, together with all my other precious files.

If that all works, it's off to the recycler for the iMac.

What am I missing? It can't be that easy, can it?

iMac, Mac OS X (10.5.7)

Posted on May 21, 2013 10:59 AM

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Answer 1

dwb

Level 7

33,310 points

May 22, 2013 5:57 AM in response to Theaetetus

First, your backup needs to be either a TimeMachine backup or a clone (made with software such as Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper!). Assuming that's the case, when you start your new computer for the first time you'll eventually be asked if you'd like to use Setup Assistant to transfer your data. Yes you do - plug in the drive if it isn't already. Indicate that you want to use another disk - this tells Setup Assistant to get the data from an external drive rather than directly from another computer. Select the account(s) you want to migrate and go.

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Answer 2

dwb

Level 7

33,310 points

May 22, 2013 6:05 AM in response to Theaetetus

It can be that easy assuming your backup is either a TimeMachine backup or a clone. Two things to consider - at the moment it looks like 128GB is plenty for you but remember that by default your computer is the repository for your iPhone apps, music, video etc. Also your music and video collection is likely to grow. There's nothing worse than a portable computer tied down to an external drive. So consider the 256GB model.

Second you'll need to reserialize most (all?) of your software and Office is one of those 'activated' programs so you may wind up having to call Microsoft to get the activation transferred to the new computer. It isn't painful. Also before you make the switch go through your iMac and deactivate iTunes, the App Store, and any other activations that can be done manually (Adobe).

Your iMac may be worth more than you think. I put my wife's 2007 iMac up for sale on the bulletin board at the local grocery for $500 earlier this spring and within a week I had two buyers. It went for my asking price - that's a 24" iMac that had never been upgraded since its original purchase!

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