I have just received my MacPro (late 2013) and am looking for a good source of info on the proper setup and transfer of software and data from my old Mac Pro. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
eee
Use Migration Assistant. Study this first http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5872
Use Migration Assistant. Study this first http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5872
First thing to do is go to Apple support site and review the EFI and SMC versions required for the 2013 Mac Pro. If yours does not match then go download and install that software.
Thanks, innocentius. I was trying to avoid Migration Assistant as I want to be very selective on what I put on the new computer. I have collected a lot of junk over the years and this is a good chance to clean it out. For some reason or another I thought MA "moved it all" but when I checked the link you provided it was clear I could be selective. I am doing clean install on most of the software that are most important to me but I may need MA for some of the secondary items. Thanks for the link.
eee
Thanks Smokerz. Since this is a new machine I would hope it has all such updates on it. However, as you suggested I tried to check the versions installed. Ran into a problem - where do I go to check the version already installed? I hunted around but couldn't find the info.
eee
Go to About this Mac, top left where the Apple icon is then select system report. Look for this;
Might because you are transferring, to actually make a backup first, a bootable clone is always useful and nice to have around.
Just use Software Update. It will tell you if there are firmware updates available as well as for apps.
App Store may have updates as well. (or is that rolled into and showing up in Mavericks? I would not know, only have Lion).
Thanks Smokerz. The current firmware update (v2.0) does not support my model.
eee
Thanks, Hatter. I have full backup on a mirrored external drive. I'm slowly realizing there are a number of unforeseen things that need to be in place before I can complete the "partial" migration. Since the "black cylinder" does not include additional drive space or a DVD/CD drive I now have to wait until a DVD/CD drive and firewire to thunderbolt adaptors are delivered on Monday before I can move on. Glad you mentioned the bootable clone. Will do that as soon as I get the burner on Monday. Apple did not provide any CD's with the computer so I will have to make my own.
eee
All you need is USB3 for a clone, a drive caddy or dock, and even use an SSD adapter to fit if you want to use an SSD.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009HQCARY/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B3Y4U4E/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00APP6694/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006GDVREI/
Were ordered one day and Amazon Prime had them here in two days.
I have had a couple of USB3 docks and such and this one is I think the best.
The Seagate Thunderbolt one is new but handy. And of course have to have some Thunderbolt cables.
Most people use flash drives for clean or reinstall of Mac OS X like Mavericks, though you can also just use a small parittion on any hard drive to do that job. NO need for DVD. Definitely not for installers or clone, have not used one except when I had to do first install of 10.4.x and 10.5.3 and 10.6.x but only one time and never used the discs again.
If you were still using FW800 cases you could also pull the drives and put them in one of the two above drive docking stations as well.
Hatter, thanks for your work and feedback. I've been working on business reports after traveling most of last week, hence I've not been able to give much time to the new computer. You woke me up - I have a 1TB and 2TB WD USB 3 MyPassport drives that I never gave a thought about. I use them for downloading images when I travel and keep them in my camera bag. Well tomorrow is Easter and I'll be out of thown Mon - Wed, so everything will have to wait for my return. Thanks for the links and the ideas - it looks like I have a plan now thanks to you Smokerz and Innocentius.
eee
They must have updated it at the factory then.
How to set up Mac Pro 2013
