Migration from old to new iMac do you need to use set up on new or go straight to migration?

Question

Migration from old to new iMac do you need to use set up on new or go straight to migration?

Just got a new iMac and going to migrate from my old 2008 iMac, info from Apple Support is a bit confusing but I want to know if it is best to use the "Set Up" on new iMac before migration or go straight into migration.

Also the support info says to connect both using ethernet as one option (which is my option) and connected to your network, how do you do this as there is only one ethernet port on each machine and if connected together it would not be possible to connect to a network, ie, the internet via my ISP. Suppot says no router etc needed.

Somewhat confused so if there is anyone out there who has done this I would appreciate their comments.

Thank you for any help forthcoming.

Derek

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.3)

Posted on May 18, 2014 1:09 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Klaus1

Level 9

52,749 points

May 18, 2014 1:40 AM in response to derekfromwhangarei

How to use Migration Assistant:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889?viewlocale=en_US

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4413?viewlocale=en_US

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1963

Troubleshooting Firewire target disk mode:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

How to transfer data from a PC to a Macintosh: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1408

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Answer 2

Csound1

Level 9

59,973 points

May 18, 2014 2:28 AM in response to derekfromwhangarei

Use Setup Assistant, do not create an account on the new Mac, Setup assistant will transfer your old account for you.

If you use Migration assistant you will end up with 2 accounts, and a bit of a mess to deal with.

Connect both Macs to your Router using Ethernet.

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Answer 3

May 18, 2014 7:24 PM in response to derekfromwhangarei

Thanks CSound, I followed this and all well until the new iMac got to "select source" which I did but then it told me my old mac had a newer version of software and that I have to update new mac to same version (latest mavericks) .

For this to happen I would have to complete the "set up", get on the interet to update new mac therefore creating a new "user acct" then use the 'Migration Asst" which from your info will give me hassles later.

Any ideas here or do I have to bite the bullet. Of course I could use my backup drive and go back to original version 10.9 Mavericks which I assume my new mac will be set to. Then try again. I had hoped that the new mac would do this for me during set up but it does not. The blurb from Apple Support says both macs have to have same version before migration will work.

Be grateful for your comments please before I dothis.

Thank you.

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