can I use the firewire 400 port on my 2009 macbook to migrate data to a 2014 macbook pro with the Thunderbolt/firewire cable?

Question

can I use the firewire 400 port on my 2009 macbook to migrate data to a 2014 macbook pro with the Thunderbolt/firewire cable?

I back up my 2009 13'' Macbook (running Lion) via the firewire400 port to an Iomega disk drive. I am going to purchase a new (2014) Macbook 13" Retina. I think that Apple makes a Thunderbolt to firewire800 cable. Can I use my firewire400 port plus a firewire800/400 adapter to run the Migration Assistant or do I have to use the Thunderbolt to ethernet cable and go that route?

Posted on Jul 10, 2014 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

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Csound1

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Jul 10, 2014 11:15 AM in response to kennethfrommadisonville

You should be able to go the FireWire route, but the ethernet cable would be more than twice as fast.

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Answer 2

OGELTHORPE

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57,305 points

Jul 10, 2014 11:26 AM in response to kennethfrommadisonville

Firewire 400 is about as fast as USB2. Slow.

Ciao.

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Answer 3

Jul 10, 2014 2:59 PM in response to Csound1

Thanks for your info, looks like I'll go with the Thunderbolt / ethernet cable for the migration………Archie

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Answer 4

Jul 10, 2014 3:00 PM in response to Csound1

Thanks for the info, looks like I'll go with the Thunderbolt / ethernet cable for the migration…….Archie

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Answer 5

Csound1

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Jul 10, 2014 3:18 PM in response to kennethfrommadisonville

You're welcome.

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Answer 6

Jul 11, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Csound1

I spoke to yesterday about using the Migration Assistant with firewire vs ethernet and decided to go ethernet. Is the pin-out (ethernet) of the macbook (2009) wired as 568a or 568b. My cable is a 568b on both ends.

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Answer 7

Csound1

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Jul 11, 2014 12:55 PM in response to kennethfrommadisonville

All chassis mounted ethernet (RJ45) connectors are wired the same. A standard CAT5 or 5e cable works fine.

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Answer 8

Jul 11, 2014 12:58 PM in response to Csound1

Thanks again for your help!

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Answer 9

Loner T

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Jul 11, 2014 1:03 PM in response to kennethfrommadisonville

All the MACs (from my old 2006 PPC Mini) will auto detect ethernet crossover and straight through and rollover cables correctly. They should be Auto-MDIX.

Having said that, the FW800 (via TB) and Ethernet should be very close in terms of performance.

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Answer 10

Csound1

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Jul 11, 2014 1:05 PM in response to Loner T

He only has FW400, and that's not so fast.

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Answer 11

Jul 13, 2014 8:16 AM in response to Csound1

On initial power-up I believe the Macbook Pro (and other macs) launches the SetUp Assistant. Does this app allow you to move data from the source Macbook to the new Macbook? If so, what is the difference between SetUp & Migration Assistants and which one should be used?

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Answer 12

Niel

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Jul 13, 2014 8:22 AM in response to kennethfrommadisonville

1. Yes.

2. The Setup Assistant is only run during the first startup of a fresh OS installation. The Migration Assistant can be run at any time; if it migrates a home folder, it'll create a new Mac OS X user account for it.

(109379)

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Answer 13

Jul 13, 2014 8:40 AM in response to Niel

Thanks, I'll stay with the SetUp assistant for the data transfer.

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