mynameismyname
Level 1 (18 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Migration? or use iCloud Sync?

After 3 years with Mountain Lion this iMac came with, I'm planning to upgrade from to El Capitan. I'd rather do a clean-install than just upgrade the OS X. My iMac has become a bit sluggish late, and I think it deserves starting a new life, don't you agree?

 

I did a test using a newly-formatted portable drive. Part of the OS X installation I used the Migration option (without migrating any applications, which I plan to reinstall fresh). Once I restarted it was such a delight to see my Desktop look the same and to be able to use my Contacts, Mail and Safari flawlessly, as if I was still in ML. What a blessing!

 

But I understand that Migration means moving EVERYTHING to my "new computer" which probably means also a lot of "junk" that has been accumulating in the past 3 years, the very cause that's probably making my iMac sluggish.... A friend suggested I better let iClouds syncing alone to update my settings.

 

So I reformatted the portable drive and did another test, this time upgrading without the Migration option. Now I have my Contacts, Safari has all my bookmarks, but my Mail program is kind of messed up, doesn't show my old mail, but bunch of folders, the way my mail is saved in my Library folder.

 

Seems to me like using Migration would make the upgrade process much easier, but is there a way to use it selectively, migrate only my Mail data, for instance?

 

Thanks!

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5), 27" 2.9 GHz, 24 GB Ram

Posted on Jan 1, 2016 3:36 PM

by macjack,Solvedanswer
macjack macjack
Level 9 (55,709 points)
Mac OS X
A:

mynameismyname wrote:

 

>>>> So what you're suggesting is to just sit back and relax and use the Migration, while simply select all 4 options during the Clean-Install?

Yes.

mynameismyname wrote:

 

During my first test, after using the Migraion option (but again, w/o selecting the Application option), when I opened my Library folder I found quite a number of folders, some from 6-8, even 10 years ago, some of them empty... I'd rather clean the junk out... Question is, how do I know what to trash? 

You don't. Empty folders certainly take up no space and do no harm. AFA 10 year old folders in ~/Library with content, I have quite a few myself. As long as you have sufficient disk space why muck around? They won't slow you down. Place to look for outdated stuff that may slow you down is Login Items. Don't go into your Library folders and you won't have to look at them, not like they're scattered all over your Desktop or something.

Posted on Jan 1, 2016 4:47 PM

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mynameismyname

Q: Migration? or use iCloud Sync?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Jan 1, 2016 3:52 PM in response to mynameismyname
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 3:52 PM in response to mynameismyname

    No migration assistant won't bring over a lot of old junk from previous systems, just your own junk (read Users folder). Applications are upgraded and old apps are replaced by new ones. That's not what's making it sluggish. Unfortunately, running migration after the initial setup will result in your Mac creating a new User account and this will present all sorts of headaches. If you plan to do it, wipe the disk and start fresh.

     

    If you want to find out what may be making it sluggish download and run EtreCheck, created by one of own helpers here in ASC. It is a diagnostic tool that's very useful to us in finding problems. Also it will give us further specs on your Mac. After it runs post the log file here. It will contain no personal information

  • by sberman,

    sberman sberman Jan 1, 2016 3:56 PM in response to mynameismyname
    Level 8 (40,871 points)
    Jan 1, 2016 3:56 PM in response to mynameismyname

    Please see this article:

    Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

     

    As you can see from this illustration (from the article), you do have flexibility at a top level to select what gets moved to the new machine.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 3.53.45 PM.png

     

    You could also consider using Time Machine as the source from which to restore, which may offer you more selectivity as to what gets transferred.

  • by mynameismyname,

    mynameismyname mynameismyname Jan 1, 2016 4:05 PM in response to sberman
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 4:05 PM in response to sberman

    Thanks for your swift response, gentlemen...

     

    Yes, as I noted, the plan is to reformat my iMac's hard drive, and do a clean-install. Using the Migration option as part of this clean-install (I know one can do it later) is what I'd like to do, and yes, during my first test I did select the 3 options, but not migrating the applications (or should I migrate them too, and later install fresh those that are not compatibe with the new OS, and won't migrate???)

     

    BTW, I did install and ran EtreCheck a week ago, and it showed only minor issues which I was already aware of... But I believe that a 3-year old Mac that's been used 10 hours a day (I'm a graphic designer) will show some aging issues, don't you agree?

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Jan 1, 2016 4:14 PM in response to mynameismyname
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 4:14 PM in response to mynameismyname

    If you're using Adobe applications, I'd advise you to migrate all your apps rather than having to re-install all your design applications, with their serial numbers and activation codes. 3 years, 10 hours a day is nothing compared to what I've seen on much older Macs running a lot longer than that! The ones you no longer want you can delete. Also, be sure tho check their compatibility with El Capitan

    https://roaringapps.com/apps

  • by mynameismyname,

    mynameismyname mynameismyname Jan 1, 2016 4:34 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 4:34 PM in response to macjack

    Yes, I actually did spend some time in the RoaringApps site and researched my app's compatibility issues.

     

    >>>> So what you're suggesting is to just sit back and relax and use the Migration, while simply select all 4 options during the Clean-Install? 

     

    During my first test, after using the Migraion option (but again, w/o selecting the Application option), when I opened my Library folder I found quite a number of folders, some from 6-8, even 10 years ago, some of them empty... I'd rather clean the junk out... Question is, how do I know what to trash?  There are some utilities that can delete all the connected files when one use them to trash old applications, but still there will be all kinds of folders and files left in my Library...

  • by macjack,Solvedanswer

    macjack macjack Jan 1, 2016 4:47 PM in response to mynameismyname
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 4:47 PM in response to mynameismyname

    mynameismyname wrote:

     

    >>>> So what you're suggesting is to just sit back and relax and use the Migration, while simply select all 4 options during the Clean-Install?

    Yes.

    mynameismyname wrote:

     

    During my first test, after using the Migraion option (but again, w/o selecting the Application option), when I opened my Library folder I found quite a number of folders, some from 6-8, even 10 years ago, some of them empty... I'd rather clean the junk out... Question is, how do I know what to trash? 

    You don't. Empty folders certainly take up no space and do no harm. AFA 10 year old folders in ~/Library with content, I have quite a few myself. As long as you have sufficient disk space why muck around? They won't slow you down. Place to look for outdated stuff that may slow you down is Login Items. Don't go into your Library folders and you won't have to look at them, not like they're scattered all over your Desktop or something.

  • by mynameismyname,

    mynameismyname mynameismyname Jan 1, 2016 5:01 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 5:01 PM in response to macjack

    Thanks so much, mackjack. That was helpful (at least to my state of mind...)...

     

    But still, even though it just makes basic sense to me, still, why is always recommended to first reformat the HD and then perform a clean-install, rather than upgrading one's current OS?

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Jan 1, 2016 5:15 PM in response to mynameismyname
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 5:15 PM in response to mynameismyname

    mynameismyname wrote:

     

    why is always recommended to first reformat the HD and then perform a clean-install, rather than upgrading one's current OS?

    It's not! Some folks may recommend it, most wouldn't. Apple doesn't recommend it and you'd think they would if it made for a better user experience.

  • by mynameismyname,

    mynameismyname mynameismyname Jan 1, 2016 5:50 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (18 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 1, 2016 5:50 PM in response to macjack

    Thanks so much, macjack!  I tend to compromise, I'm probably gonna reformat my HD (I have several backups, including 2 clones), but perform the clean-install with Migration...

     

    Now, time to be more honest and tell the full trooth:  I'm actually upgrading from ML to YOSEMITE, not El Capitan (I'm always a step behind, being the coward who prefers others to deal with the bugs... I use the Mac as my bread and butter, no time nor patience for hickups)... But I placed my question here, 'cause here's where the action is, these days, with a better chance to get a quick answer, whcih is urgently needed.  I assume the process is the same, whether one upgrades from ML to Yosemite, or El Capitan, am I right?

     

    Sorry for my dishonesty..... And again, thanks for your help!