ginnyp

Q: Migration options?

Looking for input on migration. Moving from a 2008 Macbook Pro on Snow Leopard (10.6.8) to a 2015 on El Capitan (10.11.2). Will connect firewire 400 of old computer through a firewire 400/800 adapter to firewire/thunderbolt adapter on new computer. (Don't have good WIFI access.) Don't even know for sure what software will work but want to at least try what I have before I buy updates. Wondering if software (MS & Adobe) would migrate more successfully directly from the old computer or through Time Machine backup. Would like to avoid the re-authentication process if possible. (I figure my user files should be OK either way.) Thanks in advance for any thoughts on this.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jan 7, 2016 2:10 PM

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Q: Migration options?

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  • by my ginger,Helpful

    my ginger my ginger Feb 15, 2016 11:04 AM in response to ginnyp
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Feb 15, 2016 11:04 AM in response to ginnyp

    I presume you are going to use migration assistant. If the 2008 computer is running fine, then transferring for that would be fine. But you might want to do some research on any programs that you wish to transfer,as without updating them they might not run in the new operating system.  In migration assistant, you can to a point, pick and chose what to transfer. Pictures,music and movies would not be a problem.

  • by ginnyp,

    ginnyp ginnyp Jan 8, 2016 10:31 AM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 8, 2016 10:31 AM in response to my ginger

    Thanks for the input. Yes, was going to use migration assistant. Have done this process several times before, but not with computers so far apart in age and OS, and not since 2010. (So much has changed since I retired and have been somewhat out-of-touch with technology. Thought I'd better upgrade my personal computer before too much more time goes by.) I've looked into my apps and whether they'll run on the new OS. One website indicated yes; a couple others had no real input, but at least nothing negative. (Guess I'm not totally optimistic, but hopeful, and may yet find I need updates.) I see migrating from a Time Machine backup referred to a lot in migration talk, and just didn't know if more complete app info would migrate if I run it through a Time Machine backup or if directly from the old computer is fine. (I'd rather use the latter, as I would first have to set up a Time Machine backup and run it. I've been using Retrospect for my backups.) If I understand correctly, I will have to start the old MAC in target mode?

  • by my ginger,Apple recommended

    my ginger my ginger Feb 15, 2016 11:05 AM in response to ginnyp
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Feb 15, 2016 11:05 AM in response to ginnyp

    Both the old and new computers, in the utilities folder should have migration assistant. You will need to open them on both computers. If you connect or have on the new MBP an ethernet connection, you can do it that way. If not target disk will work.  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350  The old computers system files will not over write the new computers system files. But it should install everything you need for the apps to run that you have on the old computer. Those apps may need to be upgraded once installed. To run and not cause problems on the new computers operating system. If something you transfer does not have and upgrade or does not say it will work in the new operating system. You may have to uninstall it. When doing that, It is best to use an uninstaller for that app. or check with  the software company it belongs to, to see how. Aftermarket uninstaller s do not always get all the files. And some of them can be problematic.

  • by ginnyp,

    ginnyp ginnyp Jan 8, 2016 3:57 PM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 8, 2016 3:57 PM in response to my ginger

    At home, I haven't used ethernet connections, but I was quite surprised that the new MACs don't even have one! In deciding whether to get a thunderbolt/ethernet or thunderbolt/firewire adapter, I decided I would probably use the firewire more (since I have a firewire hard drive I'll probably continue to use for my backup). I would not have thought to even copy the system files, (having forgotten that some app info could be embedded there), so I'll copy the system files and let the computer deal with them. (I looked through my MS and Adobe apps, and found uninstaller type files for them, but hope I don't need them.) In the past, I never even wanted to migrate apps, but my apps are all on CD/DVDs, so along with the re-authentication process of a new install, I'd have to buy an external drive to reinstall them (and then, of course, all the downloaded updates have to be installed), so I think migrating them might be easier if it will work. Thanks for your input!

  • by my ginger,Apple recommended

    my ginger my ginger Jan 9, 2016 11:33 AM in response to ginnyp
    Level 4 (2,472 points)
    Jan 9, 2016 11:33 AM in response to ginnyp

    Be aware that when going from Snow Leopard to El Capitan a lot of third party apps will be outdated and most likely not run or run well. Possibly causing slowdowns or hangs. One of the drawbacks to the newer MBP is no way to install media without an external disk drive. But most media is download only now. You will find that you will have to update your third party apps including flash player if you use it. If no update and it crashes or hangs, you'll have to delete it.

  • by ginnyp,

    ginnyp ginnyp Jan 9, 2016 4:16 PM in response to my ginger
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 9, 2016 4:16 PM in response to my ginger

    Finally got the second adapter/cable I needed to hook up the computers. I hope I can isolate my key apps and not even migrate the smaller downloaded and mostly free apps. The new MBP not having a disk drive (or ethernet port) is really quite annoying. Hoping I can get my key apps to migrate and at least try them before I have to pay for new/updated ones. In researching sharing, it appears there might be a way to share the superdrive on my old computer with the new one. Might have to pursue this if I really do need a superdrive for something. Looking forward to getting this done!

  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Jan 9, 2016 4:28 PM in response to ginnyp
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Jan 9, 2016 4:28 PM in response to ginnyp

    I strongly encourage you to get an external enclosure for several reasons.  You can swap any number of bare-drives for any purpose ... I use one for multiple clones, video/data disk, disk to test new OSXs.  This one from macsales that I use http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/MSTG800U3K/ will work with a USB 3,0 adapter from the new mac and with the USB 2.0 of the old mac.

     

    That last point I think is most important to you.  I strongly advise downloading El Capitan on the SL system but ForceQuit the install-launch.  Clone your existing system to an external disk, then upgrade that clone instead of the internal.  Learn all the adjustments you will need to make on this test system, where you can abandon it and reclone/reupgrade if you make errors.  This approach will keep your current SL safe and you can experiment freely.

     

    Just my humble opinion.

  • by ginnyp,

    ginnyp ginnyp Jan 10, 2016 12:59 PM in response to steve359
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 10, 2016 12:59 PM in response to steve359

    Wow, Steve, what you're suggesting is way more than I've ever done on a MAC in nearly 20 years using them. I used to partition the drive of a new computer because of a recommendation that Adobe products work better with a scratch file in an uncluttered partition, and seems like I recall doing some "testing" in a partition one time, but can't remember specifically what, and don't think I've ever done a clone.

     

    I bought this new MBP as an "open box" (with AppleCare through Sept 2018) through an ebay dealer, and they'd already updated it from it's original Yosemite to El Capitan. I wish this wasn't the case, and attempted to move it back to it's original OS, but was looking at a 4+ hour process that produced a long list of error messages in only about 35 minutes. It also chewed through a gig of my data. So, I decided to stay with El Capitan, and let it run an update that chewed through 1.5 gig of my data. (My only internet access at home is through my phone data plan. Normally the 15 gig data a month I pay for is gobs, and sadly, it is faster than the free WIFI at McDonalds. I've just got to be careful with my usage as these updates seem to be much larger than they used to be.

     

    In the past, I always downloaded updates and installed them when off-line (though not on a clone). I just want to get "moved in" to this new computer and figure out how to use it. I haven't even found the hard drive yet, since it doesn't come up on the desktop anymore!!! I feel totally lost!

     

    Thanks for your thoughts.

  • by steve359,

    steve359 steve359 Jan 10, 2016 1:07 PM in response to ginnyp
    Level 6 (14,032 points)
    Jan 10, 2016 1:07 PM in response to ginnyp

    Testing your current data and usage pattern with the upgrade in a "throw away" space can save much grief.  Plus the external enclosure is usable with many disks.  I like to know most of the bad effects of a new install before I rely on it.  But I am old and grumpy, so some choose to leave me to yelling "Get off my lawn you stupid kids!".

  • by ginnyp,

    ginnyp ginnyp Jan 10, 2016 2:20 PM in response to steve359
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jan 10, 2016 2:20 PM in response to steve359

    Don't really know what I'll do at this time. Wish so much technology hadn't come between my 2008 and new 2015 computers. (Over 14 years at work, I upgraded and maintained MAC computers for 5 users, including running backup and migrating their work from old to new computers. Never had hardly a hiccup, but never had as much technology "gap" as I have here, and, of course, I had company money to spend when software updates were needed!) As long as I still have the old computer working, guess my options are somewhat open. Worst case, if I end up with a new computer that won't work, guess I'll have to find the fastest free WIFI I can find and try to download what I need to get it going again. Will research your external enclosure as well.

  • by ginnyp,

    ginnyp ginnyp Feb 15, 2016 11:04 AM in response to ginnyp
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 15, 2016 11:04 AM in response to ginnyp

    Finally had the time to set everything up and make an attempt to move to the new computer. Everything actually worked great!!! After hooking the two computers together, had to start old computer in target disk mode, then ran migration from new computer. (Had one little issue when starting in target disk mode. For some reason, it shut off the old computer's connection to its charger. With its weak old battery, not good. When I did a restart via startup disk in system preferences instead of a complete restart with "T" depressed, worked fine. Guess I kind of understand why, but had me wondering what I was going to do for a bit!) My user files are intact with no permission issues. All major software came over with only one item giving me an issue with authentication. Everything seems to be working fine - no apparent conflicts and no crashes (yet). Needless to say, I'm relieved!

     

    Thanks to both of you who gave me input on this process.