migration assistant - new macbook - what I need to know?

Question

migration assistant - new macbook - what I need to know?

Hi - I would value some experience from the community - please

I have a 2011 MacAir & want to now update to a new MacBook.

I have not updated sooner as concerned about the migration & possible loss of setting, apps or features etc post the update.

Can anyone with experience share anything I need to be aware of?

Such as...

1/ Does the Migration assistant transfer everything? - such as computer name & all setting, configurations, power setting & passwords etc & Apps?

(eg - after migration - would my new macbook be and 'exact' copy & behave exactly like my old mac - (all keyboard shortcuts / icons / tool bars etc - all is the place I expect)

2/ What about Apps such as Onedrive/ Office365/ Dropbox - will these work (i.e. will I have sync problems - with computer duplicated)

3/ What about APPS - where these are licensed - such as Abobe / MSOffice etc - will these transfer & all work - how does s/w license move? (or does the migration take care of this - and remove from old laptop)

I look forward to any advice,

Thanks -/T

Posted on Apr 30, 2016 5:14 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

CT

Level 7

23,987 points

Apr 30, 2016 7:31 AM in response to clever_trevor

Move your content to a new Mac

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Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Apr 30, 2016 9:04 AM in response to clever_trevor

Hi Clever_Trevor, Be sure to use migration the first time you boot your new Mac, or else it will create a second Home folder and you'll have a nasty time sorting it out. If this happens the best way to sort it is to wipe the disk and start over.

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. Yes

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Answer 3

Apr 30, 2016 9:05 AM in response to macjack

Thank you.

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Answer 4

dwb

Level 7

32,920 points

Apr 30, 2016 1:34 PM in response to clever_trevor

After migrating to the new computer all your configurations, applications, documents, etc will be moved to the new computer. The only gotcha involves programs that require activation or serial numbers. Any program that requires activation (Adobe CS and Microsoft Office for example) need to be deactivated on the old computer. I generally deactivate everything, including iTunes, on the old computer before migrating. It is easy to forget and annoying if you do forget and then wipe the drive so you can sell it. Also some programs that have serial numbers will require that you re-enter them on the newly migrated computer.

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Answer 5

Apr 30, 2016 1:47 PM in response to dwb

HI - many thanks - this is great help - i knew it would be too good to be true to migrate & then just reboot & find everthing there & working just like the old laptop but better & faster. And great advice about iTunes as i need to deactivate on old laptop then assume 'activate' on new as seems migration would not take care of that. Plus I guess small things like wifi itunes synch would need re-setup. Also I assume same for Imessage, etc etc.

So with everthing cloud based - begs question of whether is better to setup new & synch files - as migration assistance could cause some problems wth 2 laptops with so e name etc.

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