08-26-2009, 01:17 PM

So, as probably most people do, I use Time machine to back everything up, just leave it plugged in. Well, I am giving my older notebook to my younger brother and getting a new one. My question is, when I get the new one, can I just plug in that same backup drive I was using and click and restore on the new laptop?

I am going to do a clean install on this machine before I give it to my brother so I want to make sure I can easily import everything again on the new laptop. Thanks for your help!

08-26-2009, 03:39 PM

A better choice would be wait until you buy the new machine and use the Migration Assistant.app to move everything over from the old machine. Then clean out the old machine with your original install media by reinstalling OS X and applications. Then give the old machine to your brother.

Applications -> Utilities -> Migration Assistant.app

Apple Instructions

Regards.

08-26-2009, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by chscag

A better choice would be wait until you buy the new machine and use the Migration Assistant.app to move everything over from the old machine. Then clean out the old machine with your original install media by reinstalling OS X and applications. Then give the old machine to your brother.

Applications -> Utilities -> Migration Assistant.app

Apple Instructions

Regards.

Second this method. All you need is a firewire cable with the right connectors, let it run, and in a few hours you'll have your old environment (and I mean everything, save the OS stuff) moved over to your new machine.

I did this with my MB->MBP upgrade and it was like I never upgraded (except for the speed, newness, new stuff etc.) on the new machine. Clean install on old machine before I sold it.