Migrating applications & files

[jognart]

I have an old mac that runs on OS 10.4.11 and I want to buy a new mac mini that runs on OS 8. I have been told that I may have difficulty moving over the old applications and files to the new mini. Has anybody done this migration?

 

[bobtomay]

We don't know what Mac you have - PPC or Intel - None of your applications that are using PPC only code will run under 10.8. Most of any others that have not been updated to at least run in 10.6 are likely not going work either.

Personally, I would import the data only and not try to bring any applications from 10.4 over to 10.8.

You can check the compatibility table for 10.8 against the apps you are concerned about here.

For everyone out there that may read this.
This is a big reason why it's much better to keep a computer updated all the time. Then, app replacement and upgrades are done a little at a time and spread out. Waiting until you want/need a new computer 3,4,5 generations of the operating system later may drastically increase your initial cost of ownership.

 

[jognart]

Thanks for your reply. My mac mini is not the intel processor. I will take your advice and just try and move data. (with the help of a MAC genius) With hindsight I can now see I was pound foolish for not upgrading when I should have.

 

[pigoo3]

I have an old mac that runs on OS 10.4.11 and I want to buy a new mac mini that runs on OS 8.

Let's be very careful with terminology. The most recent version of the Mac OS is 10.8.2. You mentioned "OS 8". There actually was an "OS 8"...but it was released 16 YEARS AGO (1997). We are currently on OS 10 (X)...not OS 8.

My mac mini is not the intel processor.

If your Mac-Mini does not have an Intel processor...then the newest version of the Mac OS that it can run is OS 10.5.8. This means no OS 10.6, no OS 10.7, and no OS 10.8.

- Nick

 

[jognart]

Thanks for your reply. sorry for not being careful with my terminology (typo of OS8) rather than 10.8.2. At this point I am ready to get a new mac mini. My only concern is being able to migrate my old files to the new mini, as I have been told that there may be difficult to migrate from OS 10.4.11 to OS 10.8.2.

 

[pigoo3]

At this point I am ready to get a new mac mini. My only concern is being able to migrate my old files to the new mini, as I have been told that there may be difficult to migrate from OS 10.4.11 to OS 10.8.2.

Yes...your main issue will be if you have PPC apps. on your old Mac-Mini. Your old Mac-Mini has a PowerPC cpu (PPC)...and apps. written for a PPC cpu are obviously known as "PPC apps.".

The new Mac-Mini's (and all Apple computers since 2006) have Intel cpu's). OS 10.6 was the first OS version that COULD NOT be run on the older PPC-based (computers)...including your current Mac-Mini. But...Apple did include an application with OS 10.6 that allowed users to run PPC apps. on an Intel based Mac called "Rosetta".

OS 10.6 was the last OS version to have Rosetta...and when Apple released OS 10.7...and now OS 10.8...Rosetta was dropped...thus no more running PPC apps. on Mac's running an OS version newer than OS 10.6.

The new Mac-Mini (or any new Mac) will come preinstalled with OS 10.8...so you will not be able to run any PPC apps on a new Mac-Mini. And no...you cannot "downgrade" a new Mac-Mini to run OS 10.6 to regain PPC app. compatibility.

So long story short. If you do not have any older PPC apps. to be concerned about...no problem. But if you do have lots of expensive older PPC apps. that you do depend on...then if you get a new Mac-Mini...you will either have to upgrade those apps. to a newer version that is compatible with OS 10.8...or lose the use of those apps.

- Nick

p.s. The files that you speak of will probably have no problem being imported with the apps that use those files (on a new Mac-Mini)...but you may need newer versions of those apps to run on a new Mac-Mini running OS 10.8.

For example...if you currently have MS Office 2004 or 2008 installed on your old Mac-Mini (and you needed access to these files on your new Mac-Mini)...you would (for example) need to install MS Office 2011 so that those files could be used with OS 10.8 on your new Mac-Mini.

This is just an example.

 

[jognart]

thanks for your reply. I think I now understand my situation and what I need to do. It looks like I will need to buy current versions of Office, and Quicken. I think I should be able to import the old Office and Quicken files to run on versions of the software.
Art

 

[pigoo3]

I think I now understand my situation and what I need to do. It looks like I will need to buy current versions of Office, and Quicken.

That doesn't sound too bad. Where it gets REALLY expensive, is when someone is doing what you want to do ( upgrade from an old old Mac to a new Mac)...and they have a lot of older Adobe Creative Suite apps....which can sometimes cost $1000's of dollars to upgrade.

- Nick