Migrating an MPB (10.6.8) to a new MPB

[Mikeo1938]

I’ve seen the information at Move your data to a new Mac - Apple Support but would appreciate clarification.

My plan is to get a new MPB to replace the existing (2009) one. I would prefer to do the migration in stages – first transfer the Word documents and also a password-protected Disk Image File. Are there any special issues with regard to the latter? Will the Disk Image File go across in the same way as everything else?

How about my Time Machine back-ups that are on an external hard-drive? I guess these are OK but I’ve never had to call upon them. I don’t want to migrate from TM in case there is something wrong. The external hard-drive connects to the old MPB via Firewire. I believe there is an adaptor that will enable me to connect the new MPB to my external hard-drive with my existing Firewire cable. Is this correct?

Finally, will the new MPB (I understand this will come with Mavericks) also have Time Machine? Can I just continue to back up to the external hard-drive? I hope that I don’t have to erase everything that’s already on there.

I’d like to get things done as simply as possible.

Comments greatly appreciated.

M

 

[pigoo3]

Firstly I'm sure you mean MBP (MacBook Pro)…not "MPB" (you did this 6 times).

Finally, will the new MPB (I understand this will come with Mavericks)...

Actually a brand new Apple computer will come with Yosemite (OS 10.10). As far as the transfer of files. The transfer of document files (MS Office, Adobe apps, etc.) should not be a problem.

But if you are talking about the transfer of applications from your 2009 MBP running OS 10.6.8….you can pretty much forget about this. What I mean is…the apps as they are on the 2009 MBP almost guaranteed will not run on a brand new MBP running Yosemite. You can't "jump" 4 OS versions newer…and still expect them to work without an upgrade.

HTH,

- Nick

 

[harryb2448]

Time Machine will be included, although a much later version, and will be included in Applications. Regarding the Disk Image of OS X.6.8, be aware that as a rule of thumb you cannot go backwards with operating systems. When everything is migrated across and you are happy with the way the new MBP is running. I would personally hook up the external, and erase and format it Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and start new TM backups.

 

[Mikeo1938]

Thanks to both of you for your help. Sorry about the MPB glitch ... got stuck in a groove!

OK about the applications: MS Office (my main tool) is 2004 and so I fully expect to upgrade that.

Regarding harryb2448's comment about the Disk Image File: this is not an image of OS it's just a password-protected file containing Word documents. Will this move across OK?

And can I leave the existing back-ups on the external HD and when I've migrated everything to the new MBP simply start putting new stuff onto this HD? There's still bags of room.

M

 

[Mikeo1938]

Sorry - I see that harryb2448 included a comment about back-ups in his reply.

M

 

[pigoo3]

I wanted to mentions that if your migration concerns mostly involve files (MS Office…and maybe music, photos, videos, etc.)…you could just copy them to a USB stick on the 2009 MBP…then copy them to the new MBP.

- Nick

 

[Mikeo1938]

OK everyone and thank you for your advice.

I vaguely remember from 2009 when I did a migration from an old MacBook to my existing MBP that there was some kind of problem over user names. Something or other got screwed up ... did files get duplicated or something?

So is it better to choose a different user name on the new MBP from the one which I have on my existing machine? I will be the sole user.

M