More Newby Questions

[Doug4907]

I looked for this issue, but I can't find the answer. So sorry if it has been dealt with.

My history has been MSDOS, then Windows for decades. I have become very dissatisfied with the way Windows is going. So after many decades I bought myself a Mac Studio. The screen messages told me many things, first it successfully connected to my home wifi and it updated to MacOS Sequoia 15.5. At this stage all I see on the screen are various text messages which one by one I try to deal with. Then the first block occurred. There was an unexpected question of whether I would like to transfer (some) info from my Windows PC. I thought, "What can that hurt?". So I clicked on Yes. It immediately found my Windows PC (on the same home wifi), and displayed its name, and then it asked me for my PC's password. Now this is a simple 4 digit number (my PC is only ever operated by me in a house in which there is only me and my wife.) So, I inputted the 4-digit number, which was rejected by the Mac Studio. I now have no idea what to do. Whatever other password could it be seeking?

Some background which may be useful to anyone that may help me, my PC is a Gen 12 Intel, running the latest Windows 11 Pro OS. The Mac Studio and the Windows PC are on the same wifi network. I have a good working knowledge of Windows, but I am totally new to Apple (I do have a newish Apple phone, Apple iPad and Apple watch. Oh and I am almost 80 yo, my body hardly works anyone more, but my brain is, so far, OK. But at 80 yo, I do feel the need to progress things while I still can.

Summary,

• I have the question regarding what password is needed???
• AND is there any manual to guide me through the setup of an entirely new Mac Studio. There is none at all within all the packages. I am disappointed that I have sat through many basic Mac text screens asking me to do exercises with CTRL, Command, Shift, Space keys, but I still don't seem to be even into the OS, etc. If there is a payware manual then that's OK. Can anyone send me a URL to such instructions, etc?
• And lastly, I can image these newby questions can be tiring, but pls, I am asking for help.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

First, congrats on your purchase of the Mac Studio.

To get the basics of macOS, you might find this guide handy.

While Apple doesn't ship anything with the devices themselves, you'll find the Mac User Guide useful.

Those two links should cover the bulk of what you need to do to get setup on your new Mac.

As far as the Migration Assistant goes, it's asking for your user account on your PC that will allow the Mac to login. You'll need to ensure that you have remote access enabled on Windows and that the username/password you are using is correct.

I would even recommend that you setup the Mac Studio by not transferring anything over from the PC initially. Just get comfortable with the Mac first and then you can move things over from your PC when you are ready.

 

[MacInWin]

I would even recommend that you setup the Mac Studio by not transferring anything over from the PC initially. Just get comfortable with the Mac first and then you can move things over from your PC when you are ready.

I would add to that excellent advice that you learn the Mac way of doing things instead of trying to make the Mac be a PC. macOS is pretty easy to use, but different from Windows. Spend some time with that User Guide Ashwin pointed to and refer to it whenever you see something you don't recognize or understand. I made the transition about 17 years ago and I still remember the learning curve wasn't difficult, but does have some "bumps" in it.

Come here any time you have questions, We have some experts with experience here that can make it a lot easier for you!

And welcome to Mac, it's a nice place!

 

[Rod]

I second the above, leave the PC out of the picture for now. You can if you wish import data from it later.

Let's just concentrate on getting you up to speed on the Mac first.

 

[Rod]

Can I just suggest that during setup if you are still in that phase do not opt for the offer to store your Desktop and Documents Folders in iCloud. Although everything is reversible on a Mac that one is particularily confusing, especially for a newbie. As for Encryption, another offer during setup its really up to you. With the new M Series Silicon Macs there is no harm in selecting this although initially it's not really necessary.

You will find Apple Guide helpful for specific help. If I search for it I get the Australian one iMac - Official Apple Support
So do an Online Search and you'll get the area specific one for you, then click the Support tab.

For example I get this;



At; iMac - Official Apple Support

This to a large degree is why you don't get a manual with your new Mac.

 

[Jimmysb]

I move to my Mac in late 2022 after 30 years with MS, yes it is different, and the name of things are different, Delete - Move to Bin or Shortcut - Make Alias, but broadly functionality is quite similar, they are both personal computers.
I found this forum extremely helpful in "converting" ways of working, and once you forget MS, and understand Apple, then it is relatively simple, no more "well that is how I use to to do it". My advice is learn to understand the menu bar at the top of your screen for each app, and you will understand your way around your new Mac.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

...

• ...is there any manual to guide me through the setup of an entirely new Mac Studio. There is none at all within all the packages. I am disappointed that I have sat through many basic Mac text screens asking me to do exercises with CTRL, Command, Shift, Space keys, but I still don't seem to be even into the OS, etc. If there is a payware manual then that's OK. Can anyone send me a URL to such instructions, etc?

First, with regard to The Migration Assistant:

Transfer from PC to Mac with Migration Assistant

Transfer from PC to Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

Migration Assistant transfers (copies) your contacts, calendars, email accounts, and more from your Windows PC to the appropriate places on your Mac.

support.apple.com

As far as using the Mac, and migrating to the Mac from Windows, there is an embarrassment of free riches:

Apple has its own YouTube site which includes short tutorials on almost everything.

Apple

Welcome to the official Apple YouTube channel. Here you’ll find news about product launches, tutorials, and other great content. Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today Apple continues to be a global leader in innovation with products like...

www.youtube.com

Apple Support

Tips and how-tos—straight from Apple.

www.youtube.com

macOS User Guide

Mac User Guide

Learn what’s new in macOS, how to get started with your Mac and use it with your Apple devices, and how to control privacy and security on macOS.

support.apple.com

Mac OS User Guides for specific Mac models

Mac Manuals and Downloads - Apple Support

Manuals, technical specifications, downloads, and more for Apple software and hardware

support.apple.com

Shortcuts (free)

Intro to Shortcuts on Mac

Shortcuts is an app that lets you create powerful task automations called shortcuts.

support.apple.com

New to Mac?

Are you new to Mac?

Get familiar with Mac basics and learn some keyboard commands to help you get started.

support.apple.com

MacMost free tutorials

MacMost Video Archive By Category

View a category-based list of Mac video tutorials from MacMost.

macmost.com

How Do I Switch Apps In Stage Manager Using Keyboard Shortcuts Only? (for beginners/switchers)

Video tutorial: How To Learn Mac After Switching
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQcb80GjlSM

Still not enough? Here is a very comprehensive book:

Mac Basics ($15)
200 pages e-book (free sample available)
macOS 13 Ventura or later (including macOS 14 Sonoma and macOS 15 Sequoia)

Mac Basics – Take Control Books

This book explains the basics of how to use a Mac, starting from scratch. It covers both the Mac hardware and macOS, as well as Apple’s built-in apps.

www.takecontrolbooks.com

 

[IWT]

Fabulous list of Apple sites to help people getting started Randy, or if they've forgotten about how to do something. The short Videos on YouTube are really excellent and cover all Apple Products.

Ian

 

[Doug4907]

Hi My Lovely People,

I am overwhelmed by all the help you bunch of guys (I'm almost 80 yo, but 'guys' to me are female and male)

Forget the PC came from more than one source. Good advice. Every time I have considered a Mac, I have freaked out, "All my photos, incl my genealogy collections, films, science stuff are stored each in a folder labelled with the year". But yes, I must put that behind me and move on. I was talking with my wife and I said to her that people all over the world store their photos on Macs without resorting to creating a folder for every date. Honestly, when I think more about it, Macs do all sorts of things without the users needing to create folders...... I watched the failed development of Windows FS, a system which Microsoft may have learned from MacOS?? I read one report that hinted that Windows FS would have faced strong legal challenges from Apple.

May I warn all you great people, I can be slow, ie days slow, when replying. I am very weak, and my end is near, so all I can manage is about 2 hours out of bed per day, and EVERYTHING has to be done in that small break. Learning and starting to master MacOS, after decades of MSDOS, Windows, Linux, is one challenge I have decided to take on. Please continue to tolerate my slow replies.

I see some posters list their Mac specs. Where do I do this? Does it help?

Take care,
Doug
Australia

 

[MacInWin]

Doug, the biggest single difference with the macOS is that it is inherently a multi-user system, with each user having access to their own storage space on the drive and not able to see the other user's stuff. What WIndows users do, typically, is to dump folders at the root level of the drive, which modern versions of macOS does not allow. Inside your user area is a folder called "Documents" which is where you should put your stuff, generally. You CAN put folders at your user root level, but that's not really a great idea in the long run as it complicates the folder structure. The system will use the Downloads folder for stuff you download, but don't keep stuff there. Put it where it belongs. There is also a tendency to put a lot of stuff on the Desktop, which just clutters up the screen. Try to avoid that, too.

Updating your profile to tell us what you have just makes it easier for us to help. Solutions may depend on which Mac, what version of macOS, etc., you are running. That's how it helps. But it's better to just put that in the post so we don't have to ask.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I see some posters list their Mac specs. Where do I do this? Does it help?

Take care,
Doug
Australia

If you click on your profile name on the top right banner next to the Mail and Bell icons, you can then select Account Details and scroll down to find the section called Your Mac's Specs.

 

[Jimmysb]

All my photos were in folders by year on my Windows PC, and still are in folders on my Mac, not an issues.

 

[Rod]

Doug, can we assume that you have successfully completed the setup on your new Mac and created an Apple ID consisting of an email address and Password? That you also have a user Admin password to login to the device at startup? This is Mac User 101 of course but essential to progress any further.

Assuming that is all done please write it down somewhere safe, memory can be a tricky thing at our age.

Best regards,

Rod; 73 yo Aussie Male.

 

[Rod]

IF you do wish to transfer all of your photos from your PC to your Mac migh I suggest using a somewhat mechanical method. The are multiple ways of achieving the task but the most foolproof would be to use a "transfer device".
Say you had a 100GB USB "thumb" drive. It will most likely have a USB-A plug. Your Mac may only have USB-C ports so you would need a USB-A to USB-C adapter but these are easily obtained.

With that you could go to one of your yearly folders eg. 1999 and selecting ALL pics in the folder drag them to the USB drive. Eject it then plug it into the Mac. Open the Photos application on the Mac and Import the contents of the USB drive. Alternatively open the USB drive on the Mac and drag the the contents to the Photos app Icon.

This will give you an opportunity to see how your photos are displayed on the Mac and if your Metadata is all intact. You can experiment with editing and creating Folders in the sidebar.

For example you could create a folder in the sidebar called 1999, select all of your imported photos R Click on them and Move to Folder ie. Folder 1999.

Essentially this is a simple procedure, drag and drop but there will be questions and options along the way that I cannot predict.
For example you may need to Format the thumb drive as FAT32 on the Mac first to presrve your Metadata or the USB drive may not show up on your Mac desktop until you select that option in Finder Settings.

 

[Rod]

Just for everybody else; note the inclusion of "Sync Desktop an Documents Folders" in the Finder Settings window. I had not seen that before. When did that happen I wonder? Please don't tick that Doug.
Explaining to OP's how to undo it is one of the more challenging excercises for me on these forums because it's usually accidental and causes all sorts of confusion for users who did not understand the implications.

I cannot understand why Apple would make it more accessible.

 

[MacInWin]

Just for everybody else; note the inclusion of "Sync Desktop an Documents Folders" in the Finder Settings window. I had not seen that before. When did that happen I wonder? Please don't tick that Doug.
Explaining to OP's how to undo it is one of the more challenging excercises for me on these forums because it's usually accidental and causes all sorts of confusion for users who did not understand the implications.

I cannot understand why Apple would make it more accessible.

See my post in the other thread, Rod. I don't get that option in Finder Settings at all.

 

[pm-r]

... Rod. I don't get that option in Finder Settings at all.

Ditto, same on my iMac running macOS 15.5.
Maybe because I don't have Desktop and Documents folders in the Cloud?




- Patrick
=======

 

[Rod]

As discussed in my other thread I don't have them in iCloud Drive either, I did think it was a macOS version addition.

 

[MacInWin]

As discussed in my other thread I don't have them in iCloud Drive either, I did think it was a macOS version addition.

Well, I'm on 15.5, so if it got added, it got taken away.

 

[ferrarr]

Well, I'm on 15.5, so if it got added, it got taken away.

I believe you are correct about it appears for any Apple Account that had had that option enabled at one point. I was storing my Desktop & Documents folder on iCloud, and having macOS Optimize my Storage when I had my Intel MBP that only had 256GB internal SSD.