Note: I was positive that there'd be information about this on the internet and/or these forums, but I can't find the answers to my questions. I apologize if the answer was already discussed elsewhere!
Hi everyone,
Pretty soon I'll be moving from one Macbook Pro to a newer one. I've done the "install+configure all programs" routine dozens of times under Windows and am hoping that there's a quicker way to do it under OS X. Before you make a suggestion, let me tell you the three things I've considered, as well as the questions that I have about them:
1. Make an image of the current system (I have a licensed copy of SuperDuper!). Putting the new system into target disk mode, write the image to it.
Problems with this method: The current system uses a Radeon graphics chip while the new system uses a GeForce. Apple doesn't let us see drivers, but I'm pretty sure that the drivers must be different. Using the current software layout with the new system might cause problems. Additionally, the newer Macbook Pro has a multitouch trackpad while the current one doesn't - perhaps there'd be driver differences there, as well (or perhaps not).
2. Using my Time Machine backups, go through the OS X install phase and choose my latest Time Machine backup as the desired system restoration.
Questions about this method: Will it work? Will the system be intelligent enough to not copy over all system files, thereby reducing the risks of copying over incompatible graphics drivers? Also, to anyone who has switched between systems, how does the new computer view Time Machine backups from the old system? Will it allow me to see the old system's backups, or will it start fresh and leave the older backups as though they were regular data files?
3. Use the OS X Migration assistant. Aside from being the obvious choice, this is seemingly all that I can find in Google searches (in addition to synchronizing the computers via .Mac). I don't know what this does and does not transfer over, but based on what I've read it seems that it doesn't transfer over programs. I don't mind reinstalling programs, but I'd really like it if I could copy over program preferences and other associated files (such as chat histories from Adium).
Thank you very much in advance for any tips, advice, and information you can provide. If there's no completely automated way to do this, don't feel bad - I can do this all manually without much trouble, but I was hoping that there'd be a way to have it all automated by now... 🙂
Hi everyone,
Pretty soon I'll be moving from one Macbook Pro to a newer one. I've done the "install+configure all programs" routine dozens of times under Windows and am hoping that there's a quicker way to do it under OS X. Before you make a suggestion, let me tell you the three things I've considered, as well as the questions that I have about them:
1. Make an image of the current system (I have a licensed copy of SuperDuper!). Putting the new system into target disk mode, write the image to it.
Problems with this method: The current system uses a Radeon graphics chip while the new system uses a GeForce. Apple doesn't let us see drivers, but I'm pretty sure that the drivers must be different. Using the current software layout with the new system might cause problems. Additionally, the newer Macbook Pro has a multitouch trackpad while the current one doesn't - perhaps there'd be driver differences there, as well (or perhaps not).
2. Using my Time Machine backups, go through the OS X install phase and choose my latest Time Machine backup as the desired system restoration.
Questions about this method: Will it work? Will the system be intelligent enough to not copy over all system files, thereby reducing the risks of copying over incompatible graphics drivers? Also, to anyone who has switched between systems, how does the new computer view Time Machine backups from the old system? Will it allow me to see the old system's backups, or will it start fresh and leave the older backups as though they were regular data files?
3. Use the OS X Migration assistant. Aside from being the obvious choice, this is seemingly all that I can find in Google searches (in addition to synchronizing the computers via .Mac). I don't know what this does and does not transfer over, but based on what I've read it seems that it doesn't transfer over programs. I don't mind reinstalling programs, but I'd really like it if I could copy over program preferences and other associated files (such as chat histories from Adium).
Thank you very much in advance for any tips, advice, and information you can provide. If there's no completely automated way to do this, don't feel bad - I can do this all manually without much trouble, but I was hoping that there'd be a way to have it all automated by now... 🙂