Best way to copy iMac hard drive to Macbook hard drive?

[blakediamond]

I want to basically have an exact copy of my iMac on my Macbook. I was first about to use superduper till I thought about the drivers and such. Is time machine my best bet here?

[Buzz Bumble]

Copy your documents across by using an Ethernet cable, a network / wireless connection, external hard drive, CD-R / DVD-R / USB Flash drive, or simply emailing them to yourself from one computer to pick-up on the other.

Applications should be installed from the original CDs / DVDs / downloads.

[DannySmurf]

Just curious... any reason you didn't just do the transfer when you set up the Macbook/installed OSX on it?

[blakediamond]

Copy your documents across by using an Ethernet cable, a network / wireless connection, external hard drive, CD-R / DVD-R / USB Flash drive, or simply emailing them to yourself from one computer to pick-up on the other.

Applications should be installed from the original CDs / DVDs / downloads.

That seems a bit tedious, is that a better solution then a time machine backup?

[blakediamond]

Just curious... any reason you didn't just do the transfer when you set up the Macbook/installed OSX on it?

Well I just got the macbook off Craigslist and just replaced the hard drive now. Snow leopard is installing as we speak, I'm just wondering if I should do a TM restore when it prompts me.

[model citizen]

You could use carbon copy cloner to make an exact copy of the hdd.

[CrzyCanuck72]

Migration Assistant

[Cave Man]

Migration Assistant

There's the answer.

[IgnatiusTheKing]

When i got my new iMac, I did the Time Machine restore and it worked beautifully and painlessly. The only issues were with my licenses of Quark and Adobe CS3, which were easily fixed after a little Googling.

[Buzz Bumble]

Copy your documents across by using an Ethernet cable, a network / wireless connection, external hard drive, CD-R / DVD-R / USB Flash drive, or simply emailing them to yourself from one computer to pick-up on the other.

Applications should be installed from the original CDs / DVDs / downloads.
That seems a bit tedious, is that a better solution then a time machine backup?

It is a bit time consuming, but at least you're not transferring a load of old dross that you no longer want nor a pile of useless old bits that are no longer needed ... not to mention issues with drivers, etc. that the new machine doesn't like. It also give you a chance to have a good clean out of your own documents. :)

[chrismacguy]

Definitely use Migration Assistant, even though the Basic Drivers for every Mac that Apple supports are included in any OS X install (I have several blank installs on an external that I use to image Macs when I acquire them) :D