Best way to transfer and combine files between two MacBook Pros

ajmac25 · Mar 1, 2011, 03:56 PM

I have a MBP at home and one at work. Each have similar files and some different files and programs. I want to duplicate everything on my home MBP unto my work MBP. I have thought about Migration Assistant, but am leery of problems and I do not want duplicate files.I have even though about erasing the work MBP and using Set-Up Assistant to transfer my home files to it then restoring the work files from a Time machine Backup.

Any thoughts or ideas to do this the most simple way and avoid bugs and duplicate files?

Thank you!

shamash · Mar 1, 2011, 03:58 PM

I'm wondering a similar thing, but for MBA to MBP.

ajmac25 · Mar 2, 2011, 10:30 AM

Shamash,

I did find this webpage to be quite helpful, but still does not completely answer our question...

http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/Setup.html

AJ MAC

jenzjen · Mar 2, 2011, 11:06 AM

This worked for me but isn't exact more of an approximation.

Pick the machine that has the most up to date files, programs, etc, basically the one you would keep if you could only keep one.

Then, just copy the key files from the other machine onto the main machine. I'm hope this is <100 files or at least in a few places so easy to copy.

If the main machine is missing a program or 2 from the other machine, install it now.

Now, your primary machine should have everything you need. I'd setup a Dropbox type account, sync my files there and clean install the other machine. Have other machine access the Dropbox so now your files can be accessed by both machines without worrying about version control.

Mar 1, 2011, 03:56 PM	#1
ajmac25 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2003	Best way to transfer and combine files between two MacBook Pros I have a MBP at home and one at work. Each have similar files and some different files and programs. I want to duplicate everything on my home MBP unto my work MBP. I have thought about Migration Assistant, but am leery of problems and I do not want duplicate files.I have even though about erasing the work MBP and using Set-Up Assistant to transfer my home files to it then restoring the work files from a Time machine Backup. Any thoughts or ideas to do this the most simple way and avoid bugs and duplicate files? Thank you!
	0

Mar 2, 2011, 10:30 AM	#3
ajmac25 Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2003	Some help... Shamash, I did find this webpage to be quite helpful, but still does not completely answer our question... http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/Setup.html AJ MAC
	0

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Mar 1, 2011, 03:58 PM	#2
shamash macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Flagstaff, AZ + West Linn, OR	I'm wondering a similar thing, but for MBA to MBP.
	0

Mar 2, 2011, 11:06 AM	#4
jenzjen macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2010	This worked for me but isn't exact more of an approximation. Pick the machine that has the most up to date files, programs, etc, basically the one you would keep if you could only keep one. Then, just copy the key files from the other machine onto the main machine. I'm hope this is <100 files or at least in a few places so easy to copy. If the main machine is missing a program or 2 from the other machine, install it now. Now, your primary machine should have everything you need. I'd setup a Dropbox type account, sync my files there and clean install the other machine. Have other machine access the Dropbox so now your files can be accessed by both machines without worrying about version control.
	1