Best way to transfer files & settings from MBP to a new MBP

[Freewayjim]

I'm planning on buying a 17" MBP (anti-glare) in the coming weeks and my wife wants my current 15 MBP, no problem.

My question is what is the best, most efficient way to transfer all my files, programs & settings from the 15" to the 17"?

I've got the 15" setup just right (for me) as I use it for personal & business tasks. It also has Parallels w/XP that I MUST have for work. I'd really like it if all my email & password settings were able to transfer without issue as well.

Do I use Migration? restore Time Machine? or something else?

I assume then I can use the same steps to set the 15" MBP up for my wife from her iMac.

I'd appreciate any advice from somebody' who's had this experience, thank you.

 

[waterskier2007]

i would say that getting a firewire cable and using migration assistant would be pretty easy. that would be my first option. i have not used it and i know you asked for people with the experience but i figured i would try to help anyways. when i moved computers i just took my photos, music, videos, and documents. i also took some applications.

 

[Freewayjim]

i would say that getting a firewire cable and using migration assistant would be pretty easy. that would be my first option. i have not used it and i know you asked for people with the experience but i figured i would try to help anyways. when i moved computers i just took my photos, music, videos, and documents. i also took some applications.

Thanks for the reply, I do have a FW800 cable and could do that.

What about your settings/passwords & such? I'm afraid to upset the apple cart (no pun).

 

[joro]

Thanks for the reply, I do have a FW800 cable and could do that.

What about your settings/passwords & such? I'm afraid to upset the apple cart (no pun).

Migration Assistant should transfer all of your passwords and what not for OS X with your user accounts. I don’t believe, but someone else can answer for sure, it will transfer your saved passwords for websites but that shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[miles01110]

Migration assistant is pretty easy; I just transferred my old setting over from a Time Machine backup. I ran into major permissions issues (for some reason my new admin account didn't have permission to access anything). After a few "Repair Permissions" in Onyx it's working fine now, though.