How to set up and restore?

[africano]

Hi,
Giving back my work macbook air as leaving the job and have just bought a new macbook air M5. I am going to erase my work computer as that is what they have asked us to do prior to giving it back.

On the work computer I have my apple ID and my iCloud - I think I have something like 2TB storage?

I am confused about something:
Should I sync everything? Does this mean that when I load my new computer all my programs and files will appear from my work computer on my new computer?

I am not sure I want that as I also have lots of trash files I downloaded or screenshots from desktop etc and work that I am not sure I want taking up space on new machine.

I also don't want to lose any important files like some design files etc.

So what should I do?

Finally - The new macbook air M5 is going to be a family computer, meaning my wife and I will both use it. Should we just have 1 sign in and just use that each have our own chrome profile etc?
I don't think apple allows you to have 2 user accounts with different info right or not?

Thanks!

 

[Bigwaff]

On the work computer I have my apple ID and my iCloud - I think I have something like 2TB storage?

I am confused about something:
Should I sync everything?

That’s up to you. If all you want is some stuff, copy it to USB ext flash drive, then delete files before turning off iCloud syncing of documents. You can always log into Apple Account on web and check iCloud files and delete from there too.

Does this mean that when I load my new computer all my programs and files will appear from my work computer on my new computer?

No. iCloud is file sync, not a backup service. Applications are not synced.

Should we just have 1 sign in and just use that each have our own chrome profile etc?
I don't think apple allows you to have 2 user accounts with different info right or not?

You can have more than one account, in fact, that is recommended. Each account can be signed in to its own Apple account for iCloud syncing. At least one account will need to be an admin account.

 

[benwiggy]

The first thing to do is get an external drive and make a backup of your entire old computer. Files without a backup are waiting to be lost; and iCloud is not a backup.


I would recommend having two separate user accounts for you and your wife. That will keep all your settings, preferences, documents etc separate.

(I'd also recommend any other browser than Chrome. 😀 )

 

[Fishrrman]

On the work computer:
1. I'd recommend a CLONED backup using either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper. Cloned backups can be mounted "right in the finder". Less trouble for migration than a time machine backup might be.

2. If the work Mac supports the "erase all content and settings" option (system settings), I'd use that to "wipe it" before turning it in. I believe the "erase all..." option also signs you out of everything online -- iCloud, iTunes music, etc.
This process is fast, easy, and it works.

On the new computer:
1. Set up SEPARATE accounts for each family member. Same for email.

2. Because you created a cloned backup, you have the choice of using setup assistant to migrate the data, OR... you can just connect the backup, let it mount in the finder, and copy directly from it.
IMPORTANT: if you choose the second option, you need to take steps to over-ride permissions:
- mount drive on desktop
- click ONE time on drive icon to select it
- bring up the get info box for the drive (type command-i)
- at the bottom of the get info box, click the lock and enter your password
- put a check into "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing and permissions)
- close get info.
Now, anything you copy from the backup will "fall under the ownership" of the account into which you're copying on the NEW Mac.

Good luck!