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!

 

[tonmischa]

When you are sure you have copied everything off the old computer, here is the official Apple checklist how to wipe the old computer correctly before giving it back.

What to do before you sell, give away, trade in, or recycle your Mac - Apple Support

Reset your Mac to factory settings to prepare it for the new owner.

support.apple.com

 

[ChrisA]

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.

If you have enough storage space on the new Mac, then just sync everything and later delete the junk you do not want. This will take a little longer but will require less work. You can let the sync happen overnight. If you don't have enough space, then you have to manually copy. Share the old Mac's disk over the network and drag and drop what you need. This takes more work, but you might need to do this if everything will not fit. If you do not have both computers at the same time, you can't drag and drop from one Mac to the other, and will need to do a selective restore.


Yes, 100% make two different user logins, one for you and one for your wife. Each of you can also have your own Apple ID. This allows each of you to set your own preferences for font sizes and how the desktop looks and prevents accidentally missing out on the other’s files. Never share one login.


The even bigger reason to make two accounts is that likely you do not share one iPhone, and I'd bet you each have a different Apple ID. You want to keep your text messages and emails separate. You need two Mac logins, or you will have a mess. If you only have one login account on the Mac, all the texts, phone calls and emails get put in the same place. You don't want that.


MacOS is UNIX. The UNIX OS comes from the 1970s when computers were so expensive they were shared by entire departments with perhaps a dozen people logged in and using the computer all at the same time. The OS is very good at keeping people's work separate.