iMac 27" 2011 died (not sure of OS) using external enclosure plugged in to Late 2013 iMac 27" (Catalina) - need emails best way to transfer info?

[Prawnfactor]

I had a 2011 iMac 27" (1TB)(not sure of OS) that was taken apart to remove dust and cord pulled that shouldn't have been rendering it useless. I have placed internal HD into 3.5" SATA HDD enclosure and plugged into a second hand late 2013 iMac 27" (3TB)(Catalina OS). 1) is there a way I can work out what OS the 2011 HD is using?

2) On the 2013 computer I can see that there are files on the 2011 HD and that it is full. However, I am unable to open emails, photos, (assume due to OS clash). Tried using Migration Assistant and it stated that there wasn't room (not sure if it is referring to the 2011 HD or 2013 HD.

What is best way to transfer info so I retain emails, photos and office files that are stored on 2011 HD? (not tech savvy/ confident so appreciate clear steps).

 

[Juicy Box]

Have you tried booting from the 2011's HDD externally connected to the Late 2013?

Hold the "alt/option" during boot up (before or right at the chime), see if the external drive shows up as being bootable.

The Late 2013 iMacs came with Mountain Lion installed.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you have the old drive in an external enclosure, and it mounts on the desktop on the 2013 iMac... you're already a good way towards "getting where you want to go".

First, you want to "protect the data" on the drive, so be careful not to erase anything.

As Juicy says in the post above, you might even be able to boot from it, give it a try.

Having said that...
The things you want to "get off of" the drive ... such as emails, etc. ... do you want to "import them" into the new iMac?

Not hard to do, although the method may be a little different for email vis-a-vis photos, etc.

Here's a step you should take RIGHT NOW:
1. connect the external drive, let its icon mount on the desktop (don't "open" it)
2. click ONE TIME on the icon to select it
3. bring up the "get info" box (type command-i)
4. at the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your password
5. put a checkmark into "ignore ownership on this volume"
6. close get info.
WHY you did this:
Now you can copy files from the drive (i.e., "from the old iMac"), and whatever you copy will "come under the ownership" of the account on the 2013 iMac. This avoids permissions problems.

The easiest stuff to copy will probably be the "office" docs. Just locate where they were, and copy them over to the newer iMac.

If you're using Photos, I'm thinking you might be able to import the entire library from the other drive. NOT SURE, I'm not much of a Photos user.

If you're using Mail.app, you can also import all the mailboxes. These will be found in the home/library/Mail folder.

Good luck.

 

[Prawnfactor]

If you have the old drive in an external enclosure, and it mounts on the desktop on the 2013 iMac... you're already a good way towards "getting where you want to go".

First, you want to "protect the data" on the drive, so be careful not to erase anything.

As Juicy says in the post above, you might even be able to boot from it, give it a try.

Having said that...
The things you want to "get off of" the drive ... such as emails, etc. ... do you want to "import them" into the new iMac?

Not hard to do, although the method may be a little different for email vis-a-vis photos, etc.

Here's a step you should take RIGHT NOW:
1. connect the external drive, let its icon mount on the desktop (don't "open" it)
2. click ONE TIME on the icon to select it
3. bring up the "get info" box (type command-i)
4. at the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your password
5. put a checkmark into "ignore ownership on this volume"
6. close get info.
WHY you did this:
Now you can copy files from the drive (i.e., "from the old iMac"), and whatever you copy will "come under the ownership" of the account on the 2013 iMac. This avoids permissions problems.

The easiest stuff to copy will probably be the "office" docs. Just locate where they were, and copy them over to the newer iMac.

If you're using Photos, I'm thinking you might be able to import the entire library from the other drive. NOT SURE, I'm not much of a Photos user.

If you're using Mail.app, you can also import all the mailboxes. These will be found in the home/library/Mail folder.

Good luck.

 

[davidlv]

I had a 2011 iMac 27" (1TB)(not sure of OS) that was taken apart to remove dust and cord pulled that shouldn't have been rendering it useless. I have placed internal HD into 3.5" SATA HDD enclosure and plugged into a second hand late 2013 iMac 27" (3TB)(Catalina OS). 1) is there a way I can work out what OS the 2011 HD is using?

2) On the 2013 computer I can see that there are files on the 2011 HD and that it is full. However, I am unable to open emails, photos, (assume due to OS clash). Tried using Migration Assistant and it stated that there wasn't room (not sure if it is referring to the 2011 HD or 2013 HD.

What is best way to transfer info so I retain emails, photos and office files that are stored on 2011 HD? (not tech savvy/ confident so appreciate clear steps).

First, you need to clarify your needs a little:
1. email; You said you need the email on the iMac, what email app are you talking about? Apple's Mail or Outlook?
2. office files; What office files? Excel, Word, Outlook?
Then we can (maybe) help you find those files on the external disk.