is it worth the effort to avoid setup/migration assistant

[therealseebs]

I'd probably wait to see how the migration goes. It does seem like it's running longer than expected, but I've seen worse.

 

[maflynn]

2. Then on new computer cleanup auto start apps. CPU cycles restored, SSD still used by "useless" apps.

I prefer the clean install method. I reinstall my apps, and restore my data. That way I'm sure only the apps that I need now will be installed. Also the cruft that builds up in places like the ~/Library is not copied over

 

[Marshall73]

I prefer the clean install method. I reinstall my apps, and restore my data. That way I'm sure only the apps that I need now will be installed. Also the cruft that builds up in places like the ~/Library is not copied over

+1 to this. Migration tool is super slow compared to a fresh start. I normally take a full system backup to an external drive (I have an SSD in a USB 3 caddy for this) using carbon copy cloner. Then setup the new Mac and copy everything over that I need. All of my files are on my NAS and/or in iCloud Drive/OneDrive or Dropbox.

I backup my messages separately and restore them manually, they are up to 6GB now, LOL.

I think it took me just under an hour to be fully up and running on my new Mac.

 

[msim20]

I tend to agree that you should abandon the concept of "migration", which doesn't seem to be working for you. Try this instead. It -will- work

Thank you for the detailed advise. I did a clean install and have installed most of the apps. Still to move the content of many a folders. But my laptop is now functional. Tedious task. At least for me.

Thanks for all the help here!

 

[Easttime]

I opted for starting from scratch. I just backup the old computer to an external drive so if there is anything I need I can transfer...but for most of my devices I do this. Feel I don't want to bring forward anything I am no longer using, or may cause issue with the new OS. YMMV

I've ended up installing from scratch on Macs four times this year and found it very easy. I back up the old drive to an external drive using Carbon Copy Cloner then start the new Mac. So much data is in iCloud now that much of the restore is just a matter of throwing iCloud switches. Office 365 is an easy install. Most of my apps are already purchased in the App Store, just need to re-download them with single clicks. Those that aren't are easy to install. Then it only takes an hour or so to drag data from the CCC clone drive of the old machine. Much cleaner than inheriting old stuff, and it is amazing how little of old data I really need. It's there on the old drive clone if I do though.