Just bought my first Mac in 12 years !!

[FrenchPB]

The time has finally come. I've replaced my mid-2011 27-inch iMac (intel i5, 2,7 Ghz) which I upgraded to 12 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD over the years !!

In the end, I chose the new Mac Mini M2 Pro with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB SSD, which I got with a 15% special discount from my local retailers.

I will connect this Mac Mini to my 65-inch LG C1, and use my 2011 wireless keyboard and trackpad.

I guess the difference in speed will be huge, even though my RAM and SSD upgrades were already noticeable on my iMac.
I will also discover a new operating system.

I intend to transfer my files using my external harddrive, and do it manually step by step and start fresh.
Would you guys have any advice to secure that process ? For intance, can I simply copy/ paste the Photos and iTunes libraries from the old Mac to the new ones ? Since I've been stuck with an older version of Mac OS and Mac softwares, I was wondering whether there'd be any issue.

 

[Fishrrman]

There may be an issue with "permissions", unless you take the following steps:

1. Connect the external hard drive and let it mount on the desktop.

2. Click ONE TIME on the drive 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 new password (the one you're using on the new Mac)

5. Put a check into "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing and permissions)

6. Close get info.

Now you can copy whatever you want, and what's copied will "come under the ownership" of your NEW account on the new Mac.
(Even though you might use the same username and password on the new Mac, the OS will still think stuff from the old Mac is "alien" unless you fix the permissions issue, as above)

 

[hobowankenobi]

There may be some issues with upgrading so many versions in one go. Don't forget that by moving to an external, you are making a copy, so you can test importing. If things don't go as expected, you can delete from the external and/or the new mini, as you have your originals still on the old Mac. You can try the import fairly risk free.

Along those lines, you could also try the Migration tool to move the entire user account, which does a good job with permissions.

If the migration fails or is not complete, you could delete the failed account from new mini (again, you have the origianals unchanged), so the only risk is wasted time.

To do this, I would:

1. Create a new admin account on the new Mac that has a different name. Call it admin or test or something.
2. Log into the new test admin account, and run the Migration Assistant to move your primary account over from the old Mac (I would not move anything else, as it is likely too old to be useful).
3. When complete, log out of the admin account, and log into the new/migrated account.
4. Test everything, especially Music and Photos, to verify everything good.
5. If there are any deal breakers, you have the option to log out of the migrated account, and log into the test/admin user...and then delete the migrated account...and try again.

An important point is that once you update any of the database-based applications (Mail, Calendar, Music, Photos, etc), you can't open them again on an older Mac. They only migrate forward, not backward. So it is important to keep the old/original version (or a backup) until you are sure the migration/update is successful and complete.

 

[FrenchPB]

I am afraid of using the migration assistant because my current OS/ apps are so old, but I understand permissions and databases in apps like Photos and iTunes is a tricky question.
What would be the easiest and cleanest way to transfer those files ?
I have a couple of external harddrives I could use. I was thinking of a SuperDuper! carbon copy of my Macintosh HD. I could maybe use that and migration assistant on only a small selection of files ?

Thanks for all your advices.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I was thinking of a SuperDuper! carbon copy of my Macintosh HD"

Download SuperDuper from this link:

https://www.shirt-pocket.com/mint/pepper/orderedlist/downloads/download.php?file=https://www.shirt-pocket.com/downloads/SuperDuper%21.dmg

It's free to use for your purpose.

SD is VERY easy to understand and use.
Use it to create a cloned backup of your OLD Mac.

Now... take that clone to the NEW Mac and connect it.
Then... DO WHAT I ADVISED in reply 2 above.
Now you have overcome permissions.

It's UP TO YOU what you want to do next.

What you do depends on WHAT KIND of files you need to move over.

Photos...
Are you going to use the "Photos" app on the new Mac?
Then, I'm thinking you could just import your pics from the cloned backup.

Music...
Are you going to use the "Music" app?
Again, you could try importing from the old drive.

BE AWARE that you CAN STILL KEEP USING iTUNES if you wish.
You need to download a free utility called "Retroactive" which will install a copy of iTunes and get it running. That's what I did (I don't care for "Music").

Other stuff:
Will depend on the app that created them.

Apps...
It's possible that SOME old apps may still run. Perhaps just a few.
My advice is to connect the cloned backup, and try running the apps from the applications folder ON THE BACKUP to see what happens.
You just have to try things to see what works, and what doesn't.

 

[hobowankenobi]

I am afraid of using the migration assistant because my current OS/ apps are so old, but I understand permissions and databases in apps like Photos and iTunes is a tricky question.
What would be the easiest and cleanest way to transfer those files ?
I have a couple of external harddrives I could use. I was thinking of a SuperDuper! carbon copy of my Macintosh HD. I could maybe use that and migration assistant on only a small selection of files ?

Thanks for all your advices.

Sure...you can do that. You could also just do a Time Machine backup to external, and restore from that via the Migration Assistant. With TM, you could just backup your user's Home directory too. You can't be selective wth SuperDuper (the free version) last time I checked...it copies the entire boot drive.

Regardless of the method/tool, it is non-destructive to the old machine. The data/format updates happen on the new computer, most of which are after you log in and open each app. You will get a prompt, and the files get updated and then open...regardless of how you get them to the new computer.

The only time it is destructive (changes are made that cannot be easily undone) is when you upgrade the files on the same Mac during an OS update. In that case, always wise to have a full backup before the updates happen, that you can roll back to if needed. In this case—migrating/copying data to a new Mac—the old Mac remains unchanged.

No matter what you do, you have to open the old files on the new Mac, which triggers the update. No risk in doing it. Worst case: the results are not acceptable, and you try a different way. No need to be afraid of the Migration Assistant...it does not really migrate (move) anything, it copies things.

 

[ChrisA]

I intend to transfer my files using my external harddrive, and do it manually step by step and start fresh.

When you setup the new Mac, it will ask you if you want to restore your data from a Time Machine backup.

This is by far the best way to go.

If you have to ask "can I copy/paste?" then my answer is "no you shouldn't. If you have a good time machine backup it "just works".

A 65" screen seems too large, You will need to sit quite a distance from it

Even if you don't have an TM backup why would you use an externals drive? Use the network. And just drag the folders from one Mac to the other.

 

[FrenchPB]

I am afraid using a Time Machine backup might bring a lot of useless stuffs on the new computer, which is why I wanted to start "fresh". I just need my Photos and iTunes library on the new versions basically. I will reinstall my softwares with newer versions.

 

[satcomer]

To the op, sense you got your first new Silicon Mac you have to do your homework in getting either Universal (can run Silicon or Intel Mac) for pure silicon version of software!

My favorite either Universal or pure Silicon apps:

Onyx - Universal free software that I run the Maintenance routines about once every 2-3 months sense I sleep my Mac every night!

The shareware iStat Menus - Finder menu Universal software that shows what monitors you want to run in the Finder Menu!

Cyberduck - Universal application to do ssh, ftp, sure FTP, to cloud servers through the GUI easily without being a code monkey!

Etrecheck Pro to do system maintenance through a GUI!

GraphicConverter -Shareware picture converting to trim picture to cloud storage space and enhance along the way!

LibreaOffice - Free Office software instead of MicroOffice expensive yearly rates! It even saves in MSOffice formates to if your want to! You just have to download the put silicone version!

Meterologist - A free weather finder menu program tom get weather information!

SomaFM Radio - Radio station from all over Sure, Canada, America and Far East and is free!

TinkerTool - So you don't have to code monkey to hack your Mac and is free!

VLC - Free video player that plays most videos you own and is free!