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skwij

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 10, 2006
322
0
Belleville, ON, Canada
I'm in the process of installing a new, 500 GB HDD into the Macbook. The OS is installed onto the new HDD but I haven't actually put the drive into the Macbook.

I don't want to just use Migration Assistant to migrate all my user settings over, as there's some wonky stuff going on with my account. Plus, I want to use Safari4 rather than Safari3 which I'm using now, with plugins and addons.

I've got all my apps/dmgs backed up, and a current Time Machine backup, but again, don't want to just import everything.

So how do I get my passwords etc migrated over? Can I use Keychain from the old HDD and just copy/paste the relevent files? If so, what files?

Basically, I want iTunes settings, all iLife apps, all iWork apps, my backed up dmgs and registrations, my VMware installs (Win XPproSP2 and Vista Ultimate), my firefox logins, my foxmarks install, my documents, my perian settings etc without bringing over the plugins, etc.

Will I have to redownload the Blackberry Desktop Manager and Tetherberry into a new VMware? Or will the whole VMware environment migrate over?

Sorry if this post seems a little scattered, but it's late where I am and I've just got in from some AWESOME wings'n'beers.
 
Your Safari bookmarks are in a plist you can copy over
~/Library/Safari/Bookmarks.plist
Export your FF bookmarks ... Bookmarks >> Organize Bookmarks (highlight "All Bookmarks") click the star and choose backup.

Passwords are in your "Keychain" ~/Library/Keychains
When you have it on the other HDD I believe you want to double click it not put it back. Double clicking will import it, I am not sure if it will crap itself or not if you just replace the default one so don't just to be safe.

iTunes settings ... ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.plist
You are on your own for copying the files and apps.
VMWare is self contained you shouldn't notice any thing except it asking if you copied or moved the VM and maybe reinstalling the tools if you have an upgraded version.

For everything else look in ~/Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Application Support.

Do a search in the Application support folder for the app folder of the program you are looking to backup.
Do a search in the Preferences folder for the app (usually com.Company.AppName.plist) of the program you are looking to backup.

Put them in the appropriate folder when done, preferably after you have started the apps once so it makes the appropriate folders itself.
 
Sorry for such a tardy "thank you" for your great reply.

Life's been insane here so I'm only now getting around to actually doing this. I'm using Foxmarks for Safari and Firefox so I'm not so worried about the bookmarks themselves, just the passwords. Also the registrations for my applications I've bought, etc.

Tomorrow's the big day; wish me luck ;)
 
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