Migrating to M4 Mac mini from 2018 i7 Mini - some questions

[AudibleNectar]

OK, so I have my new M4 Mac mini in hand, along with the trade-in box for the old unit to send back, both arrived two days ago.

NO instructions were given aside from how to pack the old one, not even a return shipping label. So I have the equipment but no specifics on how to do this.

I have watched a few YouTubes on migration, seems pretty simple on its face, and as I seek to get some "basic" info before I hound Apple for the send back and prep details for that, I want to attempt to clarify a few things before beginning. If I do end up having to ask Apple to walk me through this, I want to make the most of that call by having the basics covered with the simple stuff. With basic instructions I think I can handle this.....

So questions:

1) Are thunderbolt cables backward compatible? Some of the videos suggest using a thunderbolt 3 cable to link the two up for the data transfer once we get to that stage in the process, I'm wondering when I go buy such cable if I'm going to now be offered a "later" one (TBolt 5? and if those are backward compatible.

2) If I have the two Minis powered up and hooked up to separate monitors, will the associated keyboards get confused and access the other comp? Both are magic keyboards, the new Mini with the Touch ID feature. the other bought with the 2018 mini.

3) Also a bit curious how to manage the removal of the old devices off of the Apple account listing and how to "erase" the devices in such a way that I don't mess up "the whole". Point of fact I still have my 10S Max still listed on the account and haven't removed it from the 16 Pro Max replacement a month ago.....figured there's a proper "order" for this....

Also initially setting up on 1080 screens, got a little bleary eyed on the 4K/5K stuff and wonder if in part I can stay with it, but at least if it is functional for the setup that's the primary concern, even if not optimal.

From what I've been able to find so far it doesn't SEEM too complicated, but don't want to "brick" something in the process, so I figured I would ask here.

If there is a tutorial here that lays all this out I'm more than willing to consume that too

Thanks in advance...

 

[Fishrrman]

Hmmm... did you already set up the NEW Mini?
Create a new account, etc.?
If so, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. (shouting is intentional)

When you migrate to a new Mac from an old one you SHOULD NOT boot it up and run setup UNTIL your backup is ready or the old Mac has been connected.

Important question:
Do you keep a backup drive?

If you don't... do you HAVE a drive that could be used for such purpose?

REASON WHY I'm asking:
I recommend using an external USB3 backup drive as the best way to "do the migration".

You don't yet HAVE a thunderbolt cable, is that correct?
In that case, I suggest you'd do better putting your money towards a backup drive (again, if you don't already have one). You can then use that with the NEW Mini.
I'd recommend a Crucial x9 SSD. I have one, it's "a little gem" of a USB3.1 gen2 SSD -- small and fast.

Hmmm... can't two Minis also be connected using ethernet for a migration?
I've never tried this. Others please jump in and comment.

Also, a migration can be done over wifi... but I don't think it would go quickly.

Again, THIS is why I suggest the external drive.
"Connection glitches" (such as might be encountered over wifi) are removed from the equation, just connect the external backup drive and "go".

Having said all this...
I'm going to continue on the assumption that you HAVE an external drive of some kind.
It could be a backup created with time machine, CarbonCopyCloner, or SuperDuper.

If you don't have a backup, but are willing to "walk this pathway", here's what to do once you have the drive:
Download SuperDuper by clicking the link below:

https://shirt-pocket.com/mint/pepper/orderedlist/downloads/download.php?file=https%3A//shirt-pocket.com/downloads/SuperDuper%21.dmg

Once you have SD, just open it.
SuperDuper is VERY easy to understand and use.
It's also FREE to use for this job.
Just backup the internal drive (old Mini) to the drive.

Then... unpack the new Mini and set it up on the table.
Connect the backup
NOW is the time to press the power on button "for the first time".
Begin setup.
Setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate.
Yes you do, so "point the way" for setup assistant to find the backup drive.

Give SA time to "digest things".
SA will present you with a list of stuff to migrate.
I would suggest that you migrate it all, so just click continue and let SA do the migration.

When done, you should see your old login screen, so...
... log in and "look around".
If things look good to you, you're done.

IF YOU READ THIS FAR,
And if you would like to put the NEW Mini "back to moment zero" (the moment you pressed the power on button for the first time", IT CAN BE EASILY DONE.

But that's a topic for a later reply...

 

[AudibleNectar]

I've done NOTHING at all, aside from attempting to soak up as much info as possible so I don't mess it up. Just doing some study time first....

I DO understand that I'm not setting up a new account, just plugging the new Mac into the existing account and replacing the old one.

I DO have an external drive that I have allowed to be used for Time Machine backups. It's a Samsung 1TB.

One reason I did look into the Thunderbolt idea is that it did seem more foolproof than the Wi-Fi, at least according to the vids I have perused so far., a couple even suggested Thunderbolt over backup drive for idiot proofing and that seemed to have a logic to it....

I do have two monitors so I can see both machines operational at the same time.

Am still curious if the two keyboards (or any one of the two keyboards) will actuate on both machines at the same time if I have them both powered on and tethered with that TB cable.

Minimalist files involved here too, at least on the machine itself, it's a multimedia home PC in effect, not a huge volume to transfer aside from just copying the one comp to the other. Then once I do that I then intend to detach the old from the account and prep it for sending back.

 

[rottnjohn]

1. Thunderbolt cables are backward compatible, with an exception for Thunderbolt 1 and 2 connector types. Get a cable that matches the new mac mini's ports, 4 or 5.

Is Thunderbolt 4 Backwards Compatible? | Cable Matters Blog

With a new cable standard comes the age-old question: Is Thunderbolt 4 backwards compatible? Read on to find out.

www.cablematters.com

The Simple Guide to Thunderbolt Forwards and Backwards Compatibility

Will your old Thunderbolt drives and dock work with your new Thunderbolt PC or Mac? Will your old PC or Mac work with your old Thunderbolt devices? Here's how to know for sure.

eshop.macsales.com

(scroll way down for the cable comments)

2. Use the lightning cable to connect the older magic keyboard to the older mac mini. My understanding is the "source" mac needs to booted in "Target" mode so its disk can be mounted by the new mac. Using a backup drive as previously recommended is much more foolproof, even though it seems like an extra step, go that route.

3. "What to do before you sell or trade-in your mac"

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 a new owner.

support.apple.com

Hope that helps

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I simply used Wi-Fi for my migration. Took a couple of hours… less time (and cost) than it’d take to go buy a TB cable.

You can also migrate from Time Machine which has the benefit of validating your backup.

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:

Ok, based on your reply 3 above, I'd suggest this:

On the OLD Mini (I have a 2018 Mini, also), connect your backup and run it "one last time", so that everything on the backup is current.

Get the NEW Mini set up and ready-to-go (display, keyboard, etc.).
Take the backup from the old Mini and connect it to the NEW one.

Press the power on button, let it boot to setup assistant.
Begin setup.

At the appropriate moment, SA will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive.
YES, so "point the way" to the backup and let SA examine it.

SA will present you with a list of stuff that can be migrated.
The 2018 isn't "old", I'd suggest you just "migrate it all".

Turn setup assistant loose and let it do the job.
When done (as mentioned above), you should see your old login screen, so check out the migration and make sure it's ok.

That's really all there is to it.

BE AWARE that some apps might need updating.
But if you were using a "recent" OS on the 2018 Mini, most should still run fine.
You MIGHT need "Rosetta2" -- this will download and install automatically if needed.
It runs ONLY when needed, otherwise won't affect anything.

Good luck, if you try this let us know how it goes.

 

[bapegg]

I did a Time Machine backup on my 2018 Mini to an external SSD. I then powered the 2018 down and hooked the new M4 Mini up to my monitors and hubs. I connected the external backup drive to the new mini and then powered it up. I followed the on screen instructions to setup up the new Mac from a Time Machine backup. Everything transferred quickly and with no issues.

This method is super simple as long as you have an external drive for your 2018 Mini Time Machine backups. Just swap the external drive from the old mini to the new mini. Easy peasy.

I have since moved the 2018 mini to another desk, updated it to Sequoia and it runs 24/7 along with my new M4 mini I haven't had any issues with the two magic keyboards or mice getting mixed up or trying to reconnect to the wrong mini the rebooting either after updates.

 

[AudibleNectar]

OK, we got it

In the midst of the holiday weekend of work and events, I ended up in a Best Buy and started asking questions, and saw the post here above regarding the thunderbolt backward compatibility, so I went ahead and bought the 1M T5 cable.

I then ended up assembling the various versions of instructions - seemed that Apple was having people use the migration assistant and so I went that route - figured if I brick it I did it "Apple's Way". I culled together what was said here, and what I could find via Apple's YouTube channel as well as in their help files (some posted here), and pieced a coherent approach together. Keyboard handshakes, etc etc etc....

Took a bit to get the "order" right on the migration assistant but it all ended up good. Everything seems to work, even the HDMI "quirk" the 2018 Mini had, so that frees up a TBolt terminal as I was using two on the old setup, one to the theater and another to my main monitor and desktop. Now I can actually use an HDMI as intended and allow another Bolt terminal to be freed up. Passwords etc etc etc all seem to function properly.

Located the specific Mac mini instructions for the Intel/T2 Macs and got that erased and restored. As it turned out, the shipping label was slickly designed to be peeled back, revealing the return label below, but only found that by accident as I attempted to peel off the old one (so I wouldn't get its back) and the peel-back feature revealed itself.

So I'm off to Fed-Ex to drop the trade-in, pieced it all together thanks to your tips plus Apple and YouTube vids.

It was odd not getting any instructions on the return trade but we all pieced it together and are off and running.

SLIIIIIIIIIIICK device.