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Migration and SSD query…

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Warped9

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 27, 2018
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Brockville, Ontario.
I have two questions regarding separate issues. But they’re both related to upgrading from an older 2011 21.5 iMac running High Sierra to a new M3 iMac.

Most likely I will be ordering an M3 iMac with 24GB RAM and at least 512GB SSD. So the first question relates to SSD. As I understand it, unless I‘m mistaken, the base 256 SSD is supposedly slower than the larger options (which mightn’t even be noticeable in the real world). And since I already have 500GB SSD on my current iMac I certainly wouldn’t want less. But are the SSD options progressively faster, or not, as they get larger? Or am I misunderstanding something?

Secondly is the issue of data transfer. Has anyone here done migration wirelessly using Migration Assistant to setup their new computer? How well does it work? Or is iCloud backup/migration better? Or perhaps Time Machine backup to an external drive then use that to setup the new computer?

Thoughts anyone?
 
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The slowest disk in an M3 iMac is much faster than the SSD in your 2011 iMac. Nevertheless, I suggest you get at least 512GB in your new iMac just because you will want to use it for more stuff.

Regarding migration, I would be very wary of using Migration Assistant across differing macOS versions and certainly between High Sierra and Sonoma. Much better to start with the vanilla macOS, and then install apps (in many case, newer versions than on the old Mac), enable Mail, cloud sync services, etc. And copy your data files (documents, photos, etc.) from the old Mac to the new - that could be via TM (using Finder not the glossy TM interface), a simple folder/file copy to a blank disk, or file sharing. Don't rush the changeover.

But word of caution, do not let the new Mac modify your current TM disk in any way - just in case you need to restore to the old Mac.
 
gilby101 said:
The slowest disk in an M3 iMac is much faster than the SSD in your 2011 iMac. Nevertheless, I suggest you get at least 512GB in your new iMac just because you will want to use it for more stuff.

Regarding migration, I would be very wary of using Migration Assistant across differing macOS versions and certainly between High Sierra and Sonoma. Much better to start with the vanilla macOS, and then install apps (in many case, newer versions than on the old Mac), enable Mail, cloud sync services, etc. And copy your data files (documents, photos, etc.) from the old Mac to the new - that could be via TM (using Finder not the glossy TM interface), a simple folder/file copy to a blank disk, or file sharing. Don't rush the changeover.

But word of caution, do not let the new Mac modify your current TM disk in any way - just in case you need to restore to the old Mac.
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Well it goes without saying some of my stuff isn’t going to cross over. I’ll need to get SketchUp optimized for Apple Silicon. What I don’t like about that is I cannot buy SketchUp Pro, but will have get a subscription. But I can install a new version of Microsoft Office Home & Student. And I’m sure there will be other programs I’ll need newer versions of.

It probably would be simpler to use a backup to transfer files and stuff. But I was impressed by the smooth wireless transfer/setup from my old iPad Pro 10.5 to my new iPad Air 5 a year ago. Same with my old iPhone 8+ to my current iPhone 14 last August. I was thinking it would be nice if I could do the same from my old Mac to new, but my current Mac is quite a bit older.

Why not the use Time Machine interface?

I intend to keep my old iMac for awhile at least. I have the room and a cool dry place to store it.
 
Warped9 said:
Secondly is the issue of data transfer. Has anyone here done migration wirelessly using Migration Assistant to setup their new computer? How well does it work? Or is iCloud backup/migration better? Or perhaps Time Machine backup to an external drive then use that to setup the new computer?

Thoughts anyone?
Click to expand...
Are you getting the new iMac that has the physical Ethernet port? If so, you can temporarily attached the old iMac to the new iMac (don’t worry about the network) via an Ethernet cable and run migration assistant via that hardware link. I’ve had very good results with that process (and avoids sending gobs of data over a network)
 
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Chuckeee said:
Are you getting the new iMac that has the physical Ethernet port? If so, you can temporarily attached the old iMac to the new iMac (don’t worry about the network) via an Ethernet cable and run migration assistant via that hardware link. I’ve had very good results with that process (and avoids sending gobs of data over a network)
Click to expand...
You mean the gigabit ethernet in the block? Yeah, and I want the 8/10 core version and not the base version. Didn’t know I could do that via hard wire connection. That would simply things.
 
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I would get a 1tb SSD, not 512gb.
You're going to need the extra space in time.

24gb of RAM is a good idea.

Re migration:
What follows is my opinion only.

The best way to migrate is to use an external USB3 drive (either platter-based or SSD).

I would recommend that you use SuperDuper (which is free to use for this purpose) to create a cloned backup of your old Mac's drive onto the USB drive.

Then, BEFORE YOU BOOT THE NEW MAC FOR THE FIRST TIME (shouting intentional), connect the backup so that it's "ready and waiting".

Now press the power on button for the first time and begin setup.

At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another drive -- YES, you do. So "aim" setup assistant at the external backup and give it time to digest everything (it will take a few mins).

Setup assistant will present you with a list of stuff to be migrated:
applications
accounts
settings
data

There are two ways to proceed here.

Since you're coming from an OLD Mac, chances are many 3rd-party apps you're using may not be compatible with the new OS.

So... the one way to proceed is to UNCHECK the options to migrate the apps, but migrate everything else.

The "other way" would be to migrate everything (apps included), and then delete the apps that won't run.

It's your choice -- no one else can make this for you.

How a friend did this:
He had a cloned backup (as I recommend).
He migrated everything EXCEPT the apps (this migrates user settings as well).
Now, he could try running apps from the cloned backup, to see if they would work or not.
If an app worked, he just "copied it by hand" from the old applications folder to the new one. The app settings were "already there" in his account folder.
If an app didn't work, it didn't get migrated.

Again, your choice.

Good luck!
Again, I recommend the 1tb drive if you're willing to pay a little more.
 
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^^ I have Carbon Copy Cloner I used when I replaced my old HDD with my current SSD, so that issue is taken care of. It worked great and took about 3/4 hour to complete. Your approach sounds very good.

I was planning on likely ordering with 1TB SSD.
 
As I understand it, Migration Assistant will move everything, including software codes for purchased apps. An argument is you do carry over all your previous junk, but you are spared the ordeal of re entering pruchase codes. I am hopimg I can do my Transisiton via Thunderbolt…We’ll see. I agree with the suggestion to have your old COMPUTER UP AND RUNNING AND CONNECTED when you start up you new one.
 
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BillyBurke said:
As I understand it, Migration Assistant will move everything, including software codes for purchased apps. An argument is you do carry over all your previous junk, but you are spared the ordeal of re entering pruchase codes. I am hopimg I can do my Transisiton via Thunderbolt…We’ll see. I agree with the suggestion to have your old COMPUTER UP AND RUNNING AND CONNECTED when you start up you new one.
Click to expand...
When I did the transfer from my old iPad Pro 10.5 to my current iPad Air 5 it moved everything including Keychain, email settings and all so that I didn’t have to re-enter everything and could just start using the new device with few hiccups. Ditto with upgrade from my iPhone 8+ to my current iPhone 14. That sort of transfer/migration is sweet. If I can do that with migrating my stuff from my old Mac to new it would be great.

I’m not too worried about carrying over junk given I generally don’t let much junk accumulate and do periodic cleanups.
 
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I just finished cleaning up after my Migration from a 2019 Intel to my new M3 iMac. The only real issue I had with the Migration was that it carried over a couple of extra User Folders I had accidentally created. I have the 1TB SSD and couldn't figure out why I was showing so much capacity being used until I figured I had duplications via the extra User Folders. You can't simply move these folders around because they are "required by the System", but you CAN delete them.

You can move the FILES inside these folders to a proper place in your New User Folder and then delete the older User Folder. My potentially catastrophic setup had me using a Documents folder from one User Folder and most everything else from a different User Folder.

I never could get Thunderbolt working correctly even though is showed I was connected via Thunderbolt. My transfer rate never even hit 1GPS. I read somewhere that in order to create a real Thunderbolt connection you had to have them on a common IP network. An issue for another day.

And..that first backup you do with your new iMac will take a long time because it is a "new" backup instead of an incremental one.
 
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I went for 16 just to be safe. Nice, bigger, better , brighter screen. Snappier, but not wold changing so..
 
BillyBurke said:
I went for 16 just to be safe. Nice, bigger, better , brighter screen. Snappier, but not wold changing so..
Click to expand...
My intent is to get an M3 iMac with 24/1TB. Compared to what I have now I expect it to be faster in every respect as well as nicer and bigger display (although I have no complaints with my current 21.5). Touch ID might be nice. And a very cool blue or green colour as opposed to my current silver with big black bezels.

I want 24GB RAM for my 3D modelling.
 
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I created a problem that ultimately led me to erase and reinstall from my normal backup. I erased ( partially it seems) the extra User Folders instead of deleting them via the Users and Groups. Some of the files, about 5gb worth, would not erase because they were still tethered to the System in some way. In order to finally get rid of the semi trashed folder, I did an erase and reinstall from my backup. Now,all seems to be working fine. One tedious bit was reaffirming all the Credit Cards I had in the Wallet.
 
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Rereading this thread it looks like creating a bootable copy of my 2011 iMac and plugging that in before starting up my new iMac looks like the most sensible way to go.

Things I’ll have to address afterword:
- installing a new copy of Microsoft Office Home & Student.
- installing an upgraded version of SketchUp Pro optimized for Apple Silicon.
- installing an updated version of Monolingual, if available.

Another question I have regards iTunes, which no longer exists on current Macs. I assume your music is reorganized within the existing Music app. I hope it carries over playlists.
 
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OP wrote:
"Another question I have regards iTunes, which no longer exists on current Macs."

No.
You can STILL USE iTunes with new m-series Macs, if you want to.

How to do it:
Use the free utility "Retroactive" to install and modify iTunes. I've tried it and it works all the way up to Sonoma (Retroactive may tell you that it's "untested" for Sonoma, but it still does the job).

Get it here:
github.com

Release Retroactive 2.0 · cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive

Retroactive 2.0 improves compatibility with macOS Ventura and macOS Monterey: Resolves a problem where iPhoto quits unexpectedly on macOS Monterey 12.3 or later Fixes an issue where Full Disk Acce...
github.com github.com
 
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Fishrrman said:
OP wrote:
"Another question I have regards iTunes, which no longer exists on current Macs."

No.
You can STILL USE iTunes with new m-series Macs, if you want to.

How to do it:
Use the free utility "Retroactive" to install and modify iTunes. I've tried it and it works all the way up to Sonoma (Retroactive may tell you that it's "untested" for Sonoma, but it still does the job).

Get it here:
github.com

Release Retroactive 2.0 · cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive

Retroactive 2.0 improves compatibility with macOS Ventura and macOS Monterey: Resolves a problem where iPhoto quits unexpectedly on macOS Monterey 12.3 or later Fixes an issue where Full Disk Acce...
github.com github.com
Click to expand...
I am definitely going to try that!
 
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