Migration Assistant between two MB Pros: Sync OS Version?

[Christopher11]

Hi. I've acquired a nice vintage 2007 MB Pro 17" with 4GB of RAM and 250GB HD. I plan to use it for Word editing, mail, and other non essential stuff, and keep my 2012 MB Pro as my main work horse. I want to migrate my user profile and apps, especially non music ones, but it keeps getting stuck when I attempt to do this. I told it to migrate all applications and info, but not files... Migration Assistant tells me About A Minute Remaining but gets stuck for a long time.

The old MB Pro runs 10.5.2, and I run Yosemite 10.10.5 on my new MB Pro (it's best for Logic and my current music apps right now). I thought I should update the older mac to the same OS. 10.10.5. Do you think that will allow me to migrate my apps and user data?

Thanks so much for any reply.

 

[CoastalOR]

I thought I should update the older mac to the same OS. 10.10.5. Do you think that will allow me to migrate my apps and user data?

Yes, I think it will.

I think there is too much of a transition from 10.5 to 10.10 for Migration Assistant to work properly. You could try downloading Yosemite 10.10.5 (BTW, 10.10.5 is NOT Mavericks, it is Yosemite) from your 2012 MBP (App Store - Purchased tab) and make a USB installer to use for your 2007 MBP.

 

[Christopher11]

Yes you're quite right, I meant to say Yosemite, thank you. Okay, do you feel there may be a way for me to upgrade to Yosemite from the older MB Pro itself? I'm updating it now, but it doesn't go very high via Software Update. Thank you again for your response. Coastal Oregon seems like the coolest place by the way, lucky you.

 

[CoastalOR]

Yes you're quite right, I meant to say Yosemite, thank you. Okay, do you feel there may be a way for me to upgrade to Yosemite from the older MB Pro itself? I'm updating it now, but it doesn't go very high via Software Update. Thank you again for your response. Coastal Oregon seems like the coolest place by the way, lucky you.

Before updating to Yosemite, I would recommend making a backup of the 2007 MBP using Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper if you want to save anything from the 2007 MBP.

Make a USB installer, per the link in my previous post, and then boot from the Yosemite USB installer to install Yosemite. Once Yosemite is installed, then you can use Migration Assistant to copy your apps and user data to the 2007 MBP.

 

[Christopher11]

Makes sense and thank you again. I will do all this, but have run into another issue. Apple for the first time ever tells me my iTunes account is deactivated. Of course I go to resolve this... when they ask me to answer security question it's my birthday. I enter this in the right format, but they tell me it doesn't match their records. (?? I know my own birthday). When I choose send an email (they have my correct email address), they don't send it. I tried yesterday also. They don't send the email. I don't know what gives with Apple, but I don't believe I can see my purchase history and d/l mavericks until I get back into my account. Wacky.


p.s. also when I go to this page: https://iforgot.apple.com/appleid#!&section=appleid it comes back "The Page You're Looking For Can Not Be Found" and that's an Apple page. Apple has gone full incompetent with this ID issue, and seems to have no mechanism to sort it out.

 

[CoastalOR]

Try calling them on the telephone. I had something similar happen to me. I had no record of answering any security questions and the first security question was one that I would never choose because the answer changes with time "What was your favorite car?". I tried to answer, but it didn't work. I ended up calling AppleCare and they reset the security questions so I could select new questions to answer. Good luck!

 

[Christopher11]

Thanks brother. I did call them, the lady was very helpful, and I was able to get a new password and sign in to app store with my Apple ID. My issue is, I bought my 2012 MB Pro a year ago and it came with Yosemite installed. Thus, it's not available to me in Purchase History.

I tried to update my 2007 MB Pro last night, all night I left it installing just 10.5.8... and it stayed in the same place "Configuring Update" no progress. I'm afraid this 2007 Intel MB Pro might just be a bust, if I can't get at least Mavericks on it. I texted the tech who traded it (it wasn't a sale, we traded for a PC I had), and he suggested connecting directly to the router via ethernet cable. He said wifi may not work for updates?

But I don't understand why Apple wouldn't try to update the computer to Mavericks right away, instead of 10.5.8... since tha't still frightfully old even if it does succeed. So, any advice much appreciated on this old MacBook. I hope it's not a total bust for me.

Thank you again sincerely for your advice to call Apple. It worked.

 

[CoastalOR]

How about trying something different. You will need a external USB Hard Drive formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC has a fully functional 30 day trial period).
1. Download and install CCC on your 2012 MBP.
2. Connect the formatted external HD to the 2012 MBP. Launch CCC and clone the 2012 MBP to the external (let CCC clone your Recovery partition also).Eject the external HD after the clone is complete.
3. Connect the external HD to the 2007 MBP and boot from it pressing the option key at startup. Be patient during startup since the 2007 MBP will be accessing the external HD at USB 2 speed. If the 2007 MBP seems to work ok booting from Yosemite, then use CCC launched from the external HD and clone (WARNING: this will wipe all data off of your 2007 MBP) the external HD to the internal drive of the 2007 MBP.

Here is a link to a pdf of CCC instructions if you need it:
http://bombich.scdn1.secure.raxcdn.com/sites/default/files/bulk_pdf/ccc4-documentation-en.pdf

 

[Christopher11]

CoastalOR your replies are so exceedingly helpful, thank you! I did an exact copy of my MB Pro 2012 yesterday to an external drive using SuperDuper. I made it bootable. Could that work for this purpose? The only thing is, the drive on the 2007 Mac is 250 GB, and my 2012 Mac is 1 TB. But of course I don't need all files, etc... just a basic user profile and apps.

No worries on the data on the 2007. There's nothing I care about on it yet.

 

[CoastalOR]

CoastalOR your replies are so exceedingly helpful, thank you! I did an exact copy of my MB Pro 2012 yesterday to an external drive using SuperDuper. I made it bootable. Could that work for this purpose? The only thing is, the drive on the 2007 Mac is 250 GB, and my 2012 Mac is 1 TB. But of course I don't need all files, etc... just a basic user profile and apps.
No worries on the data on the 2007. There's nothing I care about on it yet.

You are welcome.

Using Super Duper could work. I have not used Super Duper for many years, so I'm not sure if there is enough control to limit what you clone back. If the clone is more than 250 GB then it may be harder not to exceed the capacity of the 2007 drive. I guess you could start deleting files from the clone drive to use less space. How much space does the clone take on the external drive?

Another issue is that Super Duper does not clone the Recovery partition, so your 2007 will not have a 650 MB Yosemite Recovery partition. CCC will allow you to clone the Recovery partition.

Information about Recovery mode:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314
http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-reinstall-mac-os-x-using-internet-recovery-3593641/
http://www.techradar.com/how-to/com...mac-boot-up-problems-in-recovery-mode-1305641
http://www.idownloadblog.com/2016/02/24/how-to-start-mac-recovery-mode/

Of course I'm assuming that your 2012 MBP has a Recovery partition installed. You could test by booting the 2012 holding down the command + r keys.