Migration from 2008 iMac to 2017 iMac

[southerndoc]

My parents have used a 2008 iMac that I bought them "back in the day." It's outlived itself and has gotten pretty slow.

I recently bought them a 2017 iMac and was thinking the migration of their data/photos etc would be pretty simple. However, I see that the 21.5" 2017 iMac has USB-C Thunderbolt and the 2008 iMac has FireWire 400/800 as well as USB 2.0.

What would be the quickest way to migrate data from one computer to another? Can I connect a CAT6 cable from one RJ45 to another RJ45? Is anyone aware of a FireWire to USB-C cable that would do the trick?

Thanks!

 

[redheeler]

I've used Migration Assistant to transfer over Ethernet before and it worked fine. The other possible solution is a double-dongle: Thunderbolt to Firewire 800 connected to Thunderbolt 3 USB-C to Thunderbolt.

 

[gian8989]

My parents have used a 2008 iMac that I bought them "back in the day." It's outlived itself and has gotten pretty slow.

I recently bought them a 2017 iMac and was thinking the migration of their data/photos etc would be pretty simple. However, I see that the 21.5" 2017 iMac has USB-C Thunderbolt and the 2008 iMac has FireWire 400/800 as well as USB 2.0.

What would be the quickest way to migrate data from one computer to another? Can I connect a CAT6 cable from one RJ45 to another RJ45? Is anyone aware of a FireWire to USB-C cable that would do the trick?

Thanks!

Yes you can. You have to go in setting and activate the sharing ethernet in both.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

You can even do it over WiFi if you want, but Ethernet is likely faster..

Read more: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350

 

[southerndoc]

You can even do it over WiFi if you want, but Ethernet is likely faster..

Read more: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350

I just saw that I can do it with CAT6 without a crossover cable. Will plan to do it that way tonight instead of buying adapters/etc.

 

[Fishrrman]

If ethernet doesn't work out as planned, I'd suggest this:

1. Use an external USB drive.
2. Download CarbonCopyCloner (CCC is FREE to download and FREE to use for the first 30 days)
3. Use CCC to clone the 2008 iMac drive to the external
4. Take the external to the NEW iMac and connect it.
5. Use either setup assistant or migration assistant to migrate the old apps, accounts, data, to the new iMac

Some of the old apps may no longer run. In that case, it's either discard them, upgrade them, or find something else.