New iMac coming... Time Machine Backup Question

[Jashue]

I can't believe I don't already know the answer myself this inquiry, but I am in uncharted waters in my current situation, so I figured I'd seek counsel here. Furthermore, an internet search yields a million links solving similar problems, but not mine specifically.

In week or so I'll be receiving a 2020 model to replace my dead 2011. I have a Time Machine volume ready to go when the new machine arrives. What exactly is the process? Do I plug the thing into the new Mac before I boot it up for the first time, or can I do it anytime thereafter? The old machine was running High Sierra, I believe, so there will be some wrinkles with regard to Music/iTunes. I'm wondering if that will go smoothly. Also... I have all sorts of legacy crap on my old machine (iPhoto folders containing only God knows what that I never dared to delete). I'm assuming that will be migrated to the new machine, and I wonder if I wouldn't be better off without it.

I could probably get away with firing up the new machine like it was the first computer I've ever owned, then dragging and dropping everything from my redundant backup drive (documents, music and other media). iCloud will take care of a lot of other things, I suppose (photos, passwords etc). But I wonder what I'd be missing from my old machine? There might be stuff that I am not anticipating to be lost if I went the drag and drop route. It's been so long since I've had access to my old iMac (three months now?) that I can't be sure.

Anyone?

 

[ZBoater]

I could probably get away with firing up the new machine like it was the first computer I've ever owned, then dragging and dropping everything from my redundant backup drive (documents, music and other media). iCloud will take care of a lot of other things, I suppose (photos, passwords etc). But I wonder what I'd be missing from my old machine?

This is what I am planning on doing. Even though I have a 2015 MPB running Catalina, I am setting up my new iMac as a brand new computer. I don’t want to bring over any “crap” from the old system. This will inevitably result in more work for me, copying things manually and resetting things, but I rather not bring over something that might impact or break my new iMac. So I won’t be doing a restore. More of a selective copying. If I miss anything, I always have the time machine backup I can go back into, no bid deal.

 

[chscag]

In your situation with a Time Machine backup from such an old system, and like you say, with lots of legacy stuff loaded on it, I would not use the Migration Assistant at all.

Probably best to setup the new machine fresh and little by little load what you need on it from the Time Machine backup. All your legacy 32 bit stuff is not going to work anyway. You can copy all your music and photos to the new machine.

The other option is when you first turn on your new iMac and BEFORE creating an account on it, it will ask if you wish to migrate from an older or another Mac. That's when you can attach your Time Machine backup and let it migrate. I have done exactly that several times and it works well.

The only problem with doing it that way is it also carries over lots of fluff and stuff from the old system that you probably don't need.

 

[Jashue]

In your situation with a Time Machine backup from such an old system, and like you say, with lots of legacy stuff loaded on it, I would not use the Migration Assistant at all.

Probably best to setup the new machine fresh and little by little load what you need on it from the Time Machine backup. All your legacy 32 bit stuff is not going to work anyway. You can copy all your music and photos to the new machine.

The other option is when you first turn on your new iMac and BEFORE creating an account on it, it will ask if you wish to migrate from an older or another Mac. That's when you can attach your Time Machine backup and let it migrate. I have done exactly that several times and it works well.

The only problem with doing it that way is it also carries over lots of fluff and stuff from the old system that you probably don't need.

That's what I was thinking. The most glaring issue I have with that is music play lists and ratings. I've spent what seems like a lifetime curating my music library and it seems a shame to loose all that.

 

[ZBoater]

That's what I was thinking. The most glaring issue I have with that is music play lists and ratings. I've spent what seems like a lifetime curating my music library and it seems a shame to loose all that.

You can copy that over manually and preserve your playlists and music information.

 

[Jashue]

This is what I am planning on doing. Even though I have a 2015 MPB running Catalina, I am setting up my new iMac as a brand new computer. I don’t want to bring over any “crap” from the old system. This will inevitably result in more work for me, copying things manually and resetting things, but I rather not bring over something that might impact or break my new iMac. So I won’t be doing a restore. More of a selective copying. If I miss anything, I always have the time machine backup I can go back into, no bid deal.

So if I understand you correctly, the new machine will have access to the Time Machine backup even though that backup isn't associated with it? I didn't know that.

 

[ZBoater]

So if I understand you correctly, the new machine will have access to the Time Machine backup even though that backup isn't associated with it? I didn't know that.

Yes, you can open the files/folders and copy the files manually from any time machine backup. You’ll be using Finder, not the Time Machine app.

 

[ADGrant]

I found iCloud took care of a lot of my config type information, documents and photos/music. I did use my NAS to transfer some other things like IDE configs.

 

[Fishrrman]

Here's my "canned" migration post:
===========================
Fishrrman's "you can do it!" routine for migrating to a new Mac:

If you follow my instructions below, I guarantee a success rate of 98%:
PRINT OUT these instructions and check them off as you go along.

1. BEFORE you do anything else, run a "final" backup on your old Mac. Use an external drive for this. It can be either TM or a cloned backup using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper. I prefer CCC.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT USE TM AS YOUR "MIGRATION EXTERNAL DRIVE". INSTEAD, USE EITHER CCC OR SD. Things will go better this way!
(OP -- if a tm backup is "all you have", then that's what you have to use!)
2. Shut down the old Mac and disconnect the external drive
3. Take the new Mac out of the box and set it up on the table. DO NOT PRESS THE POWER ON BUTTON until step 8 (read on). You don't want to begin setup until "the right moment".
4. If you're using an external display, connect the display using the usb-c/VGA adapter/cable that you have
5. Connect the keyboard and mouse if you use them. I STRONGLY SUGGEST that you connect them DIRECTLY to the Mac.
6. If you use a hub, leave it DISCONNECTED for now
7. Connect your backup drive -- use a usb-c adapter if needed.

OK, we're ready-to-go, so let's get goin':
8. Press the power on button for the first time.
9. The new Mac may ask for help "finding" the keyboard, just follow instructions.
10. Begin setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another Mac or drive. YES, you want to do this.
11. "Aim" setup assistant at the external backup. Setup assistant will need a little time to "digest it all". BE PATIENT and give setup assistant the time it needs.
12. You will now see a list of things that can be migrated, such as applications, accounts, settings and data.
13. I suggest that you select ALL of them.
14. Let setup assistant "do its thing". It's going to TAKE A WHILE to move things over. Again, be patient. If you have a lot "of stuff", it will take a lot of time!
15. When done, you should see the login screen. Go ahead and login.
16. Once logged in, things should look pretty much as they looked on your old Mac.
17. You should check all your apps. Some may not run, and may require upgrading.
18. You can set aside the old backup, or ... "repurpose it" to become the backup for the new Mac. I'd keep the old one around for a week or so, at least.

 

[pldelisle]

Too complicated.

 

[Jashue]

You can copy that over manually and preserve your playlists and music information.

Aside from the music files (obviously), what files are necessary for ratings and playlists to preserve the state of my library? Does the fact that the old computer is running the last version of iTunes and the new computer is running current version of Music complicate the matter?

Edit:
Is it one of these? And if I drag those files along with the media, what happens next? Will the Music app recognize the presence of those files and create a newer, native (to Music) library?

Sorry for the ignorance. I've never NOT used migration assistant from Mac to Mac before. I just don't want to mess this up.

 

[pldelisle]

Aside from the music files (obviously), what files are necessary for ratings and playlists to preserve the state of my library? Does the fact that the old computer is running the last version of iTunes and the new computer is running current version of Music complicate the matter?

Edit:
Is it one of these? And if I drag those files along with the media, what happens next? Will the Music app recognize the presence of those files and create a newer, native (to Music) library?

Sorry for the ignorance. I've never NOT used migration assistant from Mac to Mac before. I just don't want to mess this up.
View attachment 951358

You can copy everything in /Users/<your username> which include this folder.