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New macbook pro - Migrating content

lazypoet

lazypoet

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 9, 2015
218
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So I just ordered a new macbook pro. French price, my wallet cries. :D I'm already starting to worry about migrating my content over to the new one.

I have two users on my macbook, are they both backed up automatically when i backup with time machine?

I have an enormous photo library in lightroom. Any advice about the migration part of that? The raw files are referenced on an external hard drive, i'm afraid ill break their links in the lightroom software.

As a general rule of thumb, do you do some sort of procedure before you migrate? Like clean the mac for junk, old apps, structure folders better etc ?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions! This is my first new macbook pro since 2010, I'm really excited! Unlike most people I actually like the touch bar.
 
You have two options via the setup assistant on the new machine... you can either restore via time capsule or you can connect the old machine to the new via thunderbolt (depending on what you're transferring from). Migration assistant will handle the rest; it will walk you through the process on the new machine.

Good luck!
 
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Just before you turn on the NEW MacBook for the very first time, run a backup on the OLD one.

Then, connect the backup to the NEW one, before you even start it up.

Next, power it on. Begin the setup.

At the right moment, Setup assistant will ask if you want to migrate. It works quite well.
 
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Fishrrman said:
Just before you turn on the NEW MacBook for the very first time, run a backup on the OLD one.
Click to expand...

Am i sensing some sarcasm in your post? Why do you specifically say that I need to do the backup JUST before I turn on the new one? Will the day before change anything?
 
I don't think he's being sarcastic, he's just giving you steps to ensure that your new system has the most recent stuff from your old system. I for one do what he's describing as well when I migrate to a newer machine. If I so much as miss some data such as iMessages that came in or went out between the backup and restore, I get a little bit miffed, yes I guess that's a little obsessive-compulsive LOL.
 
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Ok thanks :) Would you say I should backup both users individually or are they both backed up automatically?
 
As long as you didn't exclude any particular user folders in the TM options, everything is backed up. During the migration where you tell it to restore from a TM backup, I think it will show you all the users and you can just have it restore everything/everyone that is checked.
 
This is a great question as it applies to me as well.... just waiting on a 15"/2.9/2TB 2017 MBP which I need to connect to my trusty 15" 2010 MBP - can I use the Apple digital AV adapter to do the connection with a thunderbolt cable ??

Otherwise - how do I connect the 2 machines to use migration assistant ??

Thanks
 
Soulful said:
This is a great question as it applies to me as well.... just waiting on a 15"/2.9/2TB 2017 MBP which I need to connect to my trusty 15" 2010 MBP - can I use the Apple digital AV adapter to do the connection with a thunderbolt cable ??

Otherwise - how do I connect the 2 machines to use migration assistant ??

Thanks
Click to expand...

I think a time machine backup will be just as effective and will not need the macs to be connected with a cable. Correct me if I'm wrong :)
 
I personally have never done a migration from one Mac to another through a Thunderbolt cable, maybe someone can chime in as to whether or not that can go through the adapter without a hitch? Off the top of my head I can't imagine why it *wouldn't* work. The only migrations I have performed have been a restore from a TM backup, and a migration over my WiFi network with both systems up, the latter works just as well as the former, albeit a bit slower.
 
lazypoet said:
I think a time machine backup will be just as effective and will not need the macs to be connected with a cable. Correct me if I'm wrong :)
Click to expand...

I am sure it would... but depending on how the target computer is connected to the TM backup, the TB Migration Assistant could be significantly faster (TB2 vs wifi connection to the TM device).
 
Migration Assistant will either pull data from a Time Machine backup or directly form the old Mac via thunderbolt. However, I don't believe the 2010 machines had thunderbolt; I think it was introduced in 2011. Either way, the digital AV adapter will not work. You would need a TB to TB3 adapter from Apple.
 
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