New MBP and transferring files from Time Machine?

[yelnref]

Hey guys and gals.

My new 13" MBP (2.7Ghz / 750 Gig) arrives next week. This would be more exciting if its arrival wasn't due to my 4-yr-old 15" MBP dying.

My question is, with my old MBP dead I am relying on a Time Machine backup for restoring various files, etc. However, I'd like to take this opportunity to only transfer what I really want -- the old MBP felt like an old storage cupboard with a load of junk in! So I don't want to transfer the whole lot.

Essentially, I think that all I want are my iPhotos pics and stuff, my iTunes stuff, my Lightroom 3 library, perhaps my Aperture library, and various word/pdf files that were on my desktop.

I know that when I start up the first time I'll be asked if want to transfer stuff from another computer or volume. I assume this includes a TM backup. Should I do it then or can I open TM later and selectively import what I need? Are there pros/cons to each scenario? Once the MBP arrives I kinda need to get straight to work on it so doing the above might not be an option -- unless it has to be. I can happily wait until the weekend or so. And how does using TM differ to migration assistant?

Also, re iPhoto and iTunes, what files do I need and where do I find these files? I didn't move anything on my old mac so they should be in their default positions.

Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Mac-key]

man you're getting no love on this question. I can answer a few for you, and maybe others will jump in.

I was just in your situation the other day. I got a new MBP, upgraded from my 2009 model. However, I decided (for time's sake) to simply reinstall my OS and then migrate everything over from Time Machine.

to your questions ::

When you are first prompted to migrate your stuff over, you can check "from a time Machine back-up". Once you do that you'll have the option to select WHAT you want to bring over from your TM back-up. I would do it all right off the bat. This way you can pick and choose, plus you get it done quicker.

Also, Migration Assistant is a utility that allows you to transfer data from one computer to another, OR from a time machine back-up.

Here is a link that should help you out

 

[yelnref]

man you're getting no love on this question.

Lol. Ain't that the truth! Appreciate you chiming in.

I can answer a few for you, and maybe others will jump in.

I was just in your situation the other day. I got a new MBP, upgraded from my 2009 model. However, I decided (for time's sake) to simply reinstall my OS and then migrate everything over from Time Machine.

to your questions ::

When you are first prompted to migrate your stuff over, you can check "from a time Machine back-up". Once you do that you'll have the option to select WHAT you want to bring over from your TM back-up. I would do it all right off the bat. This way you can pick and choose, plus you get it done quicker.

Yeah, I remember doing this with my last, now dead, MBP. This time I want to be selective. A lot of work files I have in Dropbox, so there are just a few things I need. Do you recall if it's possible to migrate individual files out of various folders?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Mac-key]

I'm sure you can manually move things over (meaning, NOT using migration assistant) But I'm not completely sure how detailed you can be when migrating from a time machine back-up.

These are questions I too would like to see what others have to say.

 

[yelnref]

Looks like it's down to me to let you know in a few days...