Should I be concerned using Migration Assitant?

[MrTk]

Folks:

I know the migration assistant works well. I'm just hesitant to use it. Let me tell you my concern, and you guys can correct my failed logic.

I own a 2009 iMac. It's been a 10 year journey that amazes me how well it has worked, but alas...its just too slow to deal with 4K video I occasionally shoot with my Sony A7III.

I bought a brand new 2019 27 iMac. Should be here early next week.

I hesitate to use the migration assistant as since I really want a "clean" install of OSX and nothing from my previous system that has years of upgrades, etc. I do need to bring my Photos, Movies and music libraries over, as well as documents over, but the configuration, etc, don't need. Is there an option to only bring files and not any configuration settings, etc? Does that make sense?

 

[Juicy Box]

Is there an option to only bring files and not any configuration settings, etc?

I am not sure if you mean options in general, or an option in the MA, but the answer would be yes to both.

You can of course manually move all your documents over from your old mac to your new one, but there are options with the Migration Assistant to transfer certain things, but not others.

 

[Fishrrman]

Do you currently have an external backup (of the old iMac)?
If so, migration becomes MUCH easier.

I would suggest this:
Wait until the new iMac arrives.
Take it out of the box and set it up, but...
DON'T TURN IT ON YET.

Go to the OLD iMac, and use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to create a complete, current, cloned backup onto the external drive.
Now you have "captured a moment in time" -- that moment being when you move "from the old to the new".

Connect the drive to the new iMac.
NOW press the power on button for the very first time.

You will see the normal setup routine (language, etc.)
At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from an older mac or drive.
YES, you want to do this.

Point setup assistant at the external drive.
Give SA time to "digest" the entire contents of the drive.
BE PATIENT -- this will take a while and you don't get much in the way of feedback as to what's going on.

Then...
Setup assistant will present you with a list of things that can be migrated
- apps
- accounts
- data
- settings

I believe you can go into the "accounts" and then pick-and-choose JUST WHAT you want to get migrated over.

Now is where YOU are going to have to decide what "is workable", and what is not.

My suggestion -- migrate EVERYTHING.
Then, when it's all "over", start going through things and toss out what you don't need any more.

The free utility "AppCleaner" can help with this.