Transfer to 'newer' Mini

[sfphoto]

A friend is moving on from a pre 2010 Mini w/ OSX 10.6 to a post 2010 mini w/ OSX 10.11

I thought to clone the old Mini to the newer (target mode) then start the newer from an external w/ a 10.11 installer on it as this Mini requires newer then 10.6

Thinking though that it might be easier to use Migration assistant also w/ target mode.

Here is ideally all I would want to transfer:

Network settings
Printer settings
User directory - includes personal data
Chrome & Firefox for their log-in data

Perhaps though since there is so little I could just drag and drop the user directory and then export the browser log-in settings. Would then need to set up the printer and network manually.

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[DeltaMac]

I was wondering what you mean by a "pre 2000 mini", as the mini did not exist before 2005.
OS X 10.6 would mean that you have a 2006 mini, but could be as new as 2010 mini, still running Snow Leopard.
The newer mini might be as new as a 2014 mini. The oldest mini that won't boot to Snow Leopard would be a Mid 2011.

I would suggest booting the old mini to target boot mode. Connect a Firewire cable between the two minis.
Boot the "new" mini to the 10.11 installer, and run the install. When the install is complete, choose to migrate from the old mini.
Should complete very nicely. The printer and network setup should also transfer as part of the migration.

 

[Fishrrman]

My approach requires a few more steps, but it has the better chance of success.

Get an external USB3 drive.
Get either SuperDuper or CarbonCopyCloner (both are free to use for 30 days, doing it "my way" will cost you nothing)

Create a cloned backup of the old Mini on the external drive. Have this close-at-hand.

When the new Mini comes, take it out of the box and set it up, but DO NOT PRESS THE POWER ON BUTTON YET.

Connect the backup.
NOW press the power on button for the initial setup.

Begin clicking through.
At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to transfer items from another drive.
YES, so "point the way" for setup assistant to the backup.
Give SA time to "digest" everything. Be patient.

Now, SA will present you with a checklist of stuff to migrate.
BE CAREFUL what you do next.
You only want to migrate things that look to be in the user's account, as you said:
Network settings
Printer settings
User directory - includes personal data

So, UNcheck the "applications" option.
The rest -- user accounts, settings, data -- you can leave checked.

Turn SA loose and let it do the migration.

When done, you should see the initial login screen, just as before.

BUT WAIT!
THERE'S MORE!

What we DIDN'T do earlier was transfer the old apps.
That was intended, those old apps probably won't work any more.

So... for Chrome and Firefox... you're going to have to go online and download the most recent versions for Apple Silicon.

As far as the settings for these go, they should be included in the user account. So I'm thinking they'll "pick right up" on the old settings files.
If not, chances are the newer version are "so new" that they may require some things to be "set up brand-new".

Good luck!

 

[sfphoto]

@DeltaMac: 2000 corrected to 2010 (2011 the start of i5 machines).

--

In the past I have used CCC to clone the old Mac to the newer (target mode) then start the newer from an external w/ an installer on it that has the desired new OS to update 10.6 (now on the newer machine).
This works fine but can be a long task.

As to using 'Setup Assistant' if the newer machine was in fact 'new' I would think SA would copy from the old Mac connected in Target Mode.
However this is just a newer Mac.

SA option #1:
Am thinking I need not clone, just put the old Mac in Target Mode, connect to the newer, then start the newer from an external that has the desired installer on it.
Once the installation is complete I believe SA would appear.

SA option #2:
AFAIK one can re-start SA from the command line - accessed by starting the newer machine via command+S

 

[Fishrrman]

Again...
The easiest way...
Create a cloned backup (how large is the internal drive on the old Mac?).
Then do a "selective" migration using Setup Assistant when you boot the new Mac for the very first time...

 

[sfphoto]

So here is a follow up (I wanted nothing from the old other than user directory & settings,(i.e. network & printer)

a) install the desired OS on the new machine (that is in target mode) from old machine then shut both down
b) start the old machine in target mode then connect to new one and start same
c) when prompted at setup select desired items as 'Fisherman' suggested


This was from an '09' to a '12 Mini. The keychain, network & printer settings plus user folder copied properly. I installed newer program versions and they seem to have nicely accessed the user library application support files.


Thanks to all.

 

[satcomer]

Going from Intel machines to M1-2 machines With transferring should only transfer saved email boxes, videos. saved documents and most important write down the shareware, program paid keys to get reduce rates on shareware, programs for M1-2 Silicon Mac! Also on the new M1-2 Mac look for Universal (dsilcon esigned for M1-2 and Intel Mac Pro) and pure Silicon versions on M1-2! So bookmark the download site RoaringApps.com to see the program is ready for Silicon era!

 

[Fishrrman]

Once again, I'll repeat:
If you want an "all-but foolproof" experience, create a cloned backup of the old Mac first, then use that from which to do your migration (either with setup assistant at first boot, or "manually, by hand")...