How to setup new mac mini

[kdochert]

I'm replacing my mac mini with a newer model and want to transfer everything from my old mac mini to the new. I have an external hard disk dedicated to my Time Machine backups and an external hard disk dedicated to my iTunes library.

Upon first boot I was going to simply point the new mac mini to the time machine backup to effectively "restore" to the new mac mini but I'm concerned how it will handle the external iTunes library? Do I keep the iTunes drive disconnected initially until the restore is complete? When performing the first Time Machine backup on the new mac mini will it recognise the iTunes library as a new library or identify it as the previous library and not re-back it all up?

 

[justperry]

If your iTunes Folder is on the external you don't have to worry at all, I am pretty sure you moved it to the external and then set the path to the iTunes Folder in iTunes Advanced preferences, if this is the case you don't have to worry about it.

 

[kdochert]

Thanks

Ok perfect, I guess after so long on PC's I don't trust that anything is going to work as it should!

 

[opinio]

I'm replacing my mac mini with a newer model and want to transfer everything from my old mac mini to the new. I have an external hard disk dedicated to my Time Machine backups and an external hard disk dedicated to my iTunes library.

Upon first boot I was going to simply point the new mac mini to the time machine backup to effectively "restore" to the new mac mini but I'm concerned how it will handle the external iTunes library? Do I keep the iTunes drive disconnected initially until the restore is complete? When performing the first Time Machine backup on the new mac mini will it recognise the iTunes library as a new library or identify it as the previous library and not re-back it all up?

I have my itunes folder external as well, but my understanding is that itunes still stores configuration settings for itunes in the itunes folder in 'Music' in your standard personal folders on the primary OS X drive.

What I have done in the past when I rebuild OS or change minis is to copy the itunes folder from the Music folder from the old OS to the new Music folder in the new OS (or new Mac) after you have done the initial instal. As long as the external drive is the same name then when you start the itunes app it wakes up as if nothing happened.

All the above only applies on a clean install of OS X or a new Mac. Obviously if you do a time machine install then the Music folder will have the itunes folder anyway.

 

[gtstricky]

I just did what you are talking about and it worked fine. My itunes and iphoto are external and it linked back to them fine.

I, like you, expected some huge issue to surface but it worked.

 

[kdochert]

I can also confirm it worked, this was the easiest computer swap out of my life! A few minor settings like power settings etc needed setting up again but all the main stuff like iTunis and inheriting previous backup worked perfect.

One weird thing with the new (2012) mac mini is the pull down menu's at the top right (wifi etc.), after you've selected a pull down a slight move left or right with the mouse moves the to the next pull down menu which is annoying, how do I stop that?

Right decision to start buying mac's though!