New Mac Migration

[mizxco]

Am expecting a new iMac!!

If my existing computer is running 10.11, the safest way to start a migration is to fresh install 10.11 on the new Mac too right?

Apple only suggests using Target Disk Mode while using FireWire, is using Thunderbolt + Target Disk Mode still the way to go?

Or booting up both and running Migration Assistant on them be better? Speed-wise.

 

[matreya]

If your new iMac comes with Yosemite installed, all you need to do is download El Capitan (10.11) when it's released and install it as an update.

The best method of migration is to clone your old computer's main system drive using Carbon Copy Cloner or SuperDuper! to a sufficiently sized external hard drive, then connect this external hard drive to the new iMac when Setup Assistant begins on your new iMac (one of the first things it will do when you boot it for the first time).

If you can't do the above, then you could connect a cat6 cable between the Macs (assuming they both have ethernet ports) and use Setup Assistant...

 

[mikecwest]

You can also remove the hard drive from the old Mac, place it in a SATA to USB adapter (Or PCMCIA to USB adaptor if your mac is really old). Then connect via USB to the new Mac and use the Setup Assistant as mentioned in the other post.

There are other options for adaptors to suit your needs such as a SATA to Firewire adaptor, or a Sata to Thunderbolt adaptor.

 

[mizxco]

Actually just transferring from a 2012 iMac to the retina 5K.
I think Thunderbolt would be the fastest hassle-free interface.

Question is:
Should I do it with both systems powered on,
or put my old Mac in Target Disk Mode and run Migration Assistant from the new one.

Before doing so, I should at least have 10.11 installed on the new Mac yeah?

 

[matreya]

or put my old Mac in Target Disk Mode and run Migration Assistant from the new one.

Yeah, put the old Mac into TDM - https://support.apple.com/kb/PH13842?locale=en_US

Before doing so, I should at least have El Capitan installed on the new Mac yeah?

Yes, because ElCap's mail.app for a start uses a different mailbox format.

 

[mizxco]

Yeah, put the old Mac into TDM - https://support.apple.com/kb/PH13842?locale=en_US

Yeah the reason why I ask is because according to this support article,
Apple recommends Target Disk mode if you're using FireWire
but makes no mention when doing so via Thunderbolt.

Wondering if it's not necessary or not recommended.

 

[matreya]

There's a section 45% down the page headed "
Migrate using a Thunderbolt or FireWire cable"
looks like you don't need to put it into TDM when using Thunderbolt,

 

[mizxco]

You misread, there's a section 45% down the page headed "
Migrate using a Thunderbolt or FireWire cable"

Yep, my link goes exactly to that section https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204350#fwtb

If the original Mac is started from OS X Mountain Lion or earlier, or if you're using a FireWire cable to migrate, restart the original computer and hold down the T key at startup to start it in Target Disk Mode.

No mention of Thunderbolt

 

[matreya]

No mention of Thunderbolt

Which contradicts the support note I pasted a link to :/ I guess you can try it without putting the Mac into TDM and see if Setup Assistant sees your old Mac when the two computers are connected via Thunderbolt

 

[DeltaMac]

...
No mention of Thunderbolt

yes, exactly.
Migration assistant will find the other Mac on thunderbolt - no need to reboot that other Mac, as you would with Firewire.

 

[mizxco]

Which contradicts the support note I pasted a link to :/ I guess you can try it without putting the Mac into TDM and see if Setup Assistant sees your old Mac when the two computers are connected via Thunderbolt

It will, as it does with Ethernet/FireWire/WiFi, you just need to launch Migration Assistant on both Macs.
I'm just wondering anyone with past experience will know which is faster.

no need to reboot that other Mac, as you would with Firewire.

A transfer in TDM should theoretically be faster right?

 

[Weaselboy]

A transfer in TDM should theoretically be faster right?

If both Macs have TB and you have the cable, a TB to TB connection over TDM is the easiest and fastest method and is supported by Apple. I have used this method a couple times and it works fine.

You can use the TB connection as a networked connection to make this work also, but you need to fuss around making the connection take priority over the existing wifi connection. It is just easier to do TB over TDM.

 

[mizxco]

It is just easier to do TB over TDM.

Yeah I'll take the TDM route then, it would 'seem' faster with no resource used by the local OS.

And it's not like I can use either Mac during the migration anyway.

Just need to figure out a way to get El Capitan clean installed on the new Mac.

 

[mizxco]

Actually, should be fairly easy. Download 10.11 GM Candidate from MAS. Put new Mac in TDM, erase it in Disk Utilty? Select that drive as target volume in OS X installer and done!

 

[lunaoso]

Actually, should be fairly easy. Download 10.11 GM Candidate from MAS. Put new Mac in TDM, erase it in Disk Utilty? Select that drive as target volume in OS X installer and done!

You could also make an el capitan flash drive, boot from that on the new Mac and then use its disk utility, wipe the drive and then install el cap from the flash drive. There's not really any advantage to do it this way, just another option.