New Mac Mini (mid 2011) Data Transfer

[xxnogamerxx]

I just ordered a mac mini today, and I have a few questions. Any help is appreciated.

I have a broken macbook pro, and with my mac mini coming in a couple days Im wondering if I can buy an 2.5 enclosure and move apps and files from the external hard drive to the mini.

If so, how would I go about doing this? Would I be able to just drag and drop files and apps to my new computer? Or is there a certain app I need to make this happen?

Again, any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[class77]

Why not just take it to your nearest Apple store and have them do it for you?

 

[kilowattradio]

I just ordered a mac mini today, and I have a few questions. Any help is appreciated.

I have a broken macbook pro, and with my mac mini coming in a couple days Im wondering if I can buy an 2.5 enclosure and move apps and files from the external hard drive to the mini.

If so, how would I go about doing this? Would I be able to just drag and drop files and apps to my new computer? Or is there a certain app I need to make this happen?

Again, any help is appreciated. Thanks

You can use a 2.5 enclosure with USB or firewire. For moving apps you will just need to copy them from the Applications folder on your old mac into the Applications folder on the mac mini. Documents and downloads you can use the finder to copy them from the old HDD to your new mac mini HDD.

 

[The-Pro]

Place the old HDD from your MBP into a USB or firewire enclosure and connect it to your mac mini. When you are booting the mini the first time you will go though a setup process. At one point in this process "you will be asked if you want to import User data from another system. Select the option to transfer your User information from another volume and click the "Continue" button.

The next screen will list the things you can transfer. Select any Users you want to bring over to your new drive, as well as your Applications folder and network settings. There is an option for "Files and Folders," which you will likely want to bring over as well, since some applications seem to like to install some settings in non-standard places; this option helps cover those instances.

Once you have selected the items you would like to bring over, click the "Transfer" button, and Migration Assistant will begin to run. This is another convenient time to find something else to do for a bit as, depending on the amount of data being brought over, it can take awhile.

Once Migration Assistant finishes, you may continue the rest of the setup, and continue booting to your new drive." (taken from an OWC guide) I didn't feel like typing it all

Any way this is the easiest way to do it and the most effective.

have fun with your new mini

 

[Dhelsdon]

Place the old HDD from your MBP into a USB or firewire enclosure and connect it to your mac mini. When you are booting the mini the first time you will go though a setup process. At one point in this process "you will be asked if you want to import User data from another system. Select the option to transfer your User information from another volume and click the "Continue" button.

The next screen will list the things you can transfer. Select any Users you want to bring over to your new drive, as well as your Applications folder and network settings. There is an option for "Files and Folders," which you will likely want to bring over as well, since some applications seem to like to install some settings in non-standard places; this option helps cover those instances.

Once you have selected the items you would like to bring over, click the "Transfer" button, and Migration Assistant will begin to run. This is another convenient time to find something else to do for a bit as, depending on the amount of data being brought over, it can take awhile.

Once Migration Assistant finishes, you may continue the rest of the setup, and continue booting to your new drive." (taken from an OWC guide) I didn't feel like typing it all

Any way this is the easiest way to do it and the most effective.

have fun with your new mini

+1 This is what I'd recommend as well, If you've already passed that first setup you can also get to migration assistant by going here:

Finder/LaunchPad > Utilities > Migration Assistant

 

[xxnogamerxx]

Thanks I really appreciate the help guys.