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Setting up macbook for the 1st time - For newbies like me 😀
- Thread starter Marty_Macfly
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Hi all,
Found another good one 😀
Chap seems switched on with what a user would actually want to set up and learn
Regards
Martin
Found another good one 😀
Chap seems switched on with what a user would actually want to set up and learn
Regards
Martin
Fishrrman's "you can do it!" routine for migrating to a new Mac:
If you follow my instructions below, I guarantee a success rate of 98%:
PRINT OUT these instructions and check them off as you go along.
1. BEFORE you do anything else, run a "final" backup on your old Mac. Use an external drive for this. It can be either TM or a cloned backup using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper. I prefer CCC.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT USE TM AS YOUR "MIGRATION EXTERNAL DRIVE". INSTEAD, USE EITHER CCC OR SD. Things will go better this way!
2. Shut down the old Mac and disconnect the external drive
3. Take the new Mac out of the box and set it up on the table. DO NOT PRESS THE POWER ON BUTTON until step 8 (read on). You don't want to begin setup until "the right moment".
4. If you're using an external display, connect the display using the usb-c/VGA adapter/cable that you have
5. Connect the keyboard and mouse if you use them. I STRONGLY SUGGEST that you connect them DIRECTLY to the Mac.
6. If you use a hub, leave it DISCONNECTED for now
7. Connect your backup drive -- use a usb-c adapter if needed.
OK, we're ready-to-go, so let's get goin':
8. Press the power on button for the first time.
9. The new Mac may ask for help "finding" the keyboard, just follow instructions.
10. Begin setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another Mac or drive. YES, you want to do this.
11. "Aim" setup assistant at the external backup. Setup assistant will need a little time to "digest it all". BE PATIENT and give setup assistant the time it needs.
12. You will now see a list of things that can be migrated, such as applications, accounts, settings and data.
13. I suggest that you select ALL of them.
14. Let setup assistant "do its thing". It's going to TAKE A WHILE to move things over. Again, be patient. If you have a lot "of stuff", it will take a lot of time!
15. When done, you should see the login screen. Go ahead and login.
16. Once logged in, things should look pretty much as they looked on your old Mac.
17. You should check all your apps. Some may not run, and may require upgrading.
18. You can set aside the old backup, or ... "repurpose it" to become the backup for the new Mac. I'd keep the old one around for a week or so, at least.
If you follow my instructions below, I guarantee a success rate of 98%:
PRINT OUT these instructions and check them off as you go along.
1. BEFORE you do anything else, run a "final" backup on your old Mac. Use an external drive for this. It can be either TM or a cloned backup using CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper. I prefer CCC.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT USE TM AS YOUR "MIGRATION EXTERNAL DRIVE". INSTEAD, USE EITHER CCC OR SD. Things will go better this way!
2. Shut down the old Mac and disconnect the external drive
3. Take the new Mac out of the box and set it up on the table. DO NOT PRESS THE POWER ON BUTTON until step 8 (read on). You don't want to begin setup until "the right moment".
4. If you're using an external display, connect the display using the usb-c/VGA adapter/cable that you have
5. Connect the keyboard and mouse if you use them. I STRONGLY SUGGEST that you connect them DIRECTLY to the Mac.
6. If you use a hub, leave it DISCONNECTED for now
7. Connect your backup drive -- use a usb-c adapter if needed.
OK, we're ready-to-go, so let's get goin':
8. Press the power on button for the first time.
9. The new Mac may ask for help "finding" the keyboard, just follow instructions.
10. Begin setup. At the appropriate moment, setup assistant will ask if you wish to migrate from another Mac or drive. YES, you want to do this.
11. "Aim" setup assistant at the external backup. Setup assistant will need a little time to "digest it all". BE PATIENT and give setup assistant the time it needs.
12. You will now see a list of things that can be migrated, such as applications, accounts, settings and data.
13. I suggest that you select ALL of them.
14. Let setup assistant "do its thing". It's going to TAKE A WHILE to move things over. Again, be patient. If you have a lot "of stuff", it will take a lot of time!
15. When done, you should see the login screen. Go ahead and login.
16. Once logged in, things should look pretty much as they looked on your old Mac.
17. You should check all your apps. Some may not run, and may require upgrading.
18. You can set aside the old backup, or ... "repurpose it" to become the backup for the new Mac. I'd keep the old one around for a week or so, at least.
Hi Fishrrman,
Thanks 😀
I’m coming back to this in 3yrs time when I get my next mac! 😀
Best wishes
Martin
Thanks 😀
I’m coming back to this in 3yrs time when I get my next mac! 😀
Best wishes
Martin
have your WLAN password ready
have your iCloud account data ready
do you want transfer data from a PC?
have your iCloud account data ready
do you want transfer data from a PC?
Hi n,
Password ready, check, will do 😀
No data to transfer just yet, will just play around with the mac 1st.
Will transfer data bit at a time. Be good to have a clean slate, rather than just move a disorganised mess onto the new laptop 😀
Best wishes
Martin
OK, then have fun!
Every personal experience differs, and so will yours. In general, most people very much like the Mac user interface
Same with me, with one exception: I couldn‘t get used to the Finder at start, coming from Windows Explorer. But meanwhile, I love the Finder and its possibilities I get the impression that many of us encountered one or two quirks in macOS we had difficulties to adapt, and that these personal quirks vary widely.
What I had to learn coming from Windows is that Apple itself provides rather good manuals. This is something we are not used to in the PC world. Look here: https://support.apple.com/de-de/guide/mac-help/toc
(Link to the German site but should open in your language.)
And there is this great Macrumors overview: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guides-how-tos-and-tips-for-new-mac-owners.2217520/
Every personal experience differs, and so will yours. In general, most people very much like the Mac user interface
Same with me, with one exception: I couldn‘t get used to the Finder at start, coming from Windows Explorer. But meanwhile, I love the Finder and its possibilities I get the impression that many of us encountered one or two quirks in macOS we had difficulties to adapt, and that these personal quirks vary widely. What I had to learn coming from Windows is that Apple itself provides rather good manuals. This is something we are not used to in the PC world. Look here: https://support.apple.com/de-de/guide/mac-help/toc
(Link to the German site but should open in your language.)
And there is this great Macrumors overview: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guides-how-tos-and-tips-for-new-mac-owners.2217520/
thanks N!OK, then have fun!
Every personal experience differs, and so will yours. In general, most people very much like the Mac user interface
What I had to learn coming from Windows is that Apple itself provides rather good manuals. This is something we are not used to in the PC world. Look here: https://support.apple.com/de-de/guide/mac-help/toc
(Link to the German site but should open in your language.)
And there is this great Macrumors overview: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/guides-how-tos-and-tips-for-new-mac-owners.2217520/
That’s really helpful, much appreciated.
Best wishes
Martin
@Marty_Macfly Looking forward to hear how you get on with your first Mac. It takes a few days to get your head around MacOS, but once you do, you will not look back. I switched in 2002 and have not bought a PC since.
I think you have an iPhone and iPad as well, one of the strengths of the Apple ecosystem is how well they all work together. Add a contact to your Mac and it appears on your iPhone. Browse a webpage on your iPad and you can then go direct to the same page on your Mac. Listen to a podcast on your iPhone and pickup where you left off on your Mac. Answer a phone call on your Mac.
Hope you have fun on your journey - when does your Mac arrive ?
I think you have an iPhone and iPad as well, one of the strengths of the Apple ecosystem is how well they all work together. Add a contact to your Mac and it appears on your iPhone. Browse a webpage on your iPad and you can then go direct to the same page on your Mac. Listen to a podcast on your iPhone and pickup where you left off on your Mac. Answer a phone call on your Mac.
Hope you have fun on your journey - when does your Mac arrive ?
Hi James,
Thanks 😀
How are you getting on with the new M1 MBA? 😀
I get mine this weekend, looking fwd to it!
Best wishes
Martin
@Marty_Macfly
Loving the new M1 MBA. So fast and responsive compared to my old MBP (which was a pretty quick machine).
No issues with the MBA at all.
Looking forward to seeing your thoughts when you get it, not long now
Loving the new M1 MBA. So fast and responsive compared to my old MBP (which was a pretty quick machine).
No issues with the MBA at all.
Looking forward to seeing your thoughts when you get it, not long now
Hi @Fishrrman, I am migrating from a late-2013 15 MBP to a new 2019 16 MBP. I had already powered up the 2019, set up a User, installed couple of apps, etc. before finding your detailed migration guide. What is the best way to go back and start the migration process from step 8? Do I need to reset NVRAM, erase hard drive and reinstall macOS on the 2019?
Techno wrote:
"I am migrating from a late-2013 15 MBP to a new 2019 16 MBP. I had already powered up the 2019, set up a User, installed couple of apps, etc. before finding your detailed migration guide. What is the best way to go back and start the migration process from step 8?"
I've read reports from others that if migration assistant finds an account with the same username and password (on both drives), it will offer to "replace" the existing account (the new one) with the one you're migrating.
I've never tried this and do not know how or if it works.
So, I'll make a suggestion that I KNOW will work.
PRINT THIS OUT AND SAVE IT.
Here goes.
On the new 2019:
1. Log into the account you created when you first set up.
2. Go to the users & groups preference pane.
3. Click the lock icon and enter your password.
4. Now, click the "+" sign to create a NEW account.
5. MAKE SURE that you give it administrative privileges in the popup menu.
6. Give it a DIFFERENT username and password, something easily remembered (write it down)
7. Now, LOG OUT of your existing account and LOG INTO the temporary account.
In the NEW account:
a. Once you are logged into it, again go to users & groups.
b. Again click the lock and enter the password for the NEW/temp account.
c. Now, click on the previous account you created on the 2019, and choose to DELETE IT. You don't want to archive it, you want to DELETE it.
e. Once it's gone, you now "have the appropriate space" into which to migrate your previous (from the 2013) account, apps, data, etc.
Do the migration:
1. Connect your backup drive (I think you could also connect the other Mac via ethernet, but I've never tried this, I believe it's ALWAYS better to use a backup drive).
2. Open migration assistant and give it time to digest things.
3. Select what to migrate in the checklist (I'd just let everything be migrated, and sort things out later).
4. Let the migration go.
5. When done, disconnect the backup drive (or the other Mac).
6. LOG OUT of the temp account and LOG INTO your main account.
7. Do you get a good login? If so, "look around". Do things look as they should?
If that's the case, you're done.
You could delete the temp account if you want, but I'd recommend that you just leave it there. It doesn't use any drive space and it could be of use at sometime in the future.
"I am migrating from a late-2013 15 MBP to a new 2019 16 MBP. I had already powered up the 2019, set up a User, installed couple of apps, etc. before finding your detailed migration guide. What is the best way to go back and start the migration process from step 8?"
I've read reports from others that if migration assistant finds an account with the same username and password (on both drives), it will offer to "replace" the existing account (the new one) with the one you're migrating.
I've never tried this and do not know how or if it works.
So, I'll make a suggestion that I KNOW will work.
PRINT THIS OUT AND SAVE IT.
Here goes.
On the new 2019:
1. Log into the account you created when you first set up.
2. Go to the users & groups preference pane.
3. Click the lock icon and enter your password.
4. Now, click the "+" sign to create a NEW account.
5. MAKE SURE that you give it administrative privileges in the popup menu.
6. Give it a DIFFERENT username and password, something easily remembered (write it down)
7. Now, LOG OUT of your existing account and LOG INTO the temporary account.
In the NEW account:
a. Once you are logged into it, again go to users & groups.
b. Again click the lock and enter the password for the NEW/temp account.
c. Now, click on the previous account you created on the 2019, and choose to DELETE IT. You don't want to archive it, you want to DELETE it.
e. Once it's gone, you now "have the appropriate space" into which to migrate your previous (from the 2013) account, apps, data, etc.
Do the migration:
1. Connect your backup drive (I think you could also connect the other Mac via ethernet, but I've never tried this, I believe it's ALWAYS better to use a backup drive).
2. Open migration assistant and give it time to digest things.
3. Select what to migrate in the checklist (I'd just let everything be migrated, and sort things out later).
4. Let the migration go.
5. When done, disconnect the backup drive (or the other Mac).
6. LOG OUT of the temp account and LOG INTO your main account.
7. Do you get a good login? If so, "look around". Do things look as they should?
If that's the case, you're done.
You could delete the temp account if you want, but I'd recommend that you just leave it there. It doesn't use any drive space and it could be of use at sometime in the future.