Setting up new MacBook Pro

[Ish]

My new 13” Macbook Pro is due to arrive tomorrow. My current computers are 8 and 9 years old so I’m not very au fait with setting up. After all this time I don’t really want to just migrate everything over but am hoping to use Migration Assistant(?) to transfer things over piecemeal. I also have a number of 32 bit apps which I want to leave behind. I’ve now got everything I want to transfer on one computer ready to go, though some of the discussions in Apple support have comments that Apple don’t make some things very clear and that this could lead to errors.

There are a number of things I’m wondering about. If anyone does this regularly and can help with some of these questions I’d really appreciate it

• I want to set up the new machine with a different home folder name. Will this be a problem?
  
  
• I have several email accounts, some defunct. Is it better/easier to use MA to set them up and delete the ones I don’t want or to set them up manually? I’ve vague memories of the manual route being a problem last time. MA seems to take a broad brush approach to migration as far as I can see but I’d love to be wrong!
  
  
• What’s the best way to migrate my Aperture library (last holdout in the world!) into my Photos one or will it happen automatically?
  
  
• There’s tons of stuff in my keychain access, most of which is probably rubbish, but which I haven’t had the courage to delete! I’d like to just visit sites on my new computer and save the passwords. Any downsides to this?
  
  
• Any other bits of advice, please feel free to chime in! Thanks!!

 

[hftvhftv]

To answer your questions in order

1. Not a problem
2. I'd set them up manually if you have some defunct and some good email accounts. The exception would be if you have important emails in those defunct accounts in which I'd using MA to transfer them.
3. This is a guide to import your Apeture library: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT209594
4. No downsides to importing your Keychain or starting fresh if you know all o the passwords
5. I'd personally transfer only the essentials over to your new Mac, it's a good chance to start fresh and free up space.

 

[Fishrrman]

"I want to set up the new machine with a different home folder name. Will this be a problem?"

YES, if you use setup assistant, it could become a problem.
When you run setup assistant, it will migrate over your accounts with the same name(s) and permissions as you previously had. That's the whole idea -- so that the new Mac "looks and runs like the old one did".

If you try to move stuff from an old account into a completely "new one", unexpected results could occur. Particularly... permissions problems.

"I have several email accounts, some defunct. Is it better/easier to use MA to set them up and delete the ones I don’t want or to set them up manually?"

Setup assistant will bring them all over.
Probably easiest to migrate them all and then do the deleting later on.

"There’s tons of stuff in my keychain access, most of which is probably rubbish, but which I haven’t had the courage to delete! I’d like to just visit sites on my new computer and save the passwords. Any downsides to this?"

Again, this will be fine IF you let setup assistant "do the work for you".
You could delete the old keychains and start over, but be sure you know the passwords first!

"Any other bits of advice, please feel free to chime in!"

My pre-written guide on how to migrate to a new Mac:
=========================================
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.

 

[Ish]

To answer your questions in order

1. Not a problem
2. I'd set them up manually if you have some defunct and some good email accounts. The exception would be if you have important emails in those defunct accounts in which I'd using MA to transfer them.
3. This is a guide to import your Apeture library: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT209594
4. No downsides to importing your Keychain or starting fresh if you know all o the passwords
5. I'd personally transfer only the essentials over to your new Mac, it's a good chance to start fresh and free up space.

Thanks @hftvhftv you're a star! Much appreciated

"I want to set up the new machine with a different home folder name. Will this be a problem?"

YES, if you use setup assistant, it could become a problem.
When you run setup assistant, it will migrate over your accounts with the same name(s) and permissions as you previously had. That's the whole idea -- so that the new Mac "looks and runs like the old one did".

If you try to move stuff from an old account into a completely "new one", unexpected results could occur. Particularly... permissions problems.

"I have several email accounts, some defunct. Is it better/easier to use MA to set them up and delete the ones I don’t want or to set them up manually?"

Setup assistant will bring them all over.
Probably easiest to migrate them all and then do the deleting later on.

"There’s tons of stuff in my keychain access, most of which is probably rubbish, but which I haven’t had the courage to delete! I’d like to just visit sites on my new computer and save the passwords. Any downsides to this?"

Again, this will be fine IF you let setup assistant "do the work for you".
You could delete the old keychains and start over, but be sure you know the passwords first!

"Any other bits of advice, please feel free to chime in!"

My pre-written guide on how to migrate to a new Mac:
=========================================
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.

Thanks for all the info @Fishrrman. I'm not going to be using setup assistant this time, maybe migration assistant for some of the things but there's still a lot of useful information in there. Thanks for taking the time

 

[mmomega]

I went through and looks like everyone has answered the questions but when I saw the topic, I immediately went back to my first MacBook setup.
Much later in life than some, sooner than other but I had researched and it was THE ONE.
My wife surprised me with it while on a vacation out of state.
We had gone out to eat early, nothing else to do that evening but head back to the hotel room and wind down.
I remember everything that happened 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after 🤣 🤣🤣.. so funny now looking back.
Thank You to my wife that knocked it out of the park that year

 

[Ish]

I went through and looks like everyone has answered the questions but when I saw the topic, I immediately went back to my first MacBook setup.
Much later in life than some, sooner than other but I had researched and it was THE ONE.
My wife surprised me with it while on a vacation out of state.
We had gone out to eat early, nothing else to do that evening but head back to the hotel room and wind down.
I remember everything that happened 5 minutes before and 5 minutes after 🤣 🤣🤣.. so funny now looking back.
It was an extension me. Thank You to my wife that knocked it out of the parck that year

Nice! I remember, years ago, a friend showing me how his mac worked and it was just so much the way I liked to work. I couldn't get one right away but I've never looked back since!

 

[Apple fanboy]

Nice! I remember, years ago, a friend showing me how his mac worked and it was just so much the way I liked to work. I couldn't get one right away but I've never looked back since!

Hello stranger! I've always used Migration assistant and its worked as expected. Then just delete the email accounts and stuff you don't want to keep. Just make sure all those lovely photos are backed up somewhere!
Enjoy your new Mac.

 

[Ish]

Hello stranger! I've always used Migration assistant and its worked as expected. Then just delete the email accounts and stuff you don't want to keep. Just make sure all those lovely photos are backed up somewhere!
Enjoy your new Mac.

Hello AFB! Good to hear from you Missed seeing you with there being no Photography Show. I'd already decided I wasn't going in September even if it went ahead and I think they did the right thing in first deferring, then cancelling it Expect you'd already done quite a bit of work though

Thanks for the input. Setting up a new computer is a pain in the neck but the time has come.