Should I NOT migrate files to my M1 MacBook Pro?

[alexjholland]

Hey, should I skip migration and manually install programs on my incoming M1?

I planned to wait until M2 and go 16"...

However, my 2011 MacBook Pro died a few nights ago, so I had to order a new machine.

Going Intel felt 'old' - especially as I'd like to get a few years out of this machine (probably not nine, this time!).

So, I just ordered an M1 MacBook with 16 RAM and a 2TB Hard Drive.

I love making music and films.

However, right now, I make my money writing and building landing pages for tech companies.

So, I can wait 3-6 months for soundcard drivers.

That should be enough?

It's not here until Feb 1st....

But should do a clean install when it arrives?

I've migrated across MacBook Pro (2009) > iMac (2011) > MacBook Pro (2011).

Early-on, I used pirate software for music and installed/uninstalled many applications over the years.

Nowdays, I'm minimalist and only use legit software that I own.

It 'feels' like a 'clean' install (not migrating and instead manually installing applications) could freshen things up?

Is that a good idea?

 

[acidfast7_redux]

No advantage. Some hassle.

 

[markiv810]

Hey, is it healthy to do a clean install on a new Mac?

I planned to wait until M2 and go 16"...

However, my 2011 MacBook Pro died a few nights ago, so I had to order a new machine.

Going Intel felt 'old' - especially as I'd like to get a few years out of this machine (probably not nine, this time!).

So, I just ordered an M1 MacBook with 16 RAM and a 2TB Hard Drive.

I love making music and films.

However, right now, I make my money writing and building landing pages for tech companies.

So, I can wait 3-6 months for soundcard drivers.

That should be enough?

It's not here until Feb 1st....

But should do a clean install when it arrives?

I've migrated across MacBook Pro (2009) > iMac (2011) > MacBook Pro (2011).

Early-on, I used pirate software for music and installed/uninstalled many applications over the years.

It 'feels' like a 'clean' install (not migrating and instead manually installing applications) could freshen things up?

Is that a good idea?

You can actually wait a bit till 11.1 is officially announced and create a bootable USB and then perform clean installation. That's my opinion.

 

[alexjholland]

You can actually wait a bit till 11.1 is officially announced and create a bootable USB and then perform clean installation. That's my opinion.

Why do I need to do that?

I was thinking of just opening it as a brand new laptop and installing the programs I use, one-by-one.

Naturally when I install Google Drive and Dropbox, my files will download.

 

[acidfast7_redux]

Why do I need to do that?

I was thinking of just opening it as a brand new laptop and installing the programs I use, one-by-one.

Naturally when I install Google Drive and Dropbox, my files will download.

That's not what is suggested by your thread as that's not the cleanest install which is zeroing the sdd and installing the OS manually with no extra software.

This has caused problems in macOS 11.0.0 and 11.0.1

 

[markiv810]

Why do I need to do that?

I was thinking of just opening it as a brand new laptop and installing the programs I use, one-by-one.

Naturally when I install Google Drive and Dropbox, my files will download.

Instead of clean install of 11.1 Big Sur. What you can do is install the combo updater of 11.1 when it is released to avoid any hassles. Google Drive and Dropbox are cost effective options for backing up apps and data. Enjoy your m1 MacBook.

 

[alexjholland]

That's not what is suggested by your thread as that's not the cleanest install which is zeroing the sdd and installing the OS manually with no extra software.

This has caused problems in macOS 11.0.0 and 11.0.1

Ahh. No, I don't want to do this!

I've updated my post to clarify.

 

[mwidjaya]

I've migrated across MacBook Pro (2009) > iMac (2011) > MacBook Pro (2011).

Don't auto migrate data.

Start afresh and leave the cruft behind. If you need to, look up how to manually move across photos, music, email, etc...

Every few years, it is a good idea to do that. Also big generational step in OS, is a good line in the sand to redo.

 

[acidfast7_redux]

Ahh. No, I don't want to do this!

I've updated my post to clarify.

Ok. Cool.

Your plan is good then.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[ADonmall]

Why do I need to do that?

I was thinking of just opening it as a brand new laptop and installing the programs I use, one-by-one.

Naturally when I install Google Drive and Dropbox, my files will download.

Google drive doesn’t work yet on M1 macs

 

[alexjholland]

Don't auto migrate data.

Start afresh and leave the cruft behind. If you need to, look up how to manually move across photos, music, email, etc...

Every few years, it is a good idea to do that. Also big generational step in OS, is a good line in the sand to redo.

Nice. That's exactly what I'll do then!

 

[alexjholland]

Google drive doesn’t work yet on M1 macs

Ouch.

Although, I'm on a rented 2017 MacBook Pro 15" and it's 'OK' just using Google Drive in Chrome.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Hey, should I skip migration and manually install programs on my incoming M1?

I planned to wait until M2 and go 16"...

However, my 2011 MacBook Pro died a few nights ago, so I had to order a new machine.

Going Intel felt 'old' - especially as I'd like to get a few years out of this machine (probably not nine, this time!).

So, I just ordered an M1 MacBook with 16 RAM and a 2TB Hard Drive.

I love making music and films.

However, right now, I make my money writing and building landing pages for tech companies.

So, I can wait 3-6 months for soundcard drivers.

That should be enough?

It's not here until Feb 1st....

But should do a clean install when it arrives?

I've migrated across MacBook Pro (2009) > iMac (2011) > MacBook Pro (2011).

Early-on, I used pirate software for music and installed/uninstalled many applications over the years.

Nowdays, I'm minimalist and only use legit software that I own.

It 'feels' like a 'clean' install (not migrating and instead manually installing applications) could freshen things up?

Is that a good idea?

I set mine up as new.

Partly because I always set my new devices up as new, partly because I'm not at home right now.

I believe going with a clean, install things manually approach, prevents bugs and such from occurring.

 

[alexjholland]

Yeah I'm on a rented MacBook Pro 15".

It's so clean. Hardly any apps.

And I realise how few of mine I actually use.

I'll just install them as I go along and discover I want to use them.

 

[The Cockney Rebel]

Yeah I'm on a rented MacBook Pro 15".

It's so clean. Hardly any apps.

And I realise how few of mine I actually use.

I'll just install them as I go along and discover I want to use them.

That's what I do.

Doing it that way, you also tend to find apps you haven't heard of before.

Know what I mean?

 

[smoking monkey]

That's not what is suggested by your thread

Really? That's exactly what I thought was suggested by this thread and the OP.

Anyway, IMO you should definitely do what you're suggesting and install the apps yourself and not do migration. Who knows what you've got left lying around from years ago. I doesn't mean you won't have problems, but it also means the variables are smaller and you won't have any remnants of Capt'n Jack floating around.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Hey, should I skip migration and manually install programs on my incoming M1?

I planned to wait until M2 and go 16"...

However, my 2011 MacBook Pro died a few nights ago, so I had to order a new machine.

Going Intel felt 'old' - especially as I'd like to get a few years out of this machine (probably not nine, this time!).

So, I just ordered an M1 MacBook with 16 RAM and a 2TB Hard Drive.

I love making music and films.

However, right now, I make my money writing and building landing pages for tech companies.

So, I can wait 3-6 months for soundcard drivers.

That should be enough?

It's not here until Feb 1st....

But should do a clean install when it arrives?

I've migrated across MacBook Pro (2009) > iMac (2011) > MacBook Pro (2011).

Early-on, I used pirate software for music and installed/uninstalled many applications over the years.

Nowdays, I'm minimalist and only use legit software that I own.

It 'feels' like a 'clean' install (not migrating and instead manually installing applications) could freshen things up?

Is that a good idea?

The only context in which I like Migration Assistant is if my source and destination Macs are the exact same Mac running the exact same OS version (like if my SSD/drive/logic board [since it's all soldered onto the logic board anyway] fails). Otherwise, there's cruft that I don't necessarily want to bring over from the old system. And having to deal with things for some apps being ever slightly different between OS builds is a pain. In your case, you're also going from an Intel Mac to a Mac of an entirely different processor architecture; all the more reason why you don't want to use Migration Assistant. Plus moving Photos, TV, Podcasts, and Music libraries is not that big of a deal. Similarly, if your home folder data was organized, it's also SUPER simple to file that stuff away in the appropriate locations too.

No advantage. Some hassle.

Advantages: Removal of cruft. Clean running brand new system.

Disadvantages: Having to know where your files and apps live and what you use. (i.e. it's only a hassle if you're lazy.)

You can actually wait a bit till 11.1 is officially announced and create a bootable USB and then perform clean installation. That's my opinion.

Just to remove iMovie, GarageBand, and the iWork apps? This isn't a $500 consumer Windows 10 Home PC from Best Buy. It's not like the clean preload of Big Sur isn't going to be clean enough.

That's not what is suggested by your thread as that's not the cleanest install which is zeroing the sdd and installing the OS manually with no extra software.

This has caused problems in macOS 11.0.0 and 11.0.1

What's so dirty about Apple's preload?

Also, I'm pretty sure that upgrading the 11.0 systems to 11.0.1 fixed the restore issues on M1 Macs.

Ouch.

Although, I'm on a rented 2017 MacBook Pro 15" and it's 'OK' just using Google Drive in Chrome.

It MIGHT run okay in Rosetta 2. But worst case scenario, Google will update it with a native release before too long. I'd say, keep using it in Chrome for the time being and just keep an eye out and eventually the Apple Silicon native client will be out.

 

[satcomer]

I tend to think that The missing link in Migration Assistance is moving over the keychains and serial numbers to shareware programs!

My particular setup is to open an encrypted file with all my share keys to my shareware programs I transfer! This makes transitions so much painful!

 

[acidfast7_redux]

Really? That's exactly what I thought was suggested by this thread and the OP.

Anyway, IMO you should definitely do what you're suggesting and install the apps yourself and not do migration. Who knows what you've got left lying around from years ago. I doesn't mean you won't have problems, but it also means the variables are smaller and you won't have any remnants of Capt'n Jack floating around.

Post was updated for clarification due to and after my commentary.

 

[alexjholland]

Yeah I've got various old, empty folders, redundant apps... and an empty folder in my Launchpad that appeared as a glitch and which will neither disappear, nor accept any apps.

My whole approach as a 34-year-old business owner is to use minimal, high-quality apps.

That's totally different to the 22 year old student who got the first Mac in that long chain.

Time to buy Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Pro X!

Oh wait... I can't buy Creative Suite for M1 yet.

 

[James_C]

I would definitely avoid migration assistant on Applications on the first migration to a M1 Mac. There is some evidence to suggest that using migration assistant can contribute to some of the Wifi and Bluetooth problems a small number of forum users are experiencing with their new M1 Macs. With a completely new architecture it is always advisable to setup everything from scratch.

 

[djlythium]

I always do a clean install because even gremlins will transfer over.

 

[alexjholland]

Cool. Thanks for all your helpful replies.

A fresh install 'felt' right!

I'm sure there's a tonne of apps that I've never removed because I 'might' use them...

That I will never actually install, now!