Some questions on Migration Assistant

[iLondoner]

Hi guys

I am replacing my 2012 iMac running Catalina with a 2019 model. The 2019 iMac has been factory re-set with Monterey loaded together with quite a few apps that I would like to keep (Final Cut, various Adobe and Microsoft Office). I already an older version of Microsoft Office on the 2012 machine.

Will Migration Assistant handle this or will my older MS Office overwrite the version on the 2019 iMac?

And should I set up my Apple ID on the 2019 system before firing Migration Assistant off?

Thanks in anticipation
Tim

 

[MacCheetah3]

The 2019 iMac has been factory re-set with Monterey loaded together with quite a few apps that I would like to keep (Final Cut, various Adobe and Microsoft Office)

To confirm/clarify, FCP and the other apps you want are already on the newer iMac? Or are those the apps you want to transfer from the old system?

And should I set up my Apple ID on the 2019 system before firing Migration Assistant off?

I cannot recall with certainly, although, from what I do remember, the order is not significant.

 

[elvisimprsntr]

How to keep Migration Assistant from overwriting existing files on a new Mac

A reader wants to migrate without deleting files.

www.macworld.com

Although it’s not documented, Migration Assistant doesn’t overwrite new versions of applications with older ones, which may be one of your concerns.

 

[iLondoner]

Yes, the Final Cut etc is on the new iMac. I suppose I could take a quick dump of the Applications folder in case anything untoward happens.

 

[hobowankenobi]

...If the new box has the Applications installed, how about just migrating the user(s)? No risk of changing anything in Applications, and it will be faster.

 

[Fishrrman]

How I'd do it:

1. Get an external drive
2. Use either CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to clone the contents of the 2012 iMac (to the drive)
3. Have the backup drive connected THE VERY FIRST TIME you boot the NEW iMac.
4. Begin setup, when setup assistant asks if you wish to migrate data, pick the external drive.
5. Give setup assistant time to "digest everything". Be patient.
6. Now, TAKE CARE. Setup assistant will present you with a list of stuff to be migrated:
Accounts
Applications
Data
Settings
7. I would UNCHECK Applications, to migrate everything else EXCEPT Applications.
8. Now let setup assistant do its thing. Again it will take a while.
9. When done, you should see your login screen.

AT THIS POINT, everything should be migrated to the new iMac, EXCEPT for any 3rd-party applications on the cloned backup. The 3rd-party apps on the new iMac will be left untouched.

Now, "it's up to you" to do "an inventory" of any apps on the backup that you WOULD like to bring over.

I'm going to take a guess that most of them will be "migrate-able" "by hand" -- that is, you can just copy them from the backup to the new iMac.

IF YOU DO THIS, there is something else you must do.
a. Click ONE time on the ICON of the backup drive to select it
b. Bring up the get info box (command-i) for the drive icon
c. At the bottom of get info, click the lock icon and enter your password (the one you're using on the NEW iMac)
d. Put a check in "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing and permissions)
e. Close get info

Now you can copy almost anything you want from the backup to the new iMac, and whatever you copy will "come under the ownership" of your new account.
This AVOIDS permissions problems.

Good luck.