Transer 2008 iMac to 2012 Mac mini

[At_Op45]

Hey all, I'm interested in transferring the saved information from my iMac to my Mac Mini. While the iMac works fine, it starting to show its age with browsers and apps increasingly dropping support for it - I'd like to transfer all information from my iMac to my Mac mini.

Since there are four users on my iMac with their respective information and backups for mobile devices, what would be the best way to go about moving the information? Can I simply remove the internal SSD from the iMac and replace the Mac mini's current external boot drive with it?

Thank you.

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Early 2008, 24" 3.06 GHz iMac​	Mac Mini A1347 Late-2012 i7 2.3GHz​
El Capitan (10.11.6)	Catalina (10.15.7)
250 GB SSD (inside an Icy Dock internal enclosure)	500GB Crucial SSD (w/ Sabrent USB 3.0 to SSD Enclosure)
6 GB (2 & 4 GB) 800MHz DDR2	16GB (2X 8GB) 1600MHz DDR3

 

[Fishrrman]

Were you booting and running the old iMac from the external SSD?
If so, is all your data on the SSD?
What OS is it running?

Have you already set up your accounts on the Mini?
Or... is it still "fresh" -- that is, "waiting for its data to be installed"?
What OS is it running?

How you answer every question determines how to proceed...

 

[At_Op45]

Thank you for your reply. The iMac boots/runs from an internal SSD with El Capitan (10.11.6) installed. All the information, Id like to copy over is from that internal drive.

I haven't set up any of the accounts on the Mac mini as of now - since it's my former daily driver, it only has an outdated version of my personal profile on it. I can however factory reset if needed as I have everything important backed up and also copied to my 2012 MBP. The external SSD that Mac mini currently boots/runs from has Catalina (10.15.7) installed.

 

[Fishrrman]

I was never one for using Ethernet to connect two Macs, but it might be possible.

IF you are willing to do a "factory reset" on the Mini first, which will involve:
- re-installing the OS,
- after which the setup assistant runs (because there are no actual user accounts installed)...
- then, you could do this (following is my pre-written piece on how to move from an old Mac to a new one):
======================
Fishrrman's "you can do it!" routine for migrating to a new Mac:

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.

 

[At_Op45]

Thank you for the informative reply! While I've used CCC in the past, it's acted almost like malware resulting from its unwanted notifications; I had to manually uninstall portions of it even after using their uninstaller post prior migrations. Do you recommend a way to fully remove all remnants of CCC when I finish this transfer? Thank you.

 

[Fishrrman]

Use "AppCleaner" (note that there is NO SPACE CHARACTER between "app" and "cleaner".

But... I've been using CCC for many years, and no problems at all.
It's one of the best pieces of software available for the Mac.
You can turn the "notifications" off, y'know...?