transfer stuff (and music especially) from Mac to Mac

[caccamolle]

Hi guys,
I am going to get an iMac later tonight, at the new Apple store here in NYC, when I hope there will be no huge lines and I need some help.

I have a PM dual here now and I will want to transfer stuff from it to the new iMac. In general what would be the smartest most efficient way to do it ? I do have both an airport base station (snow model) for internet and an A/X (for music).

I know firewire is also another alternative.

Also, wrt to iTunes music anything special to keep in mind ?

By the way, for the first time in my 15 years in NYC I did the NY (and US) thing, stay in line for hours for something. And after less than three hours I made it to the new Apple store here on 5th ave. Pretty cool, but I really did it only to get that shirt with the Cube.

Thx for any help.

 

[mad jew]

Yeah, Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder of Applications and that Firewire cable (using Target Disk Mode) is probably the best in terms of speed and ease-of-use. Since you're going from a PPC machine to an Intel machine, I wouldn't transfer the apps or their settings. I'd manually reinstall the apps.

Congrats on the new Mac.

 

[caccamolle]

thx dude.
Yes, for the apps I agree, in fact the only thing I know for sure I will want to transfer right away is the music, as I need to do some stuff. For the rest I can take it easy.

I did not realize there is a Migration Assistant, cool !

ww

 

[mad jew]

Cool, just remember to de-authorise your purchased music. As an alternative to using Target Disk Mode, you could use your iPod to move the music too.

 

[caccamolle]

Cool, just remember to de-authorise your purchased music. As an alternative to using Target Disk Mode, you could use your iPod to move the music too.

ah ! here you touched upon what I am really concerned about, the music stuff, and particularly the authorization and non authoriz. stuff. I never really understood what the story is but I remember for ex. that there is a limt of I believe 3 computers ....

Anyhow, I need my music to remain the same on both machines, I am not throwing away my MDD 1.25x2, with all its "issues" it is still a great workhorse and I am super proud the whole g5 b/s, after virtually having had all of their CPU (beginning with the memorabel 6502).

The good news is that I don't have tons of purchased music, so hmmm, we'll see.

 

[mad jew]

I think it's five machines and since you're keeping the old Mac, ignore what I said about de-authorising it.

It'll be a pain to keep the two libraries identical but if you use either of the methods I've mentioned, you should get an identical library on the new machine.

 

[caccamolle]

Cool, just remember to de-authorise your purchased music. As an alternative to using Target Disk Mode, you could use your iPod to move the music too.

you mean using the iPod as a hard disk ? I understand one cannot simply upload music from the iPod to the Mac.

 

[mad jew]

Yep, that's exactly right. There's a pretty cool guide in the link I posted.

 

[caccamolle]

thanks dudes - great info. I am ready to go. I got the iMac Sunday, but have not yet done the transfer. We'll see what happens.

cc

 

[mad jew]

No worries. Congratulations and good luck (although you won't need it ).