Migration Assistant

[Tobor]

Hi,

Thinking of getting a new computer before they ship (presumably) with Lion. I've used MA successfully in upgrading my computers before, but this time want to start somewhat clean due to the buildup of a decade of antique data.

However, I would like to use MA to port over Word etc. and some programs that have authorizations or what have you to eliminate some of the disc tedium.

Can you specify specific programs and files in Migration Assistant, or do you have to copy the whole ball o' wax?

Thanks,

Tobor

[DJeff]

I used Super Duper quite a few times when I had to change drives... Works stellar! No need to reauthorizing anything.

Cheers

[Tobor]

I used Super Duper quite a few times when I had to change drives... Works stellar! No need to reauthorizing anything.

Cheers

Thanks! I cloned my Macbook drive with Super Duper when I swapped in a larger one and it worked great, but don't know if that would work in this case with the different OS's (I"m on Tiger).

I just did some research and it looks as if there's Migration DVD/CD sharing software from Apple that's necessary to install to migrate just the apps, for example.

Thanks for the input!

Tobor

[MIDI Life Crisis]

You can start the old mac in target mode and drag the items you want as if from a disk. It should write new permissions as long as you don't drag that OS libraries over. Some apps may need to be reauthorized.

M.Assistant is verboten on my machines.

[Radiogal]

Hi,

Thinking of getting a new computer before they ship (presumably) with Lion.
Tobor

Exactly why I recently bought the 6 Core
However, I´m doing a totally clean install right now. I believe that´s best. I´m using a FW 800 disk for file transport between the Macs.

[David Polich]

I don't recommend using Migration Assassin - I mean, Assistant. If you
used it successfully in the past you're lucky. Many people have reported
disastrous results using it.

Yes, the best way to go is to clone your hard drive (I use Carbon Copy Cloner)
and then hook that up to your new Mac and manually copy over the files you
want. But don't copy over the apps, plug-ins, or VI's - install ALL of those fresh on your new computer from the latest downloaded installers or your application installer discs.

[pencilina]

Migration assistant has always worked perfectly for me.

[Tobor]

Hi,

Thinking of getting a new computer before they ship (presumably) with Lion.
Tobor

Exactly why I recently bought the 6 Core
However, I´m doing a totally clean install right now. I believe that´s best. I´m using a FW 800 disk for file transport between the Macs.

Thanks for all the good responses. Yes, I'd like to work in SL for awhile as it's looking iffy that Rosetta will carry over to Lion. Times being what they are, I shouldn't really spring for a new computer now, but it seems to be a 'sweet spot' to do so now in my four-five year plan. It would be nice to use legacy apps like Toast etc. that work fine under Rosetta without paying hundreds in upgrade fees, plus grabbing the latest OS's and rolling that cost into the computer.

The authorizations for Word and a couple other programs have always translated well with Migration Assistant for me. If I could surgically port over just a few of those apps and manually reinstall DP and others from disc it might be a good hybrid approach. I seem to recall a few funky discs in various VI installs so could just drag the libraries. Thanks for the 'target mode' reminder, MLC. Many of those libraries are on external FW discs so it would just take a 'repointing' for those.

The clone approach could also be of help, thanks David. I can't remember, do I need a fresh drive or partition to do a clone of my hard drive?? It's been awhile since I did this....

Likewise, how do I create a partition on which to install Lion? Would this be the first thing I do when I get the computer, and would that cause me to have to reinstall the entire OS/iLife stuff again on the main partition?

Again, thanks for all the input. I had been obsessing over acoustic guitars for my next major purchase, but am now getting excited about jumping into the present with a new box- lots of software updates (Spectrasonics et.al.) now possible.

OTOH, I guess DP 7.22 and all my music and VI apps have been running so wonderfully on Tiger and my 2.16 Core2Duo that maybe I need more stress and frustration in my life. LOL.

Tobor

[David Polich]

I don't partition and never have, so I wouldn't even know how to do it.
Actually I don't think partitioning a drive is a good idea these days,
from what I've read. It's my understanding that partitioning is a holdover
from the days when computers were less powerful and drives were smaller.

[Tobor]

I don't partition and never have, so I wouldn't even know how to do it.
Actually I don't think partitioning a drive is a good idea these days,
from what I've read. It's my understanding that partitioning is a holdover
from the days when computers were less powerful and drives were smaller.

Thanks, David. So where would I install a bootable version of Lion to try out while keeping Snow Leopard as my main vein?

I do have one of my external FW drives partitioned with a little 50g section that I thought might be used for this purpose.

Tobor