[nittany4]

I just got a new mac pro (after 5 years, my wonderful g5 owes me nothing)

I was wondering if anyone had any reccomendations for the best migration method. My set up is a little unorthodox, and the whole PPC to intel thing shows mixed results using the migration assistant when I do a quick search

my g5 runs 10.5.7, so both machines wlll have current system OS

the g5 has two internal hard drives. one with the OS and all files, another with just itunes media (movies, music, etc.)

I have seperate carbon copy cloner back ups of both of those drives

I need to eventually set up the new machine this way as well (one drive for OS & files, another for media... and then two bays to spare) because my itunes library is dangerously close to 1tb.



my questions

1. should I use the migration assistant via FW800 between the macs?

2. should I use the migration asst via USB2 and the CCC back ups (I can put them in an external case or one of those docks)

3. should I install the cloned SATA drives into the mac pro and hope that works?

4. some sort of combination of above? (my hunch is to use MA for the boot drive and put the CCC of the itunes drive into the mac pro)



my biggest concerns are the usual - serial number/preference transfers, internet/router/network settings, playlists, etc.



any advice or experience would be helpful

thanks!

[mustbjones]

I went from a G4 to a new Mac pro recently. I had a total of FOUR drives in the G4. I tried starting the G4 in Target Mode but quickly found out that only one drive mounted. After searching the Apple forums I learned that only Master drives mount this way (and I guess only on one bus.) I then thought about Migration Assistant, but it is not very selective, as well as having problems going from a PowerPc to an Intel machine. I wanted to re-load all my software so that I could clean out all the "junk" I had collected over the six years I have had the G4. I did want my keychain settings, calendar, bookmarks, system preferences. If you have a MobileMe account (I do) sync these items up to the "cloud". Then I connected an ethernet cable betweens the two computers, turned on File Sharing on the G4 and set all the drives to share. I then just copied all the files I wanted from the three "data" drives over to my new ones. I then down-synced the other info from MobileMe. I had a problem with the calendars so I had to export each calendar on the G4 and import it in the Mac Pro. I kept the same account names on the new machine (something that can't be done with MA.) I then re-loaded the applications I wanted. I also found out that syncing system preferences seems to include user preferences. Had to re-register some apps but most had the settings already set up. Hope this helps.



PS If you do go the file sharing route, make sure to change your firewall setting to the bottom selection.

[nittany4]

Thanks, some good suggestions there. I think I have all (most) installer discs, so I may not copy any applications.

I suppose I can use Get Info an all apps (way too many!) and see what apps are PPC only and then I can make sure to delete and find new versions of those?

I recently went from a g4 to a macbook pro here at work and no (major) problems so far

I think I am in a position where I can try something, and if there's a glitch, I can restore the mac pro to "brand new" and try something else.

[smax013]

nittany4 said:

I think I am in a position where I can try something, and if there's a glitch, I can restore the mac pro to "brand new" and try something else.

The restore/reinstall disks that come with each Mac should be able to do that.

If you want to double cover your bases in that regard, then get an external Firewire drive and clone the internal drive to it using either SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Clone before you start to mess with it.

[nittany4]

I used my hunch



Migration assistant for the Boot Drive (someone needs to tell Apple programmers that 'less than one minute' does not mean 49 minutes!!) and put the 1tb clone of the iTunes drive into bay 2 of the new mac pro



all seems to be running well



The biggest disappointment is that the HD TV shows I bought on iTunes no longer play on my Apple 23" cinema display due to some HDCP nonsense. Quite a bummer.

[smax013]

nittany4 said:

I used my hunch





Migration assistant for the Boot Drive (someone needs to tell Apple programmers that 'less than one minute' does not mean 49 minutes!!)

Status indicators do not mean squat anymore. Most of them are just "flashing lights" that they hope will daze and mesmerize you much like sparkling, glittering stuff mesmerizes ravens. Most copy or installation, etc status indications are completely worthless.

Quote

and put the 1tb clone of the iTunes drive into bay 2 of the new mac pro

Smart move...exactly what I would have done.

Quote

The biggest disappointment is that the HD TV shows I bought on iTunes no longer play on my Apple 23" cinema display due to some HDCP nonsense. Quite a bummer.

Definite bummer. Just another instance of the media content providers hosing their paying customers in order to prevent piracy and to enable their control...and they wonder why so many people go looking for such stuff for free on file sharing sites...treat your customers like criminals long enough and they will eventually decide that there is not point in being honest if you are just going to be treated like a criminal...just might be better to actually be a criminal.