HELP! Transferring files from Mac 10.6.8 to new ipad pro

[anomaly62]

I've got a 2009 MacBook Pro that is still on O.S. 10.6.8 because it has software, no longer available, that cannot be updated that is essential for artwork that I sell! There is no other software like it. I will lose it forever if I upgrade my O.S.
This old Mac has the older firewire as well as USB ports.
It is too old to connect to ICloud.

I just bought a new iPad Pro.
I've spent hours online trying to figure out how to transfer my files, music, and other data to the new iPad to no avail.

Can anyone help me?

I can follow logic, but I don't know a lot of terminology and need extremely basic step-by-step instructions!

 

[MacInWin]

Welcome back. It's been a while since your first post.

I'm not sure what you are trying to do, but the operating system on the MBP is OSX, while the iPad runs iOS. Two different animals. And two different file structures. So I'm not sure what you are trying to achieve by copying the files to the iPad.

But, to move files from the old MBP to the iPad, have you tried just connecting by the USB cord that came with the iPad and seeing if iTunes from that old system can see the iPad? I don't know if a newer iPad can still work with the old version of OSX. If they communicate, iTunes should be able to move music, at least.

On another topic, your situation with the old MBP and OS is very, very precarious. I would spend some time looking for a way to transfer that artwork to a modern system. If that MBP dies, a new Mac won't be able to go back to 10.6.8 and you will be very definitely out of business. If that is your income source, you need to get it modernized, now.

 

[gsahli]

Try this:
https://www.wikihow.com/Transfer-Files-to-iPad-from-a-Computer

 

[Slydude]

iCloud is pretty much out of the question as a transfer method guys as the OP seems to have discovered already. Minimal support for that is OS X 10.7.5 and even then only some features are supported. It is likely that OneDrive and similar setups will likely face similar issues.

Newer iPads require at least OS X 10.9.5 and iTunes 12 to sync with the Mac. I think your Mac can go as high as 10.11.x but there is always the possibility that you will need to upgrade one or more programs.

The only options I can think of at the moment is to do one of the following things.

1. If you have enough space on your Mac's hard drive create a separate partition and install a newer version of the OS on there. Boot from that partition to transfer/sync.
2. Install a newer version on an external drive and boot from there when you need to sync.
3. Use a Windows 7 or higher PC to make the connection to your iPad.

Which programs are you concerned about loosing in an upgrade?

 

[MacInWin]

Maybe something like Dropbox? It's on the internet, so it shouldn't care what version of the OS, as long as the browser can get there and do the sync.

But the bigger risk, as I said, is the antique OS and the high risk of trying to keep it going.

 

[Slydude]

Maybe there is something out there but Dropbox won't be it. Unless I misunderstood the following

• In May, 2015 the Dropbox desktop app stopped supporting macOS versions OS X 10.4 and OS X 10.5
• In January, 2018 the Dropbox desktop app stopped supporting macOS versions OS X 10.6 and OS X 10.7

See here

 

[MacInWin]

Well, we are running out of options. I guess one of those combo USB/Lightning memory sticks might do, but they are pretty expensive.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CIEBU22/?tag=macforums0e4-20

 

[Slydude]

That had not occurred to me. I looked the price of those drives last night. Maybe that very one in fact. They've cone down a bit but are still a bit pricey.

I think we are going to need to know more about the files that need to be transferred before we can go further.

 

[ferrarr]

My recommendation is to get an external Firewire enclosure/drive, and install OS X El Capitan (10.11) onto it. Use the external drive for your iTunes and online needs, and leave the internal drive as it is.

Then you can sync whatever files you need.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Bob's idea is the your best bet here since you are tethered to that specific application that you cannot afford to lose.

 

[Slydude]

Great minds think alike lol. See post 4.

 

[anomaly62]

Thanks, everyone. I truly appreciate all the input.

Just so you know, the iPad is brand new--arrived yesterday!--with limited instructions, and I have zero experience with this kind of equipment and am NOT of a technical bent, so I hadn't even realized that it would have a different operating system from my Mac.

I'm a writer, artist, and musician. What I want to transfer: documents (novels!) that are on Pages, PDF files (especially sheet music, as I plan to use the iPad primarily for reading music), my MP3 music library, artwork, and photos.

Everything on the MacBook Pro is backed up on an external drive.

The software in question helps me create some very sophisticated fractal art, and it is really great. It cannot be upgraded beyond 10.6.8. I've had my hard drive rebuilt, and so far the MacBook Pro (17"!!!!) continues to run well. I do recognize that at some point, it will all be lost and am always seeking new fractal art programs...and the creations are backed up and preserved on multiple machines.

1. Downloading OS X El Capitan on my external drive is tempting. It connects to my MacBook Pro with a firewire. Any tips or links about how one does that? As I said, I'm not very technically minded, but I can follow step-by-step instructions.

2. I like the partition idea, but think it's beyond my abilities and I'm nervous about overtaxing my old computer.

3. I wouldn't mind purchasing a USB/Lightening memory stick if I thought it could actually transfer the files. (The MacBook Pro doesn't recognize the USB on my iPad.)

4. The option of PCs looks great--possibly could transfer everything except the Pages documents. I DO actually have a couple of PCs, one running Windows 7 and one very new PC laptop running Windows 10 (ick, ick)...and so that looks like an option.

I'll let you know what, if anything, works. I know others who haven't updated from OS 10.6.8 because of software they don't want to lose. Shame on the manufacturers for making this such a difficult task.

Thanks again.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

I'll let you know what, if anything, works. I know others who haven't updated from OS 10.6.8 because of software they don't want to lose. Shame on the manufacturers for making this such a difficult task.

Thanks again.

Shame on developers you mean that haven't decided to update their apps to the later OS'. If the developer is charging money or has charged in the past, they owe it to their user base to continue to upgrade to newer versions of the OS.

 

[ferrarr]

Well, right now you will be limited by separation. Those two devices will not communicate, until you update the OS on the MBP.

If the software you need, is only occasional use, it may be better, for those needs, to clone the internal drive, to an external. You mentioned a Firewire external, that may work for your needs? How much space (GB), free vs used, is available on the drive? What about the data on the drive, is that data backed up on a second separate drive?

This way, you can upgrade the internal drive to a newer OS and get more use out of your MBP.

 

[MacInWin]

And can you tell us the name of the software that is keeping you back at 10.6.8? Maybe there is a replacement or update that you are unaware exists.