Moving complete hard drive contents to a new Mac.

[nod]

Hi Group,

I have been banging my head against my desk trying to figure out how to get a complete copy of my Mac to a new Mac. I know the migration app is available but have no idea how to use it with just one keyboard, mouse, and monitor. My new Mac mini is getting here tomorrow and I would like to get it up so I can send my current Mac mini in for trade. I have searched the web which pretty much says to use the migration app. I'm wondering if I can use my TimeMachine backup which is on a removable drive? I have SuperDuper and could make a backup and restore from that, would that work? Should I buy Carbon Copy Cloner? I read here that is better than SuperDuper.

After a disaster, brought on buy myself, I would rather not start from scratch again. I would sincerely appreciate any help.

nod

 

[Raz0rEdge]

This article should answer your questions:

Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support

Use Migration Assistant to copy your files from another computer.

support.apple.com

 

[ferrarr]

Your monitor most likely has multiple input connectors, so you can use the control on the monitor to switch between the two different Mac inputs.

The restore from Time Machine is a better option.

 

[Rod]

I can completely sympathise with your anxiety but these days transitioning from an old to new Mac is pretty simple. There are basically two ways. Wirelessly/Wired using Migration Assistant or restoring from a backup.
Where you have two free standing computers either desktop or laptop the wireless method with Migration Assistant is definitely the way to go but in your case with only one keyboard and screen I think the latter method is the way to go.
I would make a Time Machine backup first. I know you have a SuperDuper clone but TM is ideally designed for this data transfer process.
Then, start up your new Mac Mini with your screen, keyboard and TM backup connected. Go through the setup process, login with the same name, Apple ID and password. You will be asked if you want to transfer data and how. Say yes and choose your TM backup. You will probably want to select all data, this will create a Home folder and restore all your data, Files and Applications to your new Mac Mini.
Don't forget you will still have your old Mac Mini so if anything goes wrong you can easily erase the new one and start again.

 

[Rod]

I have done some further reading on the topic and I'm surprised to find no specific information/instructions on T/F of user account and data from one Mac Mini to another. Thats probably because it's simpler than we think. Apple have made this process pretty simple. I even found one article in reddit where the poster said when he started up the new Mini with the Time Machine backup of his old 2018 Mini connected it simply asked if he wanted to transfer his account and user data from TM to that mini. Clicking "Yes" resulted in all his user data and account being copied to the new Mini. Job done.

So, it may well be an even simpler process than I described in Post #4.

I used Migration Assistant wirelessly for transferring everything from my old MBP to the one I'm on now. It was the first time I had done that and it was incredibly easy but partway into the process it requested I update the macOS. I was of two minds not wanting to disturb the T/F process but in the end I gave in. It updated, restarted and continued the T/F process without a hitch.

The point is with macOS constantly updating we can never be sure exactly how this process will go or what options you might be offered with macOS Sequoia. All I can say is, if you are offered a choice of actions consider the implications carefully, look them up online if necessary before making a decision.

Here is the best Apple article on the process; Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant – Apple Support (UK)

As you can see it's perfectly possible to connect the two Minis together and access them both with the same screen and keyboard but personally, to keep things as simple as possible I think a Time Machine backup is, although probably slower, the least complicated way to go.

Do let us know how you get on, your experience will be valuable info for us all.

 

[nod]

Thank you Rod (and everyone).

I had been kicking the idea of using the split screen option. I don't know how to do it but at some point I would figure it out. I think I will just hook my portable drive on the new Mac and let Time Machine do its thing. I also think I will get Carbon Copy Cloner and start using it and keep up to date back ups.

 

[Rod]

nod, I have both (because I believe one is not enough) a CCC clone and a TM backup.

 

[Slydude]

I have used both Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper. Both programs have performed well for me. Originally I stuck with Carbon Copy Cloner because the version of SuperDuper available at that time did not "clone" the Mac's boot drive.

Either program should do what you want. Last time I checked both programs had fully functional demos. I suggest you download both and at least look them over to see which seems to be most understandable to you.

As a rule I find that if users perceive a backup program as difficult to use it they don't use it.

 

[IWT]

My pennies worth is in support of the Time Machine approach. It's dead easy to use.

I'm not discouraging the several other methods which work fine; but it's the ease of use of Time Machine and especially for someone who has anxieties about the transfer process.

BTW, I have two Time Machine backups; just in case

I too, have a cloned BU (CCC), but that's there as an alternative.

Ian

 

[nod]

Well, I will see as today I get the new Mac. I did order a new removable hard drive as the one I have is really old. I will get CCC and start keeping an up to date backup. I will say one thing about SuperDuper. I bought it years ago and they still upgrade it for free. I just have to scrounge around for the key. I know I don't throw it away but after a few years it becomes a challenge to find it.

 

[pm-r]

Well, I will see as today I get the new Mac. I did order a new removable hard drive as the one I have is really old.

Maybe I am misunderstanding or misreading this but I didn't think that any recent Mac models were available with a removable hard drive or solid state drive.

Anyway that shouldn't interfere with the subject as far as I know.




- Patrick
=======

 

[IWT]

I did order a new removable hard drive as the one I have is really old

Patrick,

I think what the OP (nod) meant was he/she has ordered a standalone External Hard Drive (EHD) because you are, of course, right. There isn't, to the best of my knowledge, such a thing as "a removable hard drive".

Although the OP might consider replacing the Mac's Internal HD with the new EHD at some time in the future. This is not an easy task. If that's what the OP meant.

Ian

 

[MacBiter]

nod, I have both (because I believe one is not enough) a CCC clone and a TM backup.

...on different drives, I'm sure you meant to add!.

 

[nod]

Maybe I am misunderstanding or misreading this but I didn't think that any recent Mac models were available with a removable hard drive or solid state drive.

Anyway that shouldn't interfere with the subject as far as I know.




- Patrick
=======

I must have used the wrong term. It is a hard drive(?) plugged into a pci port using a cable.

 

[nod]

I got the job done using Time Machine. It didn't take long and it was straight forward Everything is where it should be. I still intend on getting CCC and the new external hard drive will be here Wednesday.

Thank you all that offered the input.

 

[Rod]

nod, I'm interested in your intention to obtain CCC. I'm not knocking it, I have it myself and have done for 5 years or more. I just want to stress that my original motivation for buying CCC was it's ability to create Bootable copies of my hard drive in case my HD failed completely. Back in those days with an Intel Mac this was a very practical solution. It saved my bacon more than once. On one occasion my wife's MBP HD crashed and we were able to boot from the CCC clone and run her MBP for several weeks until a replacement could be found (we were overseas at the time). When we got the new HD I swapped it over and using CCC cloned her backup (clone) to the new HD and job done. She had her internal HD up and running, an exact copy of how it was.
Unfortunately the above is no longer an option with the new Mx (Silicon) Apple computers.
See this article from CCC (Bombich);

Creating legacy bootable copies of macOS (Big Sur and later) - Bombich Software

bombich.com

While CCC still has some specific advantages over Time Machine if your new Mac Mini is a Silicon Processor model, and I assume it is, then the reason I initially purchased CCC is no longer on the table unless you create a Legacy copy and even then it's OS can no longer be updated in the usual way and in the case of complete system failure would not be able to boot your device. It could however boot another device but that would not be necessary in order to restore you data to a different/new device.

So, to sum up, CCC is an excellent backup option but it does cost money. It offers a few features that TM does not eg. Advanced Scheduling; Multiple Tasks, Customised Backups, Disk Image creation, Safety Net and version history, and Storage Location (even cloud storage). Most of which don't interest me but that's just me.
It is my preferred way of performing a Clean Instal because its easy file structure allows simple drag an drop restores, otherwise the only reason I still have it is because I had it already.

I only mention all this because you already have SuperDuper, an excellent product and paying out for CCC might just be unnecessary duplication. Anyway, read the article attached and see what you think.

 

[nod]

Rod, I guess I will stay using SuperDuper. Things sure have changed over the years. I read your post and the link you put in it. The bulk of the link on CCC was over my head for the most part. I will be 68 in a few months and just try to keep my Mac running smoothly now. As you can see in my profile I have been registered to this group for a long time with a low post count. When I switched from Windows to Mac I really learned to appreciate how few problems the Mac had.

Let me ask this, will SuperDuper boot up the new Macs?

 

[pm-r]

Let me ask this, will SuperDuper boot up the new Macs?

Yes, at least according to a quick Google search but you might want to read them over to see if there are any conditions attached:

AI Overview Learn more
Yes, SuperDuper can boot up new Macs:
Bootable backups
SuperDuper can create fully bootable backups for new macOS versions, including Sonoma, Ventura, Monterey, Big Sur, and Sequoia.

Check out the hits here:

Google Search

- Patrick
=======

 

[MacBiter]

Let me ask this, will SuperDuper boot up the new Macs?

I don't use / know SuperDuper but you can be sure - if CCC can't do it any longer, then nor can SD.

However, you CAN migrate either SD or CCC backup to a Mac using Migration Assistant, and it will subsequently boot AFTER migration:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/superduper-migration-possible-when-going-from-m1-macbook-pro-to-m1-max-macbook-pro.2341769/.

 

[Rod]

Well technically both SuperDuper and CCC can be bootable but the catch is; the reason we used to want bootable backups was in case the Operating System became damaged.

This can no longer happen with the Mx Macs because the OS is isolated from the general storage (in it's own locked "capsule").

If in the unlikely event it did fail you would be unable to start up the device at all, even with a bootable source.

So, as the CCC article says (in much more technical terms) there is little point in creating a bootable backup because in the only circumstance you'd want that, it wouldn't work.

You can always reinstall the OS from Recovery so all you really need to backup is your personal data.

The only use for a Bootable External Drive I can think of is a corporate scenario where a company technician wants to update, repair or alter settings on a group of computers.

Both SD and CCC do a great job in backing up your personal data and the only real difference between them to me is the User Interface.