6 easy steps to migrate your Mac using Time Machine

October 29 2008, 12:00pm

Filed under: OS, LeopardIf you use Time Machine in Leopard, then transferring your stuff to a new Mac might be a bit simpler than you thought. With Migration Assistant, you can easily transfer Applications, Documents, Settings, and more. In this Mac 101, we're going to show you how it's done, and how you can do it yourself! 1. Make sure you have a recent backupMake sure you have a recent Time Machine backup on the machine you wish to transfer your information from. To check, go to System Preferences (Apple menu) > Time Machine. If you see a recent backup, then you're set; if not, click "show Time Machine status in the menu bar." In the resulting menu bar item, click "Back up now." Time Machine will make a new backup. 2. Make sure you're not leaving anything behindIn the Time Machine System Preference pane, click the Options button. In the dialog box, you can see all the folders you have chosen not to backup -- check these to make sure you really don't want them. If you do, click the folder and chose the "-" (minus button) at the bottom. Click OK and backtrack to step 1 to create a current backup. 3. Getting the new machine readyFrom this point, you can deviate into two directions:

If your Mac is new: Boot up the new Mac and go through the set up screens. When the setup assistant asks if you want to migrate information from your old Mac, choose "From Time Machine backup or other disk." 
If your Mac has an existing account, don't fret. Just open "Migration Assistant" located in /Applications/Utilities.
  1. Connecting your Time Machine drive to the new machineOnce you have completed the above step, click continue. Migration Assistant will ask you to specify the backup you would like to transfer to the new machine. Gallery: Migrating to a new MacContinue reading for more details...Continue reading 6 easy steps to migrate your Mac using Time MachineRead | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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