Backing up/Upgrading/Switching Macbook Pros

[scootermaster]

So my friend is trading in an old Santa Rosa MBP for a new one. I'm wondering what the best way to backup/restore the data/apps is going to be. A couple of things:

- She won't have both systems at the same time. She has to mail the old one in, and will then get the new one later.
- The old one is using 10.4, and the new one will obviously have 10.5.
- She has an external HD to back things up on.
- She doesn't have install discs for -- ahem -- some of her apps

If it was me, I'd just back up data, get a fresh install and then install apps one by one, but like I said, she doesn't have install discs for some of them. Cloning might work, but I'm worried about the OS shift.

So any ideas of the best way to back up everything from her old system and get it somehow to her new system?

Thanks!

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Carbon Copy Cloner?

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
Carbon Copy Cloner?

I mean, what's the workflow here? Clone the drive and then use migration assistant?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: scootermaster

Originally posted by: ChAoTiCpInOy
Carbon Copy Cloner?

I mean, what's the workflow here? Clone the drive and then use migration assistant?

That should do it yes. And if that doesn't get everything, you can always copy over the apps and their pertinent data individually. Get AppCleaner, drag an app to it and it will find all the associated files (it will also delete them for you if you want it to, but in this case, you don't)

 

[Ka0t1x]

Also depending on the generation of the MacBook, you can use the target boot method, and copy from one to the other with a firewire cable, using Disk Utility.

Also creating a time machine backup? of the drive could work.

But you could have some sort of issues with the drivers/chipset swap.

Edit:

Time Machine /should/ backup the required items to run that software, into a Sparse image. That you can have as backup to pull files from, mount it , use it like a drive.

Or you can use Disk Utility to create a disk image of the entire hard-drive as well, if things need to be done quickly.


But as for the software an upgrade from 10.4 to 10.5... would that software even work correctly?

 

[scootermaster]

Originally posted by: Ka0t1x
Also depending on the generation of the MacBook, you can use the target boot method, and copy from one to the other with a firewire cable, using Disk Utility.

Also creating a time machine backup? of the drive could work.

But you could have some sort of issues with the drivers/chipset swap.

Edit:

Time Machine /should/ backup the required items to run that software, into a Sparse image. That you can have as backup to pull files from, mount it , use it like a drive.

Or you can use Disk Utility to create a disk image of the entire hard-drive as well, if things need to be done quickly.


But as for the software an upgrade from 10.4 to 10.5... would that software even work correctly?

It's not a software upgrade. She's giving Apple her old MBP, which has 10.4, and they're giving her a brand new one, with 10.5. So that's the problem; she'll never have both systems at the same time. She has to use the external as an intermediary. And also, she doesn't have TM, since her current system is 10.4

 

[Ka0t1x]

I completely missed that in the first post, sorry, long friday..

So yeah, your best option would be to use the above methods.. Or see what Apple has to say about the ordeal...

I don't think its possible to run Tiger on the new MBPs, or you could clone the drive to the new one and run software update.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Ka0t1x
I completely missed that in the first post, sorry, long friday..

So yeah, your best option would be to use the above methods.. Or see what Apple has to say about the ordeal...

I don't think its possible to run Tiger on the new MBPs, or you could clone the drive to the new one and run software update.

It is definitely not possible.

I think the best route Scooter is for this person to clone their drive, and then when they get their new MBP, just hook the clone up, and tell the new system to migrate settings and data.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

You could ask them if you could keep the old drive.