[jimcpherson]

I want to find out what's the best way to transfer everything over from my old powerbook to my new powerbook (files, apps, prefs, iTunes/iPhoto libraries, fonts, etc.). Ideally, I want a way that, when I reboot the new laptop after copying all of the files, I have an exact duplicate of my old computer.
Any straight-forward ways to do this? Thanks.

[mark9939]

Carbon Copy Cloner, Carbon Copy Cloner, Carbon Copy Cloner. Easiest way for you to to do this will to buy an external FW HD (which is always good to have) and use CCC to copy the contents of your old HD to the new FW one. Then, copy the FW drive to your new Mac. Or... burn a hell of a lot of CDs.

[Brass]

If you are fortunate enough to be able to buy the new one before selling the old one, you can boot the new one in FireWire target disk mode directly off the old one and copy directly to the new disk.

This would avoid the need for the extra expense on an external HD (and make the whole process a LOT faster and easier).

Carbon Copy Cloner appears to be the best software for the job from what I hear (I've never used it myself).

[jimcpherson]

Thanks for the suggestions. I actually will have both computers at the same time so I will try the firewire target disk mode technique. Is this documented anywhere on the exact steps involved? How do I boot the new computer into firewire target disk mode? And do I just drag all of my apps plus User folder over, or do I have to create a new user on the new machine first?

[chris v]

1. Boot new computer in target disk mode. It will mount on old machine as if it were a firewire drive.
2. From old computer, wipe drive clean on new computer.
3. Use Carbon Copy Cloner to move all data from old machine to new one.
4. Done!

Edit: Alternatively, if you don't want to wipe the OS on the new machine, you could try creating a user on the new machine with the exact same username and password, skip step 2 above, and use CCC to copy just your Apps and Users folder. I *think* this will work, except you'll lose any OS level modifications you've got on the old machine, like installed themes, and third-party preference panes.

CV

[jimcpherson]

OK, sounds good. But how do you boot the new computer into target disk mode? Just connect a firewire cable between the two and boot them up? I think the firewire cable for my iPod will work.

[C.J. Moof]

Restart/boot the new computer, hold the T key down until you see the firewire logo bouncing about the screen. Mission accomplished.

BTW, if you didn't want to wait for the forum to answer this, you could have opened Mac Help from the Finder, typed in "firewire target", read the first hit and been on your way.