Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

dzp111 · May 21, 2009, 01:54 PM

I'm trying to migrate from my MacBook to a newer iMac.

Firewire seems to be out of the question since I don't have the correct cable (I have 2 types: 400FW and 6-pin to 4-pin, and none of them fit)

So I'm trying the Ethernet way. But there's always a Networking problem (can't find the other computer).

So I know it's matter of configuring my Ethernet networking on the MacBook, but I'm at a loss.

I also tried the Airport way but again I need to configure my router somehow (it mentions 'bridging' but I can't find this option on my (new) Lynksys router.

Any help or directions would be greatly appreciated

My Firewall is also off.

Cold Warrior · May 21, 2009, 02:00 PM

Do you have an external drive with a Time Machine backup of your macbook? What about an external drive with a lot of free space to clone your macbook to?

You can take data from an external drive and use Migration Assistant on your new iMac to pull the data off of the external. Migration Assistant will accept a Time Machine backup on an external drive or a properly cloned volume (also on an external).

dzp111 · May 21, 2009, 02:14 PM

I do have a SuperDuper clone on an external.

So I'll have to fully install the OSX on the iMac and then retrieve the clone from the external, using USB?

Cold Warrior · May 21, 2009, 02:23 PM

Let's pause for a second. Is this iMac new from Apple, have you booted it up yet, does it run OS X 10.5? What OS does your MacBook use?

One approach is to backup your MacBook using Time Machine (assuming your MB runs Leopard) to the external. Then connect the external to your iMac, boot the iMac from the 10.5 restore DVD that came with it, and choose to restore your iMac from the Time Machine backup. It should bring back your Macbook's data while preserving iMac-specific drivers. This assumes both the MB and iMac have Leopard (10.5).

I don't know enough about superduper's clone to tell you whether Migration Assistant would import from it.

dzp111 · May 21, 2009, 02:29 PM

The iMac's brand new (the latest 20"), and the install disk is Leopard. My MacBook is also leopard (10.5.7)

I've never been a fan of TM which is why I clone using SD on a regular basis (external HD).

So I'm now thinking, install Leopard on new iMac, update the OS. Then plug in to my external, drag and drop copy of SD (from clone), and restore.

Something sounds iffy about it all though.

Cold Warrior · May 21, 2009, 02:32 PM

Your macbook clone may not include drivers for the iMac's hardware. That's the iffy part.

dzp111 · May 21, 2009, 02:32 PM

If that doesn't sound like a good idea, then I guess I have no choice but to purchase FW400 to FW800. Yes?

Cold Warrior · May 21, 2009, 02:37 PM

Your current external will suit you just fine using the process I outlined previously, even if it is USB 2. But if you feel more comfortable with FW400/800, that's up to you.