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ghporter · Dec 21, 2009, 11:20 PM

I replaced the hard drive in my MBP. There's something "odd" about what's on the original drive that keeps me from being able to use Disk Utility to clone it, so I did a clean install of Snow Leopard on the new drive. What's the best strategy to migrate my data and selected apps without getting a bunch of excess stuff transferred, and without winding up with unwanted extra user accounts on the new drive?

Hal Itosis · Dec 21, 2009, 11:42 PM

IMO, the best results in terms of the user accounts for a clean-install scenario is to migrate all user accounts on that very first boot. I.e., right after installing from the DVD, during the initial boot from the HD, we are asked if we want to migrate stuff from an old Mac. If we do it then, it all works. If instead we create some new account, log in and then try to migrate users... well, it's not quite as straightforward when done that way.

Simon · Dec 22, 2009, 04:03 AM

1) Install new OS X
2) When the installer asks if you want to migrate, do it (don't wait till later)
3) Keep the old disk around and don't touch it. It'll serve as an additional backup and as a safety in case something wasn't migrated

ghporter · Dec 22, 2009, 08:06 AM

OK, I think that makes a lot of what happened when I migrated my wife's iBook stuff to her MacBook stuff make sense.

I think when I get a few minutes I'll reinstall SL on the MBP and have the old disk handy... Will the installer be able to see a USB-connected drive? Will I have to connect the drive at any particular time, or is it OK to connect it just when the installer asks to migrate accounts?

Simon · Dec 22, 2009, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by ghporter

Will the installer be able to see a USB-connected drive?

Sure.

Will I have to connect the drive at any particular time, or is it OK to connect it just when the installer asks to migrate accounts?

MA will tell you when to connect the drive. But in principle you can do it whenever you want.

ghporter · Dec 22, 2009, 08:10 PM

Cool. Thanks for the help.

ghporter · Dec 22, 2009, 10:54 PM

I'm doing an erase and install right now. Should be easy now that I know (at least more about) what I'm doing.

Simon · Dec 23, 2009, 02:45 AM

Sounds good.

Keep us posted.

ghporter · Dec 23, 2009, 09:13 AM

It worked great, though it took some time-about half as long as the erase-install took. So far all looks great, but I haven't had time to play around with it. The overall process worked nicely.

I hope to have time to post about the upgrade and how easy it actually was.

Atheist · Dec 23, 2009, 09:33 AM

When upgrading from one version of the OS to the next (or if I have to do a complete reinstall for some reason) I take it as an opportunity to do housecleaning. I back up everything, do an erase and install, and then manually copy over each application as needed. I use MobileMe Sync to restore my bookmarks, keychains, etc. To preserve an apps settings and data just make sure to copy the associated files from ~/Library/Application Support and ~/Library/Preferences. Some applications also store data in /Library.

I suppose one might find this approach tedious but it works for me.