Finally-- jumping from a G4 to a Mac Pro. What is the smoothest way to transfer my applications?
Can I use migration assistant to move my photoshop and lightroom applications to a new intel-based mac from my old G4 (OSX 10.4.11), or do I have to reinstall ? (PS3/LR1.3)
It's going to be time consuming (and that's annyoing), but I would definitely NOT copy of your applications. Though it can be done, you're moving from such an old machine (that I'm assuming has had several if not many different OS install & upgrades to it over the years), I think now is a perfect time to start with a clean slate.
I would reinstall everything from scratch. Obviously moving things like your Documents folder, etc over isn't a big deal.
Enjoy your new machine!!
Posts: 186 | Location: Atlanta, GA | Registered: 24 October 2000
When I fired up my Mac Pro, the set-up screen asked if I wanted to transfer files from this or that device. I quit the set-up process, put my old G4 start-up drive in an external enclosure and fired up again. I selected import from a drive and punched go. I let it run and it imported everything flawlessly. I did upgrade some programs like PS and Final Cut, but it was less of a shake down cruise than ever before.
Good luck!
Posts: 171 | Location: Fort Worth, Tx | Registered: 16 November 2001
I did that when upgrading my ibook. It allows you to connect a firewire between the two computers and it turns the old one into a big hard drive. Then it just copies everything you want. Super-easy.
But I agree with the above comment that an old computer may have a bunch of trash on it that shouldn't be copied over. A fresh install of your important programs is a better choice.
Posts: 490 | Location: Dallas, TX, USA | Registered: 12 December 2001
If you have a fire wire cord, like from a card reader, it is very easy and the new Mac Book Pro will guide you through. I just did this to set up mine, I did have a problem with PS CS (some files did not transfer) and just copied it onto a small portable hard drive, and then just dragged it into the applications folder after I trashed the transfered version. It has worked fine ever since.
Posts: 452 | Location: Atlanta | Registered: 06 April 2006
I made the same move about a month ago. I would definitely suggest starting fresh and loading everything as Intel native apps. you don't want the old apps that were made for the IBM chips. They will run, but they have to be translated by Rosetta, which runs in the background. It will rob performance from your new system. The migration assistant thing is convenient but it's best to start out completely fresh.
Posts: 100 | Location: Chicago | Registered: 03 October 2002
Many thanks for the help to all! I used firewire and migration assistant to transfer my files. Applications I am reinstalling one by one. So far so good but I see a few headaches looming---I just might be back for more info.
And I'll add that you should fill the remaining 3 HD bays with drives. I have my Apps/Docs on HD1, mirrored #2&3 for image files, and #4 is empty scratch. Thanks to skinshooter's advice and migration help.
Posts: 5249 | Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA | Registered: 14 June 2001
I'll second the extra hard drives advice in that setup. John or skinshooter, whichever one of you suggested that a while back, I took your advice and that is definitely the way to go.
Posts: 100 | Location: Chicago | Registered: 03 October 2002
Dave: I bought a pair of 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 drives for the mirrored RAID, and a 250GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 drive for the scratch. Lots of places stock them. I got mine from Other World Computing where I also bought my RAM. Prices are getting ridiculously cheap on these things. You can get all three of those drives for less than $600. They also have good prices on RAM. I grabbed two pair of 2GB chips to up my machine to a total of 10GB. I skipped the RAID card. Just use Disk Utility to create the RAID. That card is only really necessary if you were going to build a striped RAID with SAS drives.
Posts: 100 | Location: Chicago | Registered: 03 October 2002
I'm using Disk Utility also. The other option would be SoftRaid, which will warn you if your drive is going to fail. The DU won't.
I got my second set of 2 - 500 GB mirror drives at Fry's, which sometimes has good deal in store, other times just online. I have a 300 GB scratch, but with the current prices I'd probably suggest larger.
Posts: 5249 | Location: Redondo Beach, CA USA | Registered: 14 June 2001
Why the heck would you want (need) more than the lowly 36GB Raptor for a scratch drive?? That said I'd suggest the 72 or 150 just because they could have other use partitioned for non scratch related use.
If you are using your scratch for anything else than a scratch you are slowing yourself down and, if you have bought a Raptor, it might just be a waste.
Posts: 776 | Location: USA/EU | Registered: 21 January 2002
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