14 DAY TRIAL // There is now a resourceful place on Apple’s website where customers have all available options presented for transferring files from one Mac to another, complete with written instructions and imagery.
Apple addresses those who recently bought a new Mac (or those who simply want to get two Macs paired on settings), saying, “You can use Migration Assistant to transfer important information, such as user accounts, applications, network and computer settings, and files, from one Mac computer to another.”
For this, the company felt an extensive tutorial was needed:
OS X Lion: How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac
Apple notes that even though the instructions refer to Migration Assistant, they also apply to migrations performed using the Setup Assistant.
“Setup Assistant starts the first time you start up your new Mac and helps you enter your Internet information and set up a user account on your computer,” Apple explains.
“If you don't use Setup Assistant to transfer information when you first setup your new Mac, you can do it later using Migration Assistant,” the Mac maker adds.
Apple outlines that users can connect their Macs in one of four ways to transfer information with Migration Assistant: FireWire or ThunderBolt; Wireless (Wi-Fi) or Ethernet; Time Machine backup; or other disk.
Several steps are outlined, including instructions on how to prepare before migrating any data.
For example, Apple begins with such valuable tips as “If you're using a portable Mac, make sure the power cable is connected.”
Jokes aside, customers may really want to consult every tip listed in the document to ensure no data is lost, and that migration runs smoothly and without any chance of having certain files or settings left behind on the Mac they originated from.
One set of instructions even shows how to migrate stuff from Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger to OS X Lion.
Finally, Apple also offers solutions for migrated applications that fail to open or function correctly.