Best Method of Transferring From Old Mac to New Mac

I've got a 27" iMac on order that's supposed to ship sometime in early January, and am wondering what is the best method of transferring everything from this Mac to the new one (once it arrives)?
As I understand it, there are essentially three ways of doing this:
Migration Assistant
Setup Assistant
Time Machine
I've got two user accounts on this Mac, and will need to transfer everything for both accounts. I have about 350GB worth of files, data, and applications to transfer.
Is one of the above methods better than the others for accomplishing this? Are there any "gotchas" I should be aware of before moving everything over?
Advice and assistance is welcomed.

The easiest method is to use Setup Assistant that automatically starts the first time you use a new Mac. It will offer you the opportunity to migrate all users or just those you select.
Mike Osborn wrote:
... Are there any "gotchas" I should be aware of before moving everything over?
If you do not use Setup Assistant, you can always use Migration Assistant later. However, this can easily become confusing if you already created a user account on the new Mac. Most people won't have the patience to use Setup Assistant and understandably want to use their new Mac right away. If you elect to do that, don't create an account with the same name as one you wish to migrate. Instead, create a user account that you plan to erase after you migrate your existing accounts. The reason is that if you create a brand new account named, for example, "Mike Osborn", you will be unable to migrate to another account with that name.
Use a wired connection. Wireless can take an unacceptable amount of time (days).
Don't create a brand new Apple ID either. Have your existing Apple ID and password ready and use it, so you don't make the mistake of creating an Apple ID with no pedigree.
Register your new Mac (and all your other Apple equipment, if you have not yet done so) using this link:
https://supportprofile.apple.com/
This provides for a convenient database of all your Apple equipment's serial numbers, service history, and warranty eligibility.

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Have just purchased an iMac and have transferred data from an old iMac and MacBook Pro so I now have two accounts on my new computer. Can I merge the two accounts and if so, how? Can I have both accounts open at the same time? Preference is to merge in to one.
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you mentioned that some files (particularly music files) won't automatically pop up into iTunes
Again, the original topic poster was trying to merge data from two accounts into one account. In that case, you have to pick one account as the master and add the data from the other account to it. That makes it hard to preserve things like iTunes playlists, rating, etc. from the account that is NOT the master account. You can add music easily by dragging and dropping the music files to the iTunes window, but that just adds the songs to the library; it does not preserve supporting data such as ratings, playlists, play count, etc.
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<user home folder>/Music/
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I kind of summarized how to do it instead of writing the steps in detail, so if you have any questions, you can post back.

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Welcome to the Apple Community.
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Will FontBook refrain from adding dups, prefer newer fonts to older, and prefer OT over TT over PS fonts.
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Getting data transfered from old HD to new ones, leaving 2 slots filled . .

Hello,
*(Below is a thread I started in another forum, but, didn't get my final questions answered (see at bottom of this post in BOLD), and am hoping for further help and suggestions. I know there is a lot to read here, but, I think this information will help other novices, such as myself. Thanks!)*
I have 2 new HDs (each 1T) uninstalled, and I have my old HD (160 gigs) currently residing in one of the two slots in my G5. Any ideas on the best way/process to get the data transfered from the old HD to the new ones, leaving my two slots filled with the 2 new drives AND my data from the old HD transfered and intact, with a RAID0 setup?
OR, are there any other suggestions on a good setup with the 2 new HDs??
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I always back-up on external HDs, so, is their a need for me to worry about setting up a RAID0??
I'm doing video processing for DVD release.
Should I just max out the 2x1T gig HDs and not worry about a HD failure??
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*FROM THE CUTTERMAN:*
You are limited with only 2 drive slots. In this scenario what usually works best is a small fast drive (eg Velocirapter or SSD) for OSX/Applications and a large drive for video files. It is not advisable to have the operating system running from a striped array.
Since you already have the drives, here is what you can do.
Install one new drive and format the partition you wish to use for OSX. You may not want to use the whole drive for OSX, so make 2 partitions. Be sure that it is GPT-formatted so it can boot.
Use CarbonCopy Cloner to copy your current OSX partition to the new one.
Set the startup disk as the new partition.
Remove the old drive and replace it with the second new one.
Reboot, and partition/format new drive.
*Hey Cutterman,*
Thanks for the advice. That sounds like a good set-up. I'll have to research the process of doing what you've advised, but, should work out ok:
A. Install one new drive and format the partition you wish to use for OSX. You may not want to use the whole drive for OSX, so make 2 partitions:
1. Partitions are done under Disc Utilities correct? Never done it before; will take a look.
B. Be sure that it is GPT-formatted so it can boot.
2. GPT is also done under Disc Utilities, correct? Here I start to get a bit confused, as I've formatted Extended Journal, SO, the partition with the OSX & Applications is formatted GPT, and the rest of the HD is formatted as Extended Journal?
C. Use CarbonCopy Cloner to copy your current OSX partition to the new one.
3. So, I partition the first new HD and use Carbon Copy Cloner (also under Disc Utilities) to copy the OSX & Applications from my original HD to the first new HD, correct?
D. Set the startup disk as the new partition.
4. This will be an option when I setup the partition???
E. Remove the old drive and replace it with the second new one.
F. Reboot, and partition/format new drive.
5. QUESTION: So, you recommend not striping the HDs: If I do a RAID 1, which sets up a mirror of the HDs, and since the first new HD is partitioned with the OSX & Applications, AND is set up as the Startup Disk, then the second new HD will also mirror that?? Another QUESTION: Even if the second new HD does not mirror the OSX & Applications, the second HD will only mirror the space/partition not utilized by the OSX & Applications partition, correct?
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Jack
*FROM THE CUTTERMAN:*
OK I will try to answer your questions. To begin, if you want to mirror the 2 drives then you will need to boot from the SL install DVD or an external (USB/firewire) drive to set it up. IMO for your purposes it is too much hassle and a waste of HD space.
1) Yes partitions are created in Disk Utility
2) Yes, you choose a volume Scheme (ie number of partitions) and size them by dragging the separator bar. Then select the planned boot partition and click Options..., then choose GPT. I think it is usually the default but check and make sure. Extended journaled is the usual format.
3) You need to download Carbon Copy. It is a free tool that will copy the entire image of your current system partition to the new one and make it bootable. Consider making a donation as it is a very useful and frequently updated utility. It is fairly intuitive to use. You can also use the restore feature in Disk Utility but I have had more experience with Carbon Copy.
4) Once the copy process is finished the new boot partition will show up under the startup disk selections (this tool is in System Preferences).
*FROM 666Sheep:*
If may i correct one thing: OP, don't choose GPT (GUID Partition Table). You got PPC Mac (G5), so valid partition type for you is Apple Partition Map (APM).
GPT is for Intel Macs and you will not able to boot from this kind of partition.
*FROM THE CUTTERMAN:*
Thanks for the correction- my bad. No familiarity with non-Intel Macs.
G5 PowerMac, 2.5 GHz Dual, Dec. 2004, 6.5 GB RAM, 149 GB HD
*Hi All,*
*Since this process will come to a head on Tuesday/Wednesday, and I hope to be successful in transferring Old HD data to new HD/s.*
*A: I'm still a little foggy here, as I thought I'd set up the 2 new T-gig HDs so that if one of them failed, I'd still have the data backed up on the other HD; more ideas concerning this would be reassuring:*
*WHAT DOES "IMO" mean?*
*(IMO for your purposes it is too much hassle and a waste of HD space.)*
*As I understand the points made: After I partition the first new HD, and Carbon Copy data from old HD, I then install second new HD, and this will just act as an overflow from the first partitioned HD, correct? Because, if set up a Raid1/Mirror, the OSX partitioned portion of the first new HD will not copy to the second new HD, and that space on the second new HD will be wasted, correct?*
*Also: I have to set up RAID1 (if I do not set up RAID0), correct?*
*RAID 1*
*From WIKI: RAID 1 mirrors the contents of the disks, making a form of 1:1 ratio real time mirroring. The contents of each disk in the array are identical to that of every other disk in the array. A RAID 1 array requires a minimum of two drives.*
*Carbon Copy is a free tool that will copy the entire image of your current system partition to the new one and make it bootable.*
*1. Is my old HD partitioned? Is that done automatically by MAC prior to PC purchase?*
*2. Do I Carbon Copy the whole old HD or just parts? (eg. OSX, Photo Shop, After Effects, Various Files)*
*3. I read that it is necessary to DEACTIVATE Photo Shop (I have CS3) prior to doing Carbon Copy. Is that correct? If so, does this also apply to other Adobe applications? Such as After Affects, Illustrator??*
*Thanks to all for the help!!*
*G5 PowerMac, 2.5 GHz Dual, Dec. 2004, 6.5 GB RAM, 149 GB HD*

Confusing Information:
A1: You also want to make sure the drive you are backing up to is formatted Mac HFS Extended (HFS+) if using Mac OS 8.1 or above.
A2: On PowerPC Macs, your clone should be partitioned as Apple Partition Map.
*Q? I thought the new HD (1T) should be formatted in Extended Journaled?*
B: Also disable Spotlight (in 10.4 only) on your destination drive using Apple menu -> System Preferences -> Spotlight -> Privacy to add the destination drive to the pane.
*Q? I'm using 10.4.11, so, I should follow these instructions?*
C: If possible, boot into safe mode to perform the backup (holding the SHIFT key at startup). In addition, you can clone while logged into another administrative user that you don't use at all to avoid further complications of changes which may be happening to your regular user (though don't use Fast User Switching to get into that other user, since that other user is still active when fast user switching is used). Otherwise you are going to be running a backup on a live system which could have changes happening while you are attempting to backup. These may yield an imperfect clone, with uncertain success at recovery. It may be possible that your clone will have its own hardware issues, so make at least two copies.
*Q? ?????????????*
*I GOT THE ABOVE INFO. FROM THE FOLLOWING SITE:*
Making a clone/mirror/duplicate backup
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html#SHORTANDEASY
*ALSO, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ADVICE ON THIS PAGE:*
http://www.levoltz.com/2010/04/21/how-to-transfer-data-to-your-new-hard-drive/

Transferring from old ipad to new

how do I transfer all my data from my ipad 2 to the new iPad Air?

How to Transfer Everything from an Old iPad to New iPad
http://osxdaily.com/2012/03/16/transfer-old-ipad-to-new-ipad/
iOS: Transferring information from your current iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to a new device
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2109
Moving Content to a New iPad
http://tinyurl.com/qzk2a26
How to Transfer App Data and Game Saves from One iOS Device to Another
http://lifehacker.com/5891964/can-i-transfer-app-data-and-game-saves-from-my-iph one-to-a-new-ipad
How to transfer data from your old iPad to your new iPad
http://www.imore.com/how-transfer-data-your-old-ipad-your-new-ipad-air-or-retina -ipad-mini
Transferring your prepaid cellular data account depends on your carrier. AT&T lets you move it yourself when you go to Cellular Data in Settings and log into your account with your previous AT&T user name and password. For iPads with Sprint service, you can set up an account on the new iPad and contact Sprint Customer Care (888-211-4727 and go through the menus) to deactivate the old plan and get credit for unused service. For Verizon, call the company’s customer service number for mobile broadband support (800-786-8419) and ask to have your account transferred.
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Transferring from old mac to new...

I've just recently upgraded from a Power Mac G5 single pre-intel to a shiny new iMac, and I'm wondering how to get all of my songs from my old computer to the new one.
I've had a look at Migration Assistant, but it seems to only allow me to transfer huge sections of my old files and preferences and such at a time (Library, Users, Applications, etc). There's a lot of buggy old files and corrupted documents that I really don't want to move to my new computer, so I'm trying to sort out how to move all of my music and perhaps a few other files over without having to use the Migration Assistant.
Any tips?

You can use an ipod to do this. Here is an article to help:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1329
You cause a hard drive or dvd,cd as well. Hopefully this will help:
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT1449
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Aperture 3 Issues when transferring from old Mac to new Mac

I just bought a new iMac 21.5 yesterday. I transferred all my apps and files from the old 17 inch from my Time Machine Backup.
I am running Ap 3.0.3 - RAW 3.0.2 - all software updates I can find are installed.
Have reinstalled 3.0.3 Aperture update
MOst things seem to have worked fine except Aperture.
Some images in some projects either don't display at all, some just have the white box, some are just black, some are full of odd noise (as if the raw version wasnt supported)...
All displayed perfectly before the move - the files are on my drive.
All are in JPG format.
Help please!

I had this same problem but now I think it is as "solved" as it can be. I tried rebuilding multiple times, and I even created a new library and imported my old one into it. After lengthy discussions with Apple support, it seems the problem is a conflict between Snow Leopard 10.6.3, Aperture 3, and the NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card. The good news is that Apple is aware of the problem and is working on it, the bad news is that they haven't yet fixed it.
I followed the Apple tech's recommendation and it seemed to mostly fix the problem. He had me roll back from 10.6.3 to 10.6.2. You'll need to boot from your Snow Leopard install disc and re-install SL (no, this will not do anything to your files). Then, go to the Apple website and download the 10.6.2 combo update and install. (i.e., do not allow the computer to do an automatic software upgrade to 10.6.3 like it wants to).
What I get now is my Aperture 3 working much faster and with none of the strange artifacts I had before. The only exception is when I'm viewing a photo in full screen mode - for some shots I'm still getting the weirdness. However, this is still a huge improvement over what I had before - I can now actually use Aperture again
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Best Method of Transferring From Old Mac to New Mac

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