Best way to set up a new MAC PRO

I am a free lancer who has just taken the (huge) step to setting up a small graphics/final cut studio in my apartment (NYC). The core of my operation is a brand new MAC PRO. 3 questions:
1. What is the best physical environment for the new system in terms of temperature, dust, and access to the back of the tower? I am planning on using Metro Shelving to put the tower on.
2. I ordered a 1 terabyte hd. What is the best way to partition a hd this large?
3. So far I have only had experience setting up laptops purchased off the shelf. The tower was "made to order", what are decisions that need to be made when you are setting up the system for the first time?
Any other words of wisdom on the care and feeding of the new tower would be greatly appreciated!

You can skip on the Apple Pro RAID card. Pick up a 3rd party card later.
I would pick up three of the above F1s for $150 ea. and can be used in RAID using Apple software, works fine.
I would have saved $$ and skipped the 1TB drive. Great for Time Machine and backups.
Why use external drives for media if you can have native SATA, use those for backup too.
When you have more drives you can clone your system and files as needed. One thing I would do now is make a clone of your system to one of your FireWire drives that you can boot from and use to restore to another drive later.
You may as well partition the new drive so you can isolate the system and apps if you want, and before the files fragment the drive more than it is so you can resize and create partitions if it helps.
I have only used mirrors a couple times, I find I'd rather put two or more drives to separate uses, and it isn't a replacement for backups.
There are some RAID5/6 3rd party external controllers that can drive up to 4 x 5-drive cases (Port Multiplier).
http://www.amug.com - click on Reviews.

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What is the best way to set up my new Mac Pro?

Not wanting to screw up in a process I've not done with a brand new machine before, I'm looking for feedback on my plan for setting my new Mac Pro next week...
The physical plan is this:
For RAM, I have four 2GB SDRAM's plus the supplied six 1GB modules. My plan here is to install the 2GB rams into the first four slots and install four of the 1GB modules into the remaining four slots for a total of 12GB's.
When the cost for 4GB modules gets down to reasonable, I'll buy four of them and bump the current rams down the line which will then give me a total of 24 gigs where I'll stay.
For my hard drives, I'm installing a 160GB Intel X25-M into the first drive bay
http://www.intel.com/design/flash/nand/mainstream/index.htm
using one of MaxUpgrades' 'MaxConnects' kits. I will use this drive for the operating system software and my applications and their libraries.
Next, into the remaining three drive bays, I am installing three 300GB WD Velociraptors. Mine are the pre-'backplane ready' versions:
http://www.wdc.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=459
so I have bought these sleds for them...
http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_i d=180
I own one of Sonnet's Tempo SATA E4P cards
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/temposatae4p.html
which, thanks to this forum, I now understand, with the correct firmware installed, function well so I will install it and be able to establish hardware RAID. I will create a RAID 0 set with the three Velociraptors and use it to store all of my data files.
Backup will happen on a 1TB WD 'Caviar Black' external drive connected through one of the Sonnet card's external eSATA ports and using the OS 'Time Machine' software.
And that's the physical plan. My question is about setting things up. The physical installation part is straight forward and I don't expect any difficulties but I'm wondering what is the best way to install the operating system.
Do I take a first step keeping the supplied hard drive installed, install the solid state drive into the next drive bay and then transfer the contents from the supplied drive onto the SSD or do I do the complete physical installation process and do a 'C' drive start up and install the OS that way?
And, do you have any tips/suggestions on setting up the RAID 0 set?
thanks for the help. I want to do this right.
JQ

oh mighty Hatter, I knew you'd have helpful guidance to offer! And thank you. You've confirmed my anxieties about the Sonnet card; kind of a 'too much, too quickly' sort of thing. And it's not that Sonnet's not a good company. Just everything to do with new technologies and the growth curve we all, manufacturers and users, go through when they come out. And, for sure, the new Mac Pro's are new technology; the single biggest forward leap in Apple's top-of-the-line machines for some time far as I can tell. Just reading at Intel's website about the Nehalem's is a joy!
So, I will proceed now with everything except for the controller card, leaving that 'til later. In the meantime, I think I'll just happily run with the four hard drives all running independently. No software RAID. I know just those, the SSD boot drive plus Velociraptor trio's going inside of a 2.66ghz 8-core Nehalem Mac Pro is going to be a working pleasure. Heck, this way, I'll get settled in and used to the machine's speed, have a great time doing so and then, in however many months, I can jump into spending another chunk of money on an excellent RAID card, RAID card's dear Barefeats will have tested and reviewed for us, set up my RAID 0 set and head of to those new races watching my computer leap for joy! Could be that, by then, the cost of Intel 160GB X25-M's will have dropped enough that I can afford to go for a second and have a two SSD RAID 0 boot drive... Yummy!
Thanks for the help. Like I say, I knew there was useful guidance hanging on some limb within your personal kit, (otherwise referred to as your mind)!
Interesting to read about the problems people have had with Sonnet's 2.17 update in PPC's... In this computer, my PowerMac G5 dual 2.7ghz, I have a Sonnet 'Tempo Sata X4P' controller card. I downloaded and installed 2.17 and got the same troubles; no cut, no paste, no 'drag and drop' etc. It was miserable.
Mine, fortunately, magically corrected after running the 'permissions verify and correct' process in Disc Utility and, after a restart, all was back to almost normal but for one exception; the Sonnet card was no longer present or functioning including the four eSATA ports out the back. (I ran Tech Tools Pro 5's repair suites first but, and who knows why, it didn't correct the problem...) This one was absolutely in the 'who knows what the f_'s going on and why it disappeared but did' class.
Oh, the other remnant is that, when the computer goes into sleep, after about five minutes, the fans rev up, and up, and the computer's frozen; only access is to do a forced shutdown pressing and holding the power button, so I've had to adopt a 'shut down whenever leaving it for more than fifteen minutes' approach to this dear friend. Once I've fully moved into and established my new one (which should arrive today, by the way... Yippeee!!! Can't wait!), I'll do a complete restoration on this one including taking out the Sonnet card. Usually, I sell my old Pro's but, this time, I'm going to keep this one as a back up and just general second computer for times I might need it. It has been such a great and dependable machine. Keeping it seems the right thing to do.
thanks Hatter. I'll let you know how things go, including what happens with the SSD. I don't have speed test software so I won't be able to track it's performance like that guy in the post you gave me did...
JQ
ps- Gotta love that ILLogic fellow eh? Talk about not getting the essence!

What is the best way to set up my new mac?

My old mac has parallels installed and boot camp. How can I transfer that set up to my new Mac?

WinClone 3 can clone the BootCamp partition to a external drive where you set it back up again can clone Windows/BootCamp back onto the new machine, however Windows will know it will be on new hardware and you will have to validate with Redmond or it won't eventually work.
Carbon Copy Cloner can clone the OS X boot partition to a extenral drive, then you can use Migration Assistant in the Utilities folder to migrate the user account to the new machine from the clone, which would include the virtual machine files of other operating systems.
Since the hardware drivers and OS X operating system is different between models of Mac's, you can't use the clone of OS X on the newer machine.
So since Parallels has a at boot kernel extension file that needs to be installed, you have to install Parallels on the new machine before you can use it.
Migration Assistant might not transfer it, or that version of Parallels might not work properly on a different OS X version or hardware.
Most commonly used backup methods
Also Windows might know it's on new hardware in the virtual machine as well, so it's going to cry about requiring validation being performed.

My wife has gave me her old ipad what would be the best way to set up her new ipad and to have my own ID?

My wife has gave me her old ipad what would be the best way to set up her new ipad and to have my own ID?

Backup the old iPad first, either to itunes or iCloud.
Once that is done, setup the new iPad from the backup. Choose the Restore from Backup option when setting up the new iPad.
iOS: How to back up / Restore
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1766
When that is done, wipe the old iPad clean and set up as new.
Settings->General->Reset->Erase all Content and Settings
You can create a new Apple Id when you set up the iPad again.

Can I set up a new Mac Pro late 2013 using a Wacom Cintique 13HD tablet as the default monitor? How would I install the driver software for the tablet?

Can I set up a new Mac Pro late 2013 using a Wacom Cintique 13HD tablet as the default monitor? How would I install the driver software for the tablet?

The wacom site will have the drivers for you.
http://us.wacom.com/en/support/drivers

Best way to set up a new system with RAID?

I'll be buying a new Intel Mac Pro when Leopard comes out (for my office). I can get it with as many drives as fits into the bays (4?). My question is, what's the best way to set up a disk redundancy? I'm assuming I want one of the drives for Time Machine. That leaves 3; what kind of RAID do I want to maximize safety if and when one of the drives dies? I'd also like to optimize disk access time, as a secondary consideration. So, 1) what RAID do I want and how many drives will that take, and 2) how do I set it up? Presumably the thing will arrive all set up with Leopard installed. So, will I have to hose that installation to change the file system to RAID? Any problem with that (is it worth it)? If so, what disk do I boot from to set that up, and what's the right way to do this and get a working system back?
Mike

Leopard wont be out befor the second half of this year, sofar i cannot tell you what options you are going to have with the new system. Seems like with time machine is going to be a perfect backup for your whole system.
10.4.x:
Software RAID you can do 0 -1:
To setup a RAID of your system you have to format the drive and setup the RAID type you want from the disk utility.
To have some security i suggest the "mirror" options but you are going to lose some perfomance, depending you want is your main job it mighn't be noticed.
RAID 5:
This would be the nicest option but you need to buy an additional RAID controller. This is mostly used on servers and not on client computers.

Best way to set up two new iTouches for kids

I have a two new iTouches for my daughter (8) and son (5). My iPhone is set up with iTunes on my iMac computer. Both kids have an a user account on the iMac. What is the best way to set up the iTouch's for my kids?
Do I use my Apple ID for their iTouch and sync it to iTunes on my iMac user account (same as my iPhone)?
Do I use my Apple ID for their iTouch and set up iTunes on their user accounts on my iMac?
Do I get my kids their own Apple ID and sync it to iTunes on my iMac user account?
Do I get my kids their own Apple ID and sync it to iTunes on their user accounts on my iMac?
Do I set up one Apple ID for both kids and sync to iTunes so they can have the same games and only pay once?
I also have an iPad that I sync to iTunes on my usser account.
Thanks

I have the same dliemma. Daughter 8, son 6 - 2 new itouches for xmas - one library , my iPad, wife's iPhone ??
I was intending on just keeping one library (this does contain music with explicit lyric content etc) and manage their music via separate playlists.
As far as accounts and restrictions go, I was going to set them up with their own itunes account (using mail addresses only I can use). Load the account up with a voucher each.
The restrictions I was going to apply at the iPod (rather than the account) using a PIN I know - this way you can limit Safarii browsing (i.e. turn it off), youtube, and the age limit to the apps they can install and run - and the movie ratings allowed etc.
Happy to hear other ideas though - I'm intending on setting this up BEFORE they get them.

Best way to set up to new iPad?

My iPad should arrive next week, and I am excited to get it set up. I am curious as to the best way to do so...
Between my wife and I, we share a MacBook and an iMac, each with our own user accounts on each computer. We share an iTunes library and an iPhoto library. We each have an iPhone, our own contacts, email accounts, etc. We each have our own mobileme account. I understand that the iPad does not have the option of 2 user accounts, which would be ideal, so absent of that, what is the best way to set it up to facilitate our sharing it?
Thanks

My wife and I share our's and really the only way is to be sure you only put stuff on that you both want and need. For example,
1) You can have separate photo albums, but you both can see the other's.
2) Music can be divided into play lists, but again, both access.
3) Apps are for both. When 4.0 comes out later this year, you can use folders to segregate apps, but now, the best you can do is put each's apps on separate pages of the desktop. ie, common apps on the first 2 pages, your faves on the next 2, then hers on the last two. (or vice versa...)
4) Videos, etc, continue with a similar strategy.....
Not much help, but until, if ever, they have multi-user, not much else to do.
Any better approaches out there?

Best way to set up on new Computer

Hi All, one more question.
I have been syncing on my PC in my media room. I've been thinking perhaps its time to start syncing on my Macbook Pro which is much faster and newer.
How much trouble is it to switch the computer I sync on? Obviously this new computer won't have any memory or backup of my iPhone. It also won't have my apps or music.
The music I have on an external Hard Drive which I would have to connect to the MacBook like I connect to the PC.
How much trouble am I talking here? Is it even worth it to make the switch?
Will the phone transfer the data to the new computer?
The only thing I use the PC for is to sync so making the switch would be really nice and easy, hoping its doable.
Thanks all.

You're probably referring to the section of this article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3231
in the first point under *Starting your migration:*
"Always ensure that the computer you are migrating from is updated with the latest releases of Apple Software. Determine if your computer is up-to-date by going to the Apple menu and selecting Software Update. Apply all the latest updates, including the Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update, before you start your migration."
The Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update link is to this: http://support.apple.com/downloads/Migrationand_DVD_and_CD_SharingUpdate
Which also refers to this: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3174
As I read that, it seems to indicate that it's only needed on 10.5.5, so it may not apply to your 10.5.8 Mac.
Try using +Setup Assistant+ anyway -- it may work.
See How do I set up a new Mac from my old Mac or its backups? or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Snow Leopard > Installation and Setup+ forum, for more info and step-by-step instructions.
If you've already set up a user account on the new Mac, you'd have to erase the internal HD and reinstall OSX to use Setup Assistant.
Or, use the similar +Migration Assistant+ per the pink box in the link above. Just note that you can't be logged on to the new Mac with an account that has the same name as any on the old one -- see the last window there.

Any Way to "Start Over" With New Mac Pro?

Hi,
I just got a new Mac Pro yesterday and did the Migration Assistant to transfer my files from my old G4. However, when it first came up and asked in Setup if I wanted to transfer, I wasn't quite ready (didn't have the old computer connected yet) so I chose to do it later. When I did get connected and did the transfer (and waited SO "patiently" overnight for it to finish!) - I discovered it had not done what I wanted! I wanted it to incorporate my old computer's info into my main Account on the new computer, but it created a 2nd account instead!
At this point, I don't know whether to keep it like this or try to start over. But my question is - is there some way to "reset" the new Mac Pro to start all over and let me do the transfer within the Setup so it will keep everything in just one account? (Short of reinstalling the whole OS from scratch, that is.)
Thanks!

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435350
Install your applications fresh, don't migrate.
If you have a FW drive, that is one way, sneaker net works fine. Assume you don't have an SATA drive from the G4 (if you did it would need to be reformatted).
I would never update or alter the system without first making a backup, but reinstall from DVD should be fast. It can be even faster if you restore the DVD to a small 12GB partition and boot off that, install takes under 10 minutes!
I've seen on MacFixit a tutorial on how the method you used does create a 2nd account, which is why I would have the drive directly connected.
You can also use a program to synch your home folder. I did everything manually, by hand, went through home preferences really carefully and pruned out any old stuff.

Best way to set up a new ssd boot up disk

Hello
I have an early 2008 Mac Pro running Snow Leopard, and am hoping to breathe some new life into it with some additional ram and an SSD for just the OS, Applications, Library and System folders.
I'm looking for advice on the best way to go about setting up the new boot up disk. I've read that it might be best to do a fresh install of the OS onto the SSD, so at the moment I'm in two minds about whether to do just that or to clone the existing disk and then delete the data I don't want on there.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Alistair

User Tip: Creating a lean, fast Boot Drive

Best Way To Transfer Data To New Mac

I know this question has been asked ad naseum, but I can't seem to find exactly what I'm looking for today...
My new iMac arrives today (w00t!) and I want to transfer all my data over to the new computer. But I'm coming from a Mac that is four years old (though still running Lion) and there's probably a lot of crap on the old machine like corrupt preferences and whatnot, and I don't really want all that baggage coming over with me. I obviously want to transfer over my documents, iTunes and iPhoto Libraries and all the iWeb stuff and whatnot. I'm not afraid to reinstall my apps, if that's the ideal scenario and I don't care if my settings and dock reverts to deault, if that's the best way to do this. So I'm trying to determine the best (and possibly fastest) way to load up the new Virgin machine. I have the ability to connect the two computers via Firewire and I also have an up-to-date Firewire Time Machine Backup of everything as well. Any and all advice is appreciated. And don't be afraid to tell me I'm crazy and that I shouldn't worry about corrupt stuff and I should just Set Up Assistant or Migration Assistant (though I hear Set Up is better?) Thanks!

If all you want to migrate is the data files then use Pondini's Setup Assistant guide as instructed. It will ask what you want migrated however if you only choose data it will migrate ALL of your data files. If you have some files you don't want to migrate then it may be best to start the old machine in Target mode after setting up the new machine then you can pick and choose what data files you want to copy over to the new machine.

Best way to move ipod to new mac mini?

I have an imac & my daughter uses my itunes library to manually manage the content of her ipod touch (my ipod is set to auto sync with itunes)
I have just brought her a mac mini & would like her to now have her own itunes library on it & be able to auto sync her ipod touch with it.
Can anyone offer advice on the best way to do this please?
Any comments will be greatly appreciated.

Hi,
1) Put the existing itunes library onto the ipod touch.
Sign into itunes on the new mac.
Connect the touch to the mac mini and when prompted, transfer all the content.
or
2) Rip itunes content from your mac onto disc(s) and install the disc(s) onto the new imac. You can also transfer using an external hard drive.
Good luck

Best way to set up my new 500GB firewire external HD?

I want to set it up as an external bootable HD, what is the best way to do this?
Thanks
Dan

So I would go for four partitions. Two partitions for boot-able backups of your HD the same size as HD.
Then split the rest in two, one for Photos/Movies other for tunes. Maybe tunes the smaller of the two.
You also might want a fifth for "Time Machine" ? Being that this is new and I don't have it, I am not sure I would trust it, til its been around for awhile.
Backup often and alternate! Backup before and after major updates. You never know when you might want to go back to a pre-update.
Message was edited by: Dakota

Setting up a new Mac Pro the right way

I've always used the admin account on my Macs. I've read in Macworld about not using the admin as the default login account. Any suggestion either way?
I'm migrating from a 1.25 Ghz G4 to the new Xeon Mac Pro. Any tips on best way to do that. I don't plan on bringing any of the ATA drive from the G4 over, just the data - do i just hook an ethernet cord between the two?
any tips on keeping the Itunes song files that I've entered in?
Thanks in advance!

Any suggestion either way?
If someone else uses the computer, don't make an administrator account the default one. If nobody else does, it doesn't matter.
do i just hook an ethernet cord between the two?
Yes, and then start File Sharing from the Sharing pane of System Preferences on the G4. Click on the Network item in the Finder's sidebar on the Mac Pro, connect to it, and import your files manually.
(41994)

Best way to set up a new MAC PRO

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