New iMac - best way to move from MacBook

Hello all
I am now the proud owner of a iMac 24" :-D
My existing life is on a MacBook, which has been backing up to Time Machine for a month or two.
I would like to move everything onto the iMac.
I've started up Migration Assistant and have been presented with two options. 1) Firewire and 2) Time Machine.
Since both the MacBook and Time Machine backup are right up-to-date, is there a reason for one over the other? The MacBook is working fine and isn't corrupt or anything like that.
One thing that would swing me is if the iMac would continue on with the Time Machine backups from the MacBook - any hope of that?
Thanks!

Well I went ahead and did it via TM
A summary below:
- You find out that there are some folders not backed up by Time Machine. I haven't scoured the whole machine but the iPhone backup directory "MobileSync" is an obvious one. Had to do a full phone backup when I connected
- The new iMac created its own folder on the TM drive and did a full backup. I can mount the old MacBook's backups but nothing is integrated with iPhoto or Address Book etc.
- I didn't get a choice of which version of TM backup I wanted to migrate from, so it wouldn't be very useful if I needed to migrate from an old, non-corrupt version. I guess you could get around this by changing the "Latest" alias on the Time Machine back drive but that could cause some problems - depends on how desperate you are
- I think a Firewire migration might have been quicker as the TM drive has to hunt all over the place to get a full drive image. Plus FW vs USB issues

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How do I share a hard drive with the new iMac to load a disk from macbook pro

How do I share a hard drive with the new iMac to load a disk from macbook pro. I want to install office for Mac from a disk but dont know how to share har drive from macpro
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The new iMac's don' t have DVD drives however almost all have a disk drive. The easiest method of installing MS Office for Mac on your new iMac is to download it from Microsoft and then input the code you received when you purchased your original license. Otherwise you can use the DVD drive on your MBP to install on your iMac, that feature is called Remote Disc. Instructions for Remote Disc can be found at:http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5287

Best Way to Move from old iMac to New?

My super sweet new 27" iMac is due to arrive next Thursday and will be replacing my mid-2007 iMac. Each OS release has been installed on the 2007 iMac as an upgrade and hasn't been cleanly installed since it was new.
Though I use TimeMachine, I was under the impression that using TM as the migration tool would bring along all of the system files and I wanted to start as clean as possible. So, I had originally set my mind to using the Migration Assistant when the new iMac arrives, which would allow me to have a "clean" system along with all of my apps/files/etc.
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tia,
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A few more things about what you can expect with Migration or Setup Assistant --
* The "time remaining" calculation is not very accurate. It might indicate 16 hours to go when there is really less than an hour (or vice versa).
* Wireless migrations take a long time (many hours sometimes).
* The migration is smart enough to not bring over an older version of, say, iPhoto, when your new Mac came with a newer version than you had before.
* After the migration, SOMETIMES (not always) you may be prompted to enter a user code or key for software from Microsoft, Adobe, etc. so have those ready.
* You will probably have to reinstall your local printers and their latest drivers to work on the new computer.
* Setup Assistant running on first boot up before any users have been created on the new computer is the best way. Then your new computer (with the exceptions noted above) will look basically just like your old one after the migration. If you use Migration Assistant instead of Setup Assistant, don't create a user with the same name as you had on the old computer, instead create a generic user called "Admin" or something like that, and then the migration will move your entire old account and user name over to the new computer (if you already created that same user name on the new Mac, it will have to give your migrated user a different name, which bothers some folks).

Need to transfer Logic from old Macbook Pro to new iMac - Best Way???

Hey Everybody. I've got a new iMac showing up tomorrow which I couldn't be more excited about. I need to transfer/add all my Pro Audio Apps (Logic, Ableton, Native Instruments, Rob Papen, etc.) as well as iWork to the new computer but don't know the best way to do it. I could try and learn to do a formal "migrate" but I would prefer a clean install of all my programs.
Let me know if you have any tips! Thank you for your time!

When you turn on your machine for the first time it will ask you if you want to migrate from another Mac, simply choose yes and follow the on-screen directions. If your old machine has a Firewire 800 connection get a cable like this if it only has FW 400 then get a cable like this. You may be able to find these at your local computer store if not then as you can tell Amazon has them as well as many other online suppliers.
Your migration should be very straight forward, simply ensure your old machine is has run all software updates and is in good working order. As in any many change ensure you backup the old machine prior to starting the operation. Within a few hours all the information should should have migrated and you will be able to pick up where you left off on the old machine.
Regards,
Roger

Upgrading from late 2011 macbook pro to a new iMac, best way to transfer data across?

Hi,
i just ordered a new iMac yesterday,basically i wanted to know if A) i can use my time machine backup to restore the the mac (is this possible?) or B is there some other way to copy everything across (user accounts and files etc)
Regards,
Darren

Dr Rocket wrote:
... One of my main concerns is itunes ...
From your OLD computer...
Copy your ENTIRE iTunes FOLDER to an External Drive... and then from the External Drive to your New Computer..
Full Details Here > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1751
An Added Bonus is that you will have a Backup of iTunes.
Also... Have a look at these 2 Videos...
http://macmost.com/moving-your-itunes-library.html
http://macmost.com/moving-your-itunes-media-to-an-external-drive.html

Starting with a new iMac, best way to organise photos

My old computer macbook pro, was overflowing with badly filed photos, projects and files. As I start with a clean slate, my new iMac my question is the best way to be keeping things, I use illustrator mostly for complex surface patterns. I have photos galore in i-photo, some even have the same auto file number sequence as I use multiple sd cards. For my photos, should I use bridge, i-cloud, is iPhoto old school now. I am not going to just dump my old stuff over and want to do it properly, I promise not to be unorganised on my new iMac (promise). Also, a brief explanation of when you would use Raw, over Lightroom, over Photoshop or visa versa, or is it just a personal choice. The more I learn about software the more confused I get.
Thanks & much appreciated
Regards Vicky

I do understand the reference to the cloud not being about a specific app. I also understand that you, Vicky, are not quite sure which app to use with your fresh start. I am not sure it is horrible to ask here which app(s), workflow, or organizational system might be best to institute, given access to all the various apps available in CC.
I am not quite sure what you are doing, or what your previous workflow was, in part because of your mention of Adobe Illustrator for complex surface patterns. Were it not for that, between your title, and your reference to photos galore, I might suggest Lightroom. It is indeed in part a database, with an ability to handle, and organise, a very large number of photos. In addition to good developing and batch developing capabilities, as well as an ability to tag, as well as add to and manipulate metadata on both import and export, I find it useful. Were I to begin using Illustrator more, which I actually plan to do, I believe I'd either lean on bridge a bit more, very likely in conjunction with exported LR files, or see if it were in any way possible to set up AI as an external editor in LR, though at this point I've no idea if that is possible, or desired.
As to a specific workflow and system of organization, I feel that is quite subjective. For myself, I find myself creating a Library in LR for each Year, (though I could see a pro event photographer creating one for each event), and then importing my SD cards by copying as DNG, embedding the RAW, and setting up the file name to be the YearxxxxMonthxxDayxx_Hourxx24MinutexxSecondxx, with folders created for each month and day. That way, everything is ordered chronologically, even within the OS folders, and the filenames are consistent and unique. I also add metadata for the creator, etc. I then create Collections for each shoot I'm actually focussing on. From LR I can jump to PS or external third party addons, and return after I am done.
There are specific books and videos out there suggesting efficient ways of organizing and processing large numbers of images, and there is no, one right way. It largely depends on what you are comfortable with, and the way your mind works.
Best of luck to you; I know I'll need a bit, and a bit of self-discipline to buckle down and institute a consistent system myself.

Best way to move from msjava to sun java

Hello Java people,
We have a web version of a program, attachmate extra, (mainframe emulator), that requires Java 1.5 runtime applet. I have a package set up using the msi from java ready to be pushed with SMS. My goal is to have users using Sun java 1.5 as their default applet and I don't care if msjava is still left on the pc's.
So here are my questions...
1) Do we need to remove msjava or can we just install sun java 1.5?
2) If we just install sun java 1.5 is this the command line to use for IE to use java 1.5 as it's default? msiexec.exe /i jre.msi IEXPLORER=1 (would that work?)
3) Are there any procedures outlined anywhere on the best way to do this?
Any help would be greatly appreciated as Java is a little foreign to me.
Thanks!
Bryan

The differences in processors makes the migration not as easy and other posters have already given you good advice.
I actually DID the G5 PPC Tiger to Leopard migration and after many (unsuccessful) attempts to achieve a stable Leopard by merely installing it "over" my Tiger volume, I ended up having to do the equivalent of "erase and install" (I simply bought a new harddrive disk [HDD] and installed a brandnew Leopard). Despite this, the IBM processor did not really "like" Leopard and repeated Kernel Panics (KP) started to occur resulting in loss of RAM and bus; too many issues having to run many programs under "rosetta". Also, some of the nicer features in Leopard (front row, bootcamp) did not work at all with the PPC architecture. Also Photoshop needed upgrading for Leopard and plugins need updates, too (check with Adobe and with e.g. Alien Skin)
Having said that, I have heard of success stories of PPC and Leopard. (intersting article about "complexity of Tiger in a server": http://ls.berkeley.edu/mail/magnet/2008/0374.html might have a relevance to ordinary OS). So I am not trying to put you off, just giving you a first hand experience my own experience.
I think you need to ask yourself:
1) Is my machine not working satisfactorily? (If so, then why not try the upgrade)
2) Why do I want Leopard (if you fancy a change, why not for it then)
3) Is the upgrade essential? (It is nice to have something new, but you know, I do miss OS9, as that no longer works with Leopard unless you emulate with e.g. sheepshaver (see discussion:
http://macosx.com/forums/mac-classic-system-software/296734-classic-os9-leopard. html)
4) As always, there is always something "newer and better" (snow leopard: http://www.apple.com/macosx/snowleopard/)
Good luck with your decisions
NB: I am running Leopard with my Intel Mac Pro and am absolutely lunatic (=over the moon )
Message was edited by: Alexandre

Got a new iMac, best way to transfer files/set up network?

I just got a new iMac. I have a MBP from which I would like to transfer all contents on to the iMac. I do have the MBP backing onto a Time Machine and I'm wondering if that could be used to easily transfer the latest backup version to the new computer? How would I do that and would this transfer ALL of the MBP's content or would I still have to install my programs like iWork from the install disks?
Also, I will be keeping the MBP as a secondary computer, would there be a way to easily connect the two computers so they could synch files wirelessly? I also have one more laptop running Windows7 in the house that I would love to get on the wireless network. Right now we only have it connected to the TimeMachine for internet, but being able to easily share files would be helpful.
Thanks

You can find the answers to those questions in Mac Help. Mac Help is located in the Help menu of the Finder. If you click Index in the upper right of the Mac Help window you can look up just about any topic for Mac OS X Snow Leopard.
You first question will have answers under Migration and the second under Network. There are answers with step-by-step instructions, not only for Macs but PCs with Windows as well.
Dah•veed

New iMac 27" advice in move from PC

Hi all,
I bought a 27" iMac a few weeks back and its still in the box as I have a PC which I am using for business and not found the time to swap them over etc.
Now I will be opening it this week (Cant wait)
Now can anyone advise me on some questions which I am getting mixed answers on which I want to move not all but some of my PC images, emails etc etc to my Mac:
1) I have an external hard drive which is formatted for my PC. I want to put all of the items that i want to put onto my MAC on this, and then transfer them over to my MAC. I have been told that this will work ok, but as the external hard drive I am putting them onto is PC formatted, the images, word documents once transferred to my MAC I will be unable to EDIT them????....i want to be able to edit my documents as they are templates for contracts etc? (I have office 11 ready for my iMac)
2) When transferring my images over - if i stick them in a file on the MAC will they go into iPhoto automatically? what would you recommend? put them all in iPhoto? or keep them separate!!?
3) I have thousands of songs on my PC hard drive ripped in 320 and i want to put them on my MAC from the external drive while transferring. How would you recommend doing this in terms of music storage etc? do it all via iTunes? or keep them in a separate file?
4) With iTunes, can I have 2 separate logins - 1= for personal with all my favourite music in etc and 2= for work purposes?? I work as a DJ and have so many albums which are from specialist DJ stores that there is NO artwork etc and for my own personal music collection I want to keep this separate as I love to have all my CD artwork folders in place and everything looking nice and slick!!....
5) Is there anything anyone can recommend for a smooth transfer where I can carry on my work on my MAC as I did PC with being able to edit images, documents, music etc..
6) Once everything is transferred I want to use my 2TB hard drive for TIME MACHINE, if i have my music on this hard drive from the time machine back up, can i stick this hard drive into a windows laptop and drag files off? or is this 100% mac to mac?
Many thanks for all who have taken time to read, or reply to advise - if anyone can advise on 1 or 2 or all ! of my questions that will be fantastic as I want to make sure I do it all right or the best from the start.
Ade

1) I have an external hard drive which is formatted for my PC. I want to put all of the items that i want to put onto my MAC on this, and then transfer them over to my MAC. I have been told that this will work ok, but as the external hard drive I am putting them onto is PC formatted, the images, word documents once transferred to my MAC I will be unable to EDIT them????....i want to be able to edit my documents as they are templates for contracts etc? (I have office 11 ready for my iMac)
Files are files, as long as the files on the PC (or it's external HD) are in a file format OS X understands it's a simple matter of dragging and dropping. If your EHD is formatted in NTFS then then you will need to install NTFS-3G on the iMac to write to that drive. I would suggest after you have moved the files to the iMac if you want to use the EHD exclusively with the iMac to reformat the HD using Disc Utility (Applications - Utilities - Disk Utility) to *Mac OS Extended (Journaled).*
2) When transferring my images over - if i stick them in a file on the MAC will they go into iPhoto automatically? what would you recommend? put them all in iPhoto? or keep them separate!!?
You have to simply move the files over to the iMac and import them. I'd recommend watching the iPhoto tutorial located at: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=iPhoto/9.0/en/pht5470ff32.html
3) I have thousands of songs on my PC hard drive ripped in 320 and i want to put them on my MAC from the external drive while transferring. How would you recommend doing this in terms of music storage etc? do it all via iTunes? or keep them in a separate file?
Import them into iTunes. Again move them to you iMac and then simply import them. Here is a video tutorial for iTunes:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/how-to/
4) With iTunes, can I have 2 separate logins - 1= for personal with all my favourite music in etc and 2= for work purposes?? I work as a DJ and have so many albums which are from specialist DJ stores that there is NO artwork etc and for my own personal music collection I want to keep this separate as I love to have all my CD artwork folders in place and everything looking nice and slick!!....
I'm not sure, you have 90 days of free AppleCare I'd suggest you use it. The phone number is in the owners manual.
5) Is there anything anyone can recommend for a smooth transfer where I can carry on my work on my MAC as I did PC with being able to edit images, documents, music etc..
Yes study:
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2477
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/
6) Once everything is transferred I want to use my 2TB hard drive for TIME MACHINE, if i have my music on this hard drive from the time machine back up, can i stick this hard drive into a windows laptop and drag files off? or is this 100% mac to mac?
If you are going to use the EXD for Time Machine you should dedicate it to TM! TM will eventually uses all the disk space. It isn't wise to use a TM drive for storage of other files. If that drive goes not only have you lost that data you have lost your backup. I'd recommend studying these MacWorld articles about backup strategies. To be safe it's wise to use redundant backups. Like many others on this forum I have two backups, I use TM and also create a bootable clone using SuperDuper. That way if one backup fails (and they do believe me!) you have another solution.
http://www.macworld.com/article/157414/2011/02/mybackupplanlex.html
http://www.macworld.com/article/156643/2011/01/howi_back_up_frakes.html?lsrc=top1
Roger

What's the best way to migrate from Macbook to Macbook Pro with renting?

Having trouble migrating from old Macbook to new Macbook Pro with Retina Display. It seems I skipped some steps and it looked like it was working over wifi but there were password problems I didn't find out until I quit the process after about 5 hours. How long should it take over wireless? Should I skip that altogether?

Hi,
In addition, please review the link below and hopefully it will help you.
Migrating Hierarchies in System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682006.aspx
Migration to System Center 2012 Configuration Manager
http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud/archive/2012/03/27/migration-to-system-center-2012-configuration-manager.aspx
We
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interview project would be greatly appreciated if you have time.
Thanks for helping make community forums a great place.

Best way to move from RAC to single node database.

Hi,
One of my customer is having RAC setup with EBS R12. Due to some other issues, customer is looking to switch back to Standalone database. What could be the best approach for this?
I am thinking to perform the following approach. Could any body comment on the same?
1) create a new oracle_home on the same server.
2) Modify the cluster_database to false.
3) start the database from new oracle_home.
4) Create a new listener with same port#(off course i will stop all RAC services including listener).
Version details are :- 11gR2 on Solaris.
EBS is :- R12.
Is this approach sounds good or any better method.
Thanks in-advance.
Regards
DBA.

Hello DBA,
You can follow these steps...
a) Stop database using srvctl
srvctl stop database -d mydb
b) Remove the database entry from crs
$ srvctl remove instance -d mydb -i mydb1
$ srvctl remove instance -d mydb -i mydb2
$ srvctl remove database -d mydb
c) Start the database on first instance
SQL> startup
SQL> alter system set cluster_database=false scope=spfile;
System altered.
SQL> alter system set cluster_database_instances=1 scope=spfile;
System altered.
SQL> alter database disable thread 2;
Database altered.
d) Delete the unwanted thread and redo logfiles
e) Drop the unwanted undo tablespace
f) Create pfile from spfile
g) Remove second instance references from the pfile and start the instance
h) create spfile from pfile.
Regards,
Alex Alvarenga
SP - Brasil

Best way to move from PPC Tiger to Intel Leopard

Hi,
I am looking towards getting a new Mac soon. Right now I have a PPC eMac. That means all my software is non Intel. How does this affect the migration process? I have never, ever migrated before between computers so am pretty much at zero level of experience. Will the migration assistant just move files instead of programs?
I have discs for my software and they are universal so it is my guess that I just reinstall the software on the new Mac. Then move the files over?
Thanks for any tips on how to make this a smooth process.

The differences in processors makes the migration not as easy and other posters have already given you good advice.
I actually DID the G5 PPC Tiger to Leopard migration and after many (unsuccessful) attempts to achieve a stable Leopard by merely installing it "over" my Tiger volume, I ended up having to do the equivalent of "erase and install" (I simply bought a new harddrive disk [HDD] and installed a brandnew Leopard). Despite this, the IBM processor did not really "like" Leopard and repeated Kernel Panics (KP) started to occur resulting in loss of RAM and bus; too many issues having to run many programs under "rosetta". Also, some of the nicer features in Leopard (front row, bootcamp) did not work at all with the PPC architecture. Also Photoshop needed upgrading for Leopard and plugins need updates, too (check with Adobe and with e.g. Alien Skin)
Having said that, I have heard of success stories of PPC and Leopard. (intersting article about "complexity of Tiger in a server": http://ls.berkeley.edu/mail/magnet/2008/0374.html might have a relevance to ordinary OS). So I am not trying to put you off, just giving you a first hand experience my own experience.
I think you need to ask yourself:
1) Is my machine not working satisfactorily? (If so, then why not try the upgrade)
2) Why do I want Leopard (if you fancy a change, why not for it then)
3) Is the upgrade essential? (It is nice to have something new, but you know, I do miss OS9, as that no longer works with Leopard unless you emulate with e.g. sheepshaver (see discussion:
http://macosx.com/forums/mac-classic-system-software/296734-classic-os9-leopard. html)
4) As always, there is always something "newer and better" (snow leopard: http://www.apple.com/macosx/snowleopard/)
Good luck with your decisions
NB: I am running Leopard with my Intel Mac Pro and am absolutely lunatic (=over the moon )
Message was edited by: Alexandre

Whats the best way to move from mac mini server to Mac pro server?

Hi everyone. I am currently running a mac mini server and it's maxed out. I have just purchased a Mac Pro server and I was wondering if anyone has moved there data in a similar scenario. Is it as simple as restoring a time machine backup to the new server? Any insight would most appreciated as I need this to go smoothly. Thank you.

Apple's official Time Machine documentation says NOT to use TM to back up an entire server.
The reason being is that it will NOT properly back up your databases. The three in question most often used with OS X server is the Mail DB, the MySQL DB and the Open Directory.
Database experience tells me that reason behind their not supporting Databases is the issue with reading info that's being written to or read from while TM is doing it's thing. It's likely that if the server is under load when the time machine backs up, you're going to get an inconsistent copy.
The ONLY apple documented GUI method of restoring a server is by using the Setup Assistant during the initial setup of a server. (using a firewire cable to connect and having your old server in target disk mode)
This in fact I would say is the most reliable method of migration.
(my 2 cents)
Write more and let us know how the new server works on a continual basis! I've not heard of anyone having a successful restore taken from a live server.
-Graham

Best way to move iTunes library & media from MacBook to mini server?

First, I searched the forums (parameter: "itunes") and didn't see this addressed.
Second, I searched the web (using multiple parameters), and didn't find an answer on point. I saw discussions about moving the iTunes library (well, media files) to another location (but same computer) and discussion about manually copying everything (with warnings about ensuring that the volume name and path are exactly the same, or else it's totally messed up).
That said, I currently use SL on a MacBook and I'm getting a mini with SLS. Among other things, I'd like the core of my iTunes media to be on the mini (for direct playback to my TV and for serving/sharing to my Apple TV). I'll still use iTunes on the MacBook for selected media (like books).
My media includes both iTunes purchases and non-DRM'd media.
Question: does SLS come with Migration Assistant and will this move my iTunes library from my MacBook (with SL) to the mini (with SLS)? I'm not interested in a migration assistant to move servers (web, email servers) or apps, or documents for that matter, as this is not a server move (some discussions online focused on this).
If it doesn't, what's the best way to move my iTunes library and media from my "clien" machine to the server so that playlists, ratings, purchases, etc. are all intact?

MrHoffman wrote:
iTunes has its own private little world, and this question isn't really specific to Mac OS X Server, and the generic media-transfer discussion will likely receive better coverage over in the [iTunes forum|http://discussions.apple.com/category.jspa?categoryID=149].
Mac OS X Server doesn't do anything special with iTunes, and likely doesn't do anything specific with it at all; you're going to a "different" Mac, and server makes this more akin to a transfer to a new Mac, rather than the "replacement Mac" sequence seen with Mac OS X client.
I'd be surprised if this music transfer wasn't something that could be sorted out (within the limits of the copyrights) from some FAQ over in the iTunes forum, or from some of the following support articles:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1660
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1329
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1848
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1203
http://support.apple.com/kb/TA38534
See if the folks over in the iTunes forum have something for this. (And again, server likely isn't relevant here; you're "just" going to transfer your music to a different Mac box here, and one that happens to run Mac OS X Server.
Thanks for the links - unfortunately, none of those are on point. The reason this is unique to server, I think, is that in the case of a regular mac to mac transfer, you would use Migration Assistant, and the move is easily done. But in seems like server doesn't come with Migration Assistant.
I suppose when I get it, I'll first try copying Migration Assistant to it, and try to run it. That will probably fail (but you never know), so my next attempt will be to have my MacBook move the media to the server (as if the server is simply network storage), and then copy over the library files. (I'm hoping that will enable the file paths to remain intact.)
The mini server is special in that it is the most appropriate home server, and home servers should be expected to do double duty - and outright server, and desktop. So, it would be handy for Apple to include Migration Assistant with the mini server.

What's the best way to move files from my old G3 to my new Intel DuoCore?

I just received my new Intel DuoCore 17" iMac. For years I have been using a much-loved G3 500 mHz iMac. The new Intel iMac is still in the box, but I believe it shipped with OS 10.4.4. The G3 runs 10.2.6. I have a dial-up connection to the Internet; currently DSL is not available in my neighborhood. What is the best way to move my files from the G3 to the Intel dc? Can I simply connect them with an Ethernet cable and transfer files directly? Or is my best bet to simply save the files I want to transfer to a disc and do it the old-fashioned way? Please forgive me in advance for my ignorance; although I have been a Mac user and supporter for many years, I am astonishingly ignorant when it comes to the best way to using both Mac hardward and software.
iMac Intel DuoCore Mac OS X (10.4.4)

There are two issues - 1. Getting the files moved over, and 2. Being able to open them on the Intel iMac.
1. This can be technically easy if you are willing to spend the time. I moved all my stuff from my old Mac to my new one by hooking the two together with an ethernet cable, directly. You would need both machines to have appropriate IP addresses. (go to the network preferences and pull down the built-in ethernet panel.) Some addresses such as 192.168.1.100 and 192.168.1.101 would work with a subnet mask of 255.255.255.0) Now go to the new iMac and make sure the finder is selected (click on the desktop) and under the "GO" menu select "Connect to Server". You will need to put in the IP address of the old machine, and later it's administrative password. Then select its hard drive from the list (possibly only one choice) and it should appear as an icon on your iMac desktop. You can open this like any other drive and just drag items to the new iMac.
2. Whether you can use all the files moved over from the old G3 is difficult to answer. You may be using Classic mode sometimes on the G3 and have some stuff created with a Classic application. You are probably aware that the new Intel iMac does not support Classic mode, so some of these files may not be useable without a bit of work (or at all, perhaps.) For instance I had to purchase Appleworks to handle some of my old Clarisworks documents because Pages couldn't understand them. Once I had them converted to Appleworks documents, I could then convert them again to Pages documents.
I had some old MacDraw Pro documents that were equally problematic.
I would advise you to get the new iMac out of the box and connected to your dialup internet connection first. Do all the software updates until running software updater says there is nothing new. Then you will be at 10.4.7 with all the latest security and fixes etc. Then disconnect from the internet and use an ethernet cable to get the stuff off the old computer.
There will be lots more to do such as moving your mail, address box entries etc. later, but this is a start.

New iMac - best way to move from MacBook

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