Time machine hard drive for transfering files from 2010 MBP to rMBP

Hello!
I have a couple of questions here!
I will be getting the rMBP in the next few weeks so want to do a bit of housekeeping before transferring across.
1) What is the best way to clear my current MBP of files and applications that i dont use and are just taking up space? I currently have a 256GB hard drive with 8GB free - there should be no reason for this as my large audio/ Raw photo/ video editing files are on an external hard drive. So i think there must be a lot of flotsam and jetsam on there that needs to be removed as i don't want to carry that from computer to computer!
2) Is Time machine the best option for this kind of service?
3) Can anyone recommend an external hard drive for the job? I don't want to rely on thunderbolt ones at the moment so would it just be any usb hard drive seeing as Apple has sodded of firewire?
Cheers
K*

OK, I'll bite:
1) you can just delete the documents that you don't use by throwing them in the Trash. To delete apps and all associated files (and some will disagree with me or suggest another application) I recommend using AppDelete. I believe it's $13 or so but I have used AppZapper and AppCleaner as well but find that AppDelete finds all associated files.
2) After you've rid yourself of your 'junk' files, I recommend using Time Machine on a dedicated or partitioned hard drive for backups. When you get your new machine, you can just use Time Machine to restore all of your settings, apps, documents, etc. For everything you ever wanted to know about Time Machine, see http://pondini.org/TM/FAQ.html.
3) A USB drive is definitely the way to go. I would recommend the G-Drive series from Hitachi here. They have all sorts of connections, including USB 2.0 and Firewire 800. When Apple (finally) releases their Thunderbolt>FW800 adapter, you'll be ready. Others might recommend USB 3.0 drives for the speed but I've seen too many posts of, in particular, Western Digital USB 3.0 drives that have problems with the 2012 Macs to go the USB 3.0 route right now. Maybe someone will jump in and recommend a USB 3.0 drive that they actually have working on a 2012 MBP?
Good luck,
Clinton

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YoHenYo wrote:
Hello everyone.
I recently broke my macbook, and had to replace it with a pc laptop. I have my data saved on a time machine enabled external hard drive.
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edited by the Jolly Green Giant (where Green stands for environmentally friendly)

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Jasonmo,
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Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
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Help?
Thanks!

No luck.
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tuttle1150 wrote:
Hey Pondini. It appears my Internal HD is not sleeping either.
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I would like to do an "Erase and Instal"
That's extreeeeeeeemly unlikely to change anything, unless you have some software that you loaded for the Maxtor (if so, just delete it and Restart).
As another poster (Kiraly, I think) says, that's like fixing a dripping faucet by tearing out the kitchen!
but although I know my Documents are backed-up, where are the other things like all my emails and stickies, favourites, notes etc. filed?
What are you contemplating? Erasing your HD, installing OSX, applying the "combo," and selectively restoring things? If so, that's a large project, with very little chance of success.
First, make a second full backup on a separate external HD, via the Restore tab of Disk Utility, CarbonCopyCloner, SuperDuper, or the like. It's rare, but on occasion a backup drive fails during a restore, and everything is lost.
Then, here's what you'd be looking at:
|
• Erase your internal HD, per the yellow box in #1 of [Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks|http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/DU.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Using Snow Leopard+ forum).
• Quit Disk Utility, and install OSX from your Snow Leopard Install disc.
• Set up a temporary User Account (different from any on your backups).
• Go through the set-up procedure for your Internet connection(s), power settings, and other system-wide settings and preferences.
• Download and install the "combo" update, to get back to your current version of OSX.
• If you've upgraded either OSX or iLife since purchasing your Mac, find the disks with iLife and restore those apps.
• Find all the discs for 3rd-party apps and install them. Re-enter any purchase keys.
• Find the websites for all downloaded 3rd-party apps, download and install them. Re-enter any purchase keys.
• Restore whatever data you saved. See #28 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum) for some common data.
• Re-enter all your Users' preferences and settings, including email accounts: account info, passwords, server names, etc. (if you didn’t save them).
• Wonder what you missed, and find out the hard way . . . for months . . . or longer.
|
Is it really worth all that?

Time Machine hard drive need to be reformatted?

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btw - what are the symptoms of your failing drive?
-mj
Message was edited by: macjack

Time machine hard drive for transfering files from 2010 MBP to rMBP

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