What's the easiest way to transfer content from a mac to a new one?

I currently have an iMac and I just purchased a new MacBook. What is the easiest way to transfer content such as, photos, music, address book and documents? Thx.

Migration Assistant.
It is magic.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3322

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Im new to Mac and wanted to know what is the easiest way to transfer files from a mac computer and mac extenal hardrive to windowns and vice versa?

Im new to Mac and wanted to know what is the easiest way to transfer files from a mac computer and mac extenal hardrive to windowns and vice versa?

For small amount of files, a regular USB stick or drive, it's already formatted with a MBR and FAT32 most likely which works both on PC's and Mac's.
External drives if you need more space.
However FAT (or Fat32 or MSDOS) has a 4GB file size limit. So if your transfering files bigger than that then you need to format it exFAT on the Windows machine.
Vista and Win 7 can do this, Windows XP one can download a free exFAT upgrade from Microsoft.
Mac's can read/write the MBR and FAT/exFAT (10.6.5 and later) formats, it's best to format it on the Windows machine, even though the Mac can format it too, it's better to do it on Windows then take it to the Mac to confirm.
Rack your brain here on it.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16317478#16317478

What is the easiest way to transfer photos from a samsung g2 to my iMac?

What is the easiest way to transfer photos from a samsung g2 to my iMac?

Probably by reading the Samsung G2's user manual.

What's the easiest way to transfer data from an old external disk to a new one?

Hello!
My external hard drive (SimpleTech 250GB) is almost full so I bought a LaCie P'9230 3TB hard drive to take the place of the old one. What is the easiest way to transfer the data from the old one to the new one? Also, any tips on how to format the new drive will be appreciated since I haven't done this in a while.
Thank VERY much!!!
tenntooter

Hello rkaufmann87 and Linc,
Thank you both for your responses. It ended up that it was REALLY easy to set up and use the LaCie drive. The drive came with very simple instructions and a very easy to use setup assistant. Setup took about 2 minutes without ever leaving the assistant to get into Disk Utility, etc. Once the drive was setup I simply dragged the older external drive on top of the LaCie drive and the LaCie copied the data in about a minute.
After backing up the old drive I set Time Machine to use the new LaCie drive and selected the encryption option. It took the LaCie drive about an hour to totally back up my iMac's hard drive and to encrypt it as well.
VERY IMPRESSED with LaCie for sure!!! (As well as continuing to be VERY IMPRESSED with my MAC!!!)
Thanks again!
tenntooter

What is the easiest way to transfer everything from iTunes on my old Dell to my MacBook Pro?

I just bought a MacBook Pro and don't want to have to redo all my playlists and everything for my iPhone and iPad, what would be the easiest way to transfer all my music and everything from iTunes on my Dell to my MacBook?

Transfer to an external hard-drive and onto the new computer
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1751

HT1329 I just downloaded iTunes to a new computer. It's been a while since I used iTunes on my old computer. I don't see any of my playlists on the new computer. What is the easiest way to transfer my playlists without having to recreate each one?

I just downloaded iTunes to a new computer. It's been a while since I used iTunes on my old computer, so the new one has a totally different user interface. I signed on to my account and saw my music but I have no playlists on the new computer. What's the easiest way to replicate or restore my playlists as I had them in the old computer and in my iPod?

OK, thanks for the response. I'm copying it onto a memory stick to transfer it to the new computer. Still have two questions:
1. Since there is already an iTunes folder on the new computer, created when iTunes was downloaded, where exactly do I copy the old folder onto the computer so that iTunes can find it? In the old interface, there used to be a field where one could designate the path to find music and I don't see that in the new interface.
Assuming the above takes care of putting my playlists onto the new computer...
2. How do I add music that is currently stored in a back up file but was not on my old computer's drive? I'm worried that I would have to add these one by one somehow, and there are a lot of songs.
Thanks again.

What is the easiest way to transfer music from my ex's itunes library to mine? We both have Macbooks and we do have home sharing.

Over the years my ex's and I bought tons of music off itunes, but always bought it on her Macbook. Now that we aren't together I want to copy all of the music from her itunes library and import it into mine. Is this possible, and what is the easiest way?
Many Thanks

the simplest way, assuming all your media files are in the default location, would be to connect the two Macs with a firewire cable, boot the source Mac in Target Disk Mode, and copy the entire iTunes folder (not just the iTunes music folder) from <MacintoshHD>/users/yourname/music on the source to <MacintoshHD>/users/yourname/music on the target (overwriting the iTunes folder in place there).
that would ensure everything (including playcounts, ratings, original "date added", which home sharing doesn't copy over) will be transferred. it would also ensure that any mobile devices (iPhone, etc.) will simply keep on syncing without problems.
you can also use an external HD (or your LAN) but make sure to copy the entire iTunes folder.

What's the easiest way to transfer files from an old Mac to a new one?

Alright, when I originally purchased my Macbook Pro in 2006 - I had no intentions on replacing for many, many years to come. However, purchased the 17", to have more screen space for design, and that career sort of fell through. I don't have a need for such a large display, and it gets very heavy when carrying it around. I've recently decided to opt for the 13" Macbook. Now my question is, what is the easiest, fastest, and safest was to transfer the files that I do want, from the old to the new? I considered buying an external hard-drive? And for that matter, once I do get everything transferred - does Mac offer anything where I can basically set the old on back to factory defaults?
Help is much appreciated.

In addition..........
If you have a High-speed connection, the easiest & fastest way is through AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) or any IM that has file transfers.
iChat has the same ability of transferring large files as AIM.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=150934
Adium has file transfers.
Yahoo Messenger has file transfers.
Both computers must use the same IM program for file transfers.

What's the best way to transfer iTunes from my mac to my android

I have tried everything and researched until I am exhausted. I tried android file transfer. My device cannot be recognized by my mac. I tried Kies and cannot figure out how to install it on my phone although I have it on my Mac. I transferred music via google play and it messed up my library and din't transfer playlists. What's the best way? How can I get my Mac to recognize my device and please don't day change USB stings as I cannot find anything resembling that.

Copy the entire itunes folder.

What's the easiest way to transfer photos from PC to ipad? I've tried using itunes, but adding more photos erases photos already loaded. Help!

How to transfer photos from PC to ipad without erasing photos already loaded. The only option I find in itunes is to synch, which only transfers into one album on the ipad. I'm sure I'm just missing an easy step. Transferring photos from PC to android is a snap, can't be this hard with ipad.

iOS and iPod: Syncing photos using iTunes
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4236
Another way. You can use a USB flash drive & the camera connection kit.
Plug the USB flash drive into your computer & create a new folder titled DCIM. Then put your movie/photo files into the folder. The files must have a filename with exactly 8 characters long (no spaces) plus the file extension (i.e., my-movie.mov; DSCN0164.jpg).
Now plug the flash drive into the iPad using the camera connection kit. Open the Photos app, the movie/photo files should appear & you can import. (You can not export using the camera connection kit.)
Secrets of the iPad Camera Connection Kit
http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57401068-285/secrets-of-the-ipad-camera-conn ection-kit/
 Cheers, Tom

Hi, what's the best way to transfer content from a Sony dcr-sx31 to an iMac

Hi looking for some help please. I want to transfer video from my Sony dcr-sx31 to an iMac for editing and creating DVDs. I've heard that this is not straight forward so hoping someone can give me the best approach or some top tips please

Thanks for the update. The labeling around here is about as counter-intuitive as they could make it. This forum is for original iMacs with PowerPC ("PPC") processors that were made from 1998 to late 2005. All iMacs since then have Intel processors--very different beasties--so they get a separate forum here:
iMac (Intel)
That where you find your gurus when you get your new iMac. Typically, forums for older models like this get less traffic and therefore fewer eyeballs than forums for newer products,
However, you may get faster response for contacting Sony. I recall their Mac support being hit or miss depending on the product line.
for editing and creating DVDs
Also note that new iMacs come with iLife BUT iLife no longer includes the DVD creator program iDVD on preinstalled bundles. Apparently people have been able to get it by calling Apple and protesting that there computer did not ship with all the components that are in the iLife Boxed set. YMMV

What is the best way to transfer files from Windows XP to a new MacBook Pro?

I am about to make the switch from PC to Mac, but I am not completely sure how I should transfer all of my old files (Word docs, PowerPoints, Excel Sheets, pictures, etc.) over to the new Mac. I read this article, http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4796, and it said to download Windows Migration Assistant. It says that a new user account will be created on the Mac containing all of the transferred material. I assume that I can just pull stuff from the newly created account and put it on the main or administrative account? Also, I assume that I can delete the created account after I get everything that I want off of it, but I am new to the whole Mac thing and assuming never gets anyone anywhere. One more thing, I do not want to transfer over my email accounts from Outlook because there is some kind of problem with the way they are set up. I want to just start them completely over in Mail. The article says that the program will automatically transfer over email accounts. Is there a way to avoid that or just transfer stuff manually? If anyone has transferred files this way before, I would really appreciate any insight you can give me. Thanks!

Best way would be NOT to use any sort of migration program, just copy the files over and place them in the same Music, Pictures, Documents folders on the Mac like it is on Windows.
All you need a external USB drive you can pick up at any office or computer store, I would advise powered and either the same size or larger (not too big) than your boot drive on the Mac. So later you can make a clone of OS X, as there is NO system restore on a Mac.
Most drives are formatted MBR with a FAT32 (named "MSDOS" in Apple's Disk Utility) and can be read on a Mac just as easily.
If for some reason your external drive has been already formatted by Windows into NTFS format, then a Mac can't read it without paying for more software and having to hassle with updates, it not working etc. So format the external drive FAT (FAT32) or even exFAT on the PC first (exFAT needs a free download from Microsoft on XP machines)
When you connect the drive, simply drag and drop your files right into the same folders, this way you can control what comes over and what stays.
If you want a free program that can open your Office files without having to pay for OfficeMac, then the free LibreOffice is available and works great.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201

What is the best way to transfer information from a mac to a pc?

I need to get documents and photos off from my mac to transfer to my work pc. They were originally pc files, but I recently purchased a mac and transfered them all to my mac. Then my pc crashed and had to be wiped clean, so now I need to transfer some of them back to my pc. I have them all on an external hard drive that I am using with time machine, but when I plug it into my pc it is no longer recognized and I can't even get into the files. (I think it is partitioned for mac now) Any help or suggestions?

On the Mac, open the Migration Assistant located in the Utilities folder. To do this: In Finder, select Go > Utilities or press Shift–Command–U (⇧⌘U), then double-click Migration Assistant.
Select the "From another Mac, PC, Time Machine backup, or other disk" option then click "Continue".
When prompted, enter an administrator name and password.
Select the "From another Mac or PC" migration method then click "Continue" to proceed.
When prompted, click Continue to quit other applications. Other applications can't be open on the Mac during the migration process.
Select the PC, then wait for the PC to show the passcode displayed on the Mac.
On the PC, once you see the passcode displayed on the Mac, click "Continue" to proceed.
The Mac will then begin to inspect your computer and build a list of information to migrate.
Select the information you would like to migrate to the Mac, then click Continue to proceed.
On both the Windows PC and Mac you will see a progress bar, messaging of what is being migrated and estimated time remaining. Once completed, you can log into the user account created.
Note: At your first login, you will promoted to enter a new password for the user account. See this article about how to choose a good password.

What is the easiest way to transfer info from my Time Machine backups to a Windows pc?

So far it seems like I'll have to reformat my external HDD used for backups, format it as NTFS, then transfer the files from the Mac onto that. Is there a simpler way to do this? A program I can install on the Windows computer than can let me read the files?

Do you think by Bluetooth I can get the photos out of my
not-I-Phone? I'm afraid of somehow infecting the Mac.
I don't think there's much chance of infecting your Mac, it should work if the phone supports the needed file transfer capabilities.
I'd give you more points but there aren't any to give.
Thanks for the consideration, 90% of the people give no points at all, & while that's not the reason I'm here, I do appreciate the recognition when awarded for good reason, thanks again.

What is the fastest way to transfer data from old macbook pro to new macbook pro using the migration assistant

I'm trying to transfer my data (applications, files, etc.) From my older macbook pro to my new macbook pro. I've started the migration wizard and the process aHa its going to take 16 hours. Is there a faster way? Fireside? If so what cables would I need and is it ok to stop this since its already startwd.

Ethernet or Firewire:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889
Sounds like you're using WiFi...that will take forever & can produce errors.

What's the easiest way to transfer content from a mac to a new one?

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