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Question

migration from a pc laptop to a macbook pro

Sep 22, 2011 1:33PM PDT

Just planning to shift from a pc laptop to a macbook pro. As always, a big concern is how to conveniently transfer files and make sure all of them will work on the new system. Is there a recommended way to move files &/or migrate from a pc laptop to a macbook pro, much like the convenience of the windows transfer function on windows 7 laptops?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Yes, there is
Sep 22, 2011 9:56PM PDT

If your PC has firewire, get yourself a Firewire cable that will fit your PC at one end and has a Firewire 800 connection on the other.
Connect the two machines together, fire up the Mac and, when prompted, answer that you have data to transfer from another computer.
Follow the instructions from there.

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I don't believe
Sep 22, 2011 10:47PM PDT

I don't believe (m)any PCs can create a simple network using passthrough cable, it has to be crossover. I could very well be wrong on this, but I think that particular feature is unique to Macs. Not sure why, it seems like a highly useful feature.

Of course most people have a router or some such which has a switch built in, so that will take care of that. You just need a length of cable for each system connected to the router.

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which got me to searching some more
Sep 23, 2011 6:40AM PDT

and found that Lion is the only version of OS X that will do that but there are a couple of hoops to go through first.
Nothing difficult, just not as simple as Mac to Mac.

See my other post that has a link to the relevant Apple KB article

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Answer
Remember that some of your data,
Sep 22, 2011 9:57PM PDT

things like Word and Excel will need a corresponding (compatible) application on the Mac for them to open.

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Answer
Here are the exact details on how to accomplish the task
Sep 23, 2011 6:38AM PDT

Disregard the Ethernet & Firewire cable theory.

In OS X Lion, which is what you will be getting if your MBP is new, the Migration Assistant can hand moving stuff from a PC to a Mac as long as the two machine as on the same network.

Full details on how to do it, including pictures, and what you need to provide, is included in this Apple Knowledge Base article.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4796

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how about for OSX Snow Leopard
Sep 23, 2011 11:31AM PDT

Thanks for the reply.

Would you know if the Migration Assistant is also available for the Snow Leopard? I was thinking of getting an MBP with this old os on it, instead of the Lion.

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No
Sep 23, 2011 1:18PM PDT

No... There's maybe a SMALL chance with the upcoming 10.6.9 update, but unlikely.

It's really not that difficult anyway. Worst case scenario you get a USB flash drive and just move stuff over in chunks. Since you won't be able to move programs, that should leave you with fairly small file sizes to contend with.

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Although Migration Assistant is available in Snow Leopard
Sep 23, 2011 11:59PM PDT

the PC to Mac function did not appear until Lion.