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Mac mini G4 Q&A - Revised March 10, 2007

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How can I transfer files from my old Mac to my Mac mini G4?

You have several options for transferring files from your old Mac to your Mac mini G4. Depending on the "vintage" of your "old" system, one of the below options may be perfect for your needs.

Via Firewire & Migration Assistant

If you have a Firewire cable handy and your older Mac is running MacOS X 10.1 or later, Apple intends for you to use the included Setup Assistant/Migration Assistant utility to transfer data from your old computer to your Mac mini G4.

Apple instructs one to update the firmware on the old computer, connect a Firewire cable between the computers, and use the utility upon first starting the Mac mini G4. Apple notes that some settings and preferences will not transfer and some applications may have to be reinstalled.

For additional information, please refer to the "Setup Assistant/Migration Assistant FAQ" from the Apple Support Site.

Via Firewire Manually

If you have a Firewire cable and would prefer to start with a "clean install" of applications and settings rather than using the Migration Assistant, the Mac mini G4 also can be connected to another FireWire-equipped Mac by using "FireWire Target Disk Mode". In this mode, the other computer simply will appear as a second hard drive on the desktop of the Mac mini. According to Apple "to use Target Disk Mode, simply connect the computers using a FireWire cable, then start the second computer while holding down the "T" key on its keyboard."

For additional information, please refer to "How to Use Firewire Target Disk Mode" from the Apple Support Site.

Via Wired Networking (Ethernet)

A Mac mini G4 also can be connected with a standard Ethernet cable to many other recent Macs. For older systems, assuming that Ethernet is installed, you can just use a simple crossover cable, or Ethernet cables and a hub, to connect another Mac to the Mac mini G4. Although it has not been updated in quite some time, Three Macs & A Printer covers basic types of wired networking in-depth.

Via Wireless Networking (AirPort/AirPort Extreme)

If your Mac mini G4 is equipped with AirPort Extreme (802.11g), two Mac mini G4 models, or one Mac mini and another AirPort or AirPort Extreme-equipped Mac, can be networked together without the AirPort hardware access point by using "direct computer-to-computer communications" within a range of approximately 50 meters.

For Macs that have 10Base-T or 10/100Base-T or faster Ethernet installed and are capable of running MacOS 8.6 or higher, the first Mac can be added to an AirPort network via a crossover Ethernet cable between the computer and the hardware access point and the Mac mini G4 can be added to the same network by the wireless AirPort Extreme connection.

Via iPod

If you have an iPod, it is easy to connect the iPod to the older Mac in disk mode, copy your files, connect the iPod to your Mac mini G4, and copy your files to the new system.

Via CD or DVD

Alternately, if your older Mac has a DVD-R or CD-R/CD-RW drive, it is simple to copy files to DVD or CD, and then transfer them to your Mac mini G4.

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