New (refurb) MB Air with multiple adapters

[daryl66]

SWMBO's 2011 MBP topped out at Sierra and the battery is not doing so well therefore the bullet was bitten. The problem is I screwed up   she is/was using the MBP creating a new PPT, and delivery was taken on the new one. Helpful me ,  I jumped rite in and set up the new one instead of waiting till she finished. Now all new user/groups etc

I have not yet attempted to duplicate the old one but anticipate problems. It is desired to have the new one look just like the old one albeit with HS   My first thought was to use the  MBP back up to start up  then erase the new SSD. SuperDuper the back-up to the new SSD then do all the updates for High Sierra etc. 

Thoughts and/or ideas appreciated.

Daryl

[Xairbusdriver]

WHOA! One task at a time.

As I understand it, the old MBP is still working?

If so, is there a reason she can't finish the Power Point on it?
If no, is there a reason she can't get the partial file on the new Air?

Do you have a local WiFi network? What kind of i/o ports does the Air have?

I've never used or even seen a MB Air, but isn't it running the macOS?! And doesn't it have USB? Doesn't it have Screen Sharing, File Sharing, etc.?

As a last resort, is the new Air returnable?

[daryl66]

Yeah the MBP is still working and will use it for her next trip Sept 7 if I do not get the migration done
She is, and will finish the ppt on the MBP

Have local WIFI and the MBPA has 2 usb3's and Thunderbolt.  I bought a Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter and will use that to do the "migration".

I just need to eliminate the "set-up" on the new MBPA

[daryl66]

OH Yea, it is an Macbook Air.  Looks just like a MBPro on a diet. 13 inch and skinny, no HD. This one running on OSX 10.13.4

I got it from Apple so guess I could return it or take it to the Apple store if it came down to that, however doubt it will come to that

[Xairbusdriver]

First, I don't know what you mean with this:

I just need to eliminate the "set-up" on the new MBPA

Please explain.
Migration Assistant is supposed to transfer the user settings for Mail and many other prefs. Microsoft apps may have to be installed manually, assuming they will run on macOS 10.13 High Sierra.

Second, without the hard drive, how much internal storage does it have? My biggest problem when I had to replace my iMac was not realizing the  drive 'replacement' would be so small. The old HD was 1GB, the SSD is only .5GB! My first clue during the 'set up' was when Migration Assistant stopped when it 'realized' it could not perform the task. I had to use an external HD to put lots of large apps and the majority of my image collection. I still have a bit over 20% of the SSD as free space.

[Paddy]

I know what Daryl means - he started up the new Mac, which when it arrived had no user etc., and got it up and running with his wife's user info. So, now, he can't simply set it up using Setup Assistant from the get go, which is by far the easiest, because he has already set the account up. However, not to worry.

There are various options. Probably the easiest is to simply start over - use the recovery partition on the new Mac to wipe it, reinstall the OS and this time when you start it up and start the set up, select transfer information from another computer/backup.

https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-reset-mac-factory-settings-3494564/ (obviously, you don't need to worry about saving anything from the new Mac - just use the instructions to start from recovery mode, erase the drive and reinstall the OS)

There are ways to re-run Setup Assistant (which only runs once at initial setup) from the Terminal, but I suspect that it's going to be easier to just start over.

The other thing you could do is create another admin account, log into that, delete the account you set up for your wife, and then run Migration Assistant to move everything over - that should also work. You can then delete the spare admin account when done. Presumably you gave the computer a name that will still work. (that won't change).

In theory, Migration Assistant should also work with the "new" account for your wife - asking you whether you want to overwrite things with the stuff you're migrating from the old Mac, but I have had issues with trying to combine a "new" account with the old. Believe me - you're not the first person to make this mistake in your eagerness to get the new machine up and running!!

BTW - the problem with using the backup of the old Mac to clone to the new Mac is that the new Mac likely won't run Sierra. New machines typically don't run with older OS' than they shipped with (unless they're previous generation refurbs perhaps...).

[daryl66]

Bingo. That is what I am looking for.  Ya know things run along for years without so much as a hic-up one gets complacent and somewhat lazy and maybe some degree of half-hiemers.

Thanks a bunch

Daryl

[daryl66]

FWIW:  After 3 "start overs"  the re-install of MS office 2008, iWork 9, and 3 or 4 others I think I finally
 have SWMNO's new MBair cranked up and cooking. She will no doubt find a handful of issues not to her liking but tomorrow is another day.

Thank you one more time Paddy

Daryl

[Paddy]

You are most welcome, Daryl. Hope your wife enjoys the new MBA!

[daryl66]

FWIW:  The first 2 presentations (which each have 250 plus PPT slides) went well. The only issue was when she called from NYC the night before the first one GREATLY concerned .  She had left the lid open and left for dinner. Upon return the screen was black and  she couldn't get it cranked up. We finally got it going  :sweatingbullets:and suspect the issue  lies with  "POWER NAP". Suggested she select  "never sleep" option in Sys Prefs, and for added insurance to "shut down" when not actually in use.  Will pursue the issue upon her return Saturday. Other than that the refurb MBAir performed just lovely.

Daryl