New Computer, Old Data

May 11, 2006 2:44 PM

New computer, yet want all my old stuff... I have a new (to me) G4. I want to take all of my stuff, but most specifically my Thunderbird email and settings (bolded for easy scanning on the page) and put it on the new computer.

How the fuck do I do this? I've tried doing it through the network but the computers don't recognize each other (both 10.2.8, though I mean to update to 10.3 once I can grab the discs from my dad). I've tried emailling myself the profile.ini files, and switching the paths (like Mozilla support sez), but that just makes it create a new identity. I've even tried slapping the hard drives around, making the disc that the old computer booted from the slave, but it still thinks there aren't any mail programs to import from. What the fuck, Thunderbird? I really like the program overall, and I do need a lot of my old emails. And ideally, I wouldn't have to hassle the autistic asshole of a tech support guy that handles the email for my primary job just to get my password back (it's some 16-digit string of random numbers and letters).

So... I realize that my computer woes are becoming a weekly routine, but what do I do, AskMe? Aside from the Thunderbird issues, have any other advice for moving about 35gb worth of data?

posted by klangklangston to computers & internet (8 comments total)

From Finder Help:

To transfer files using FireWire:

Shut down the first computer and leave the second computer on.

Connect the two computers using a 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire cable. (If both computers have higher-speed FireWire 800 ports in addition to the standard FireWire 400 ports, you can use a 9-pin to 9-pin cable with the FireWire 800 ports to transfer data at higher speeds.)

Open System Preferences, click the Startup Disk, and click Target Disk Mode. (Or, start up the first computer while holding down the T key.)

A disk icon for the first computer appears on the desktop on the second computer. Drag files to and from the disk to transfer them.

When you finish, eject the first computer's disk by dragging its icon to the Trash. (While you drag, the Trash icon changes to an Eject icon.)

Push the power button on the first computer to shut it down and disconnect the FireWire cable.
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It's a little tricky importing mail and stuff, but the thunderbird site should have a decent tutorial about how to accomplish that one.
posted by gallois at 3:04 PM on May 11, 2006

I'd suggest plonking your old user folder down on top of the new one. That should transfer almost all of your settings and files.
posted by cillit bang at 3:35 PM on May 11, 2006

I just got a new computer, and I deleted the entire mail folder from the new computer and replaced it with the mail folder from the old one. I accessed the old mail from a home network, don't know if that makes a difference.
posted by Ruki at 3:37 PM on May 11, 2006

Oh. Preview is good.
posted by Ruki at 3:38 PM on May 11, 2006

Migration Assistant?
posted by michaelkuznet at 5:38 PM on May 11, 2006

To re-use an old Thunderbird profile in a new installation of Thunderbird:

1. Copy the old profile folder to its new home, using whatever combination of Firewire/Ethernet/sneakernet you have available.

2. Start the Thunderbird profile manager:

thunderbird -profilemanager

3. Create a new profile. Call it whatever you like. Click Choose Folder... and browse to the spot you copied the old profile folder to. Click Finish.

4. Click on the new profile, then click Start Thunderbird.
posted by flabdablet at 3:50 AM on May 12, 2006

There isn't a "profile manager" that I can find. The account settings and identity support doesn't have a choose folder selection.

The Thunderbird site does not have a good tutorial for Macs.

Reassigning the profiles folder does not work like it should, with Thunderbird simply creating a new identity if I start it up/reinstall. When I try to simply replace the whole "mail" folder, I get told that I don't have sufficient permissions.

As for transferring everything else, I don't have a firewire cable, but I may need to get one.
posted by klangklangston at 6:29 AM on May 12, 2006

You could try importing the messages into Mail, which would at least get them onto the machine you want them on. I'm not familiar with Thunderbird, but I know Mail isn't as happy about exporting as about importing. Maybe Thunderbird is more forgiving? So once your mail is on your machine, start up Thunderbird as new, and import the messages from Mail?

For the rest of the data, you probably will want a wire of some kind—FireWire, Ethernet, USB—for 35 GB. FireWire will take half an hour or an hour for that much.
posted by cgc373 at 6:52 PM on May 12, 2006