This ensures a smooth transfer between the two Macs. On both Macs, click the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen, select System Preferences, click Software Update, and then select Software Update if it's available. Use this method if you do not have a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Note: If you are using Mac OS X 10.10 (or higher), please refer to this article instead. This article provides important information if you intend to move components of your Native Instruments software to another location on your computer on Mac OS X 10.9 (or lower).
On your new Mac, uninstall the Backblaze software that was copied over during migration. Download a fresh copy and install it as a trial version. This lets it work while your license is still assigned to the old Mac.
I bought a new Mac and Office 2016 in 2016, just bout a new Mac and used Migration Assistant to move everything over to my new Mac. Office came across, but the license didn't. When I click activate, it says that I don't have any licenses.

16 6 likes 143,298 views Last modified Jul 18, 2013 2:43 AM

/:16 Dear Lifehacker, I just got a new Mac and want to transfer a few of my old applications and preferences over. Migration Assistant seems to be an all-or-nothing deal—how can I migrate just.

Hello and welcome to my User Tip

People are buying Mac's used where the previous owner didn't know or clear the machine properly before selling it, so what occurs is the next owner can't update OS X or programs because their AppleID doesn't match the previous owner.

Some are just ignoring the requests for updates because they know to change ownership to them will require a complete erase of all the installed programs by the previous owner, which is a fact unfortunately.

Not being able to update OS X or programs means the machine is eventually going to run insecure ones which sets the stage for another large scale botnet of compromised Mac's like what occurred with Flashback, or at the very least banking and credit card information of the secondhand user could be compromised.

Changing ownership of a Mac

1: Copy what users files you do want to save off the machine to a regular external storage drive using drag and drop methods on your internal Home folders of Music, Pictures, Movies, Documents etc. If a TimeMachine window request appears, deny it as it will copy the entire drive, accounts and everything which is not what you need in your case at this time.

If any of those files are over 4GB in size (like large movies/projects or audio files) then the external drive needs to be formatted in Disk Utility first using the Erase option, the default formatting is GUID and OS X Extended Journaled which will work fine only for a Mac. If your going to share this drive also with a Windows PC, then take it to the oldest Windows version and right click on the drive and format exFAT. If it's a Windows XP machine first download the free exFAT download from Microsoft first and reboot. Note: Formatting a drive will erase all data on the drive, so make sure you have what you want off it first.

You cannot save most applications, especially Apple/or AppStore ones as they are now copy protected. Any applications that are non-copy protected and self-contained completely in the app icon in the Applications folder are better off reinstalled fresh from original sources anyway.

Don't forget to export bookmarks from your browsers, any information contained in AddressBook, email addresses in Mail, application license keys in programs you've installed or any other sort of vital information as the entire MacintoshHD partition containing OS X, files and programs will have to be erased to properly turn ownership of the machine to you.

If you have Windows installed in BootCamp, it's a good idea to backup the data there as well.

2: Do a Apple Menu > About this Mac and get information of what OS X version is currently installed on the machine (so you can upgrade back to that version later) and it's model identification and serial number, this information is needed depending upon if disks/USB keys are needed or if the machine can't upgrade to the latest OS X version on AppStore and you have to call Apple to order the in between versions like 10.7 for instance.

3: On the Mac, be near a fast and reliable Internet connection, if you have a Ethernet cable connection to the router, that would be preferred as it's faster and more reliable than Wifi. If you know your Internet speed and it's not around 10 Mb/s or better and all to yourself, then you need something faster. There are various Internet speed tests online, search and use a few to get a accurate evaluation of your capability to reinstall OS X or take it to someone who has a faster connection.

Hold the command (cloverleaf looking), option/alt and r keys down and press the power button until something appears, connect to the Internet if on Wifi. What you will see on the screen is a globe icon as Internet Recovery is downloaded from Apple's (via Akamai's) Servers.

(If this doesn't work, then your older machine isn't capable of Internet Recovery and usually has a slot for a 10.6 OS X install disk or requires a 10.6 boot USB key from Apple. You'll have to erase the ENTIRE drive and install with that first, then upgrade OS X via AppStore (paid upgrade). How to erase and install Snow Leopard 10.6 )

4: You will see several options. You want to select Disk Utility and the disk0 selected on the left, then choose Erase.

If a slider option appears, move the slider one spot to the right for a Zero erase. If you move it further for more secure erase than a Zero, then it's just going to take a lot longer for no gain. The Zero option maps off bad sectors on hard drives and also deletes any fragments of the previous owners data less there be something illegal there that might false incriminate you. If your handling sensitive data, then certainly move the slider all the way to the right for the maximum. It takes some time for the Zero erase to complete, if it fails after a few hours like it's stuck, the hard drive is defective and needs to be replaced by Apple.

If no slider for secure erase appears, it means your machine has a SSD or a Fusion/flash hybrid and there is no secure erase option available for these. Simply erase the drive, it doesn't erase it in reality, just reformats it and allows the old data to be overwritten. Keep that in mind when using your machine, NSA approved method for data destruction on a solid state drive is to gind it into a fine powder.

5: Select the Partition tab and that the drive has 1 Partition, click the box, Option: GUID and the format is OS X Extended Journaled and the name is MacintoshHD, if not, make it so.

6: From the File menu select Quit Disk Utility and select the Install OS X option. Using your AppleID and password, install OS X and Quit the installer which should reboot the machine.

7: Next you will see a 'Welcome to Mac' video animation and select a language and setup your machine.

Be warned that if you enter your real personal information at this stage or at the registration screen, that Apple will take that information and personalize the machine placing your real name all over the machine, including broadcasting it wirelessly (short range) via Bonjour (can't disable it, risk in coffee shops etc), in emails, account name info, network connections, computer name etc., which will compromise your personal security and privacy.

At this stage you may wish to use a alias, if you later find out it hampers your use of Apple services such as iCloud/AppleID and so forth, you can create a additional user account and log into that with your real name or simply start all over from #3 above. You'll have to be your own judge on what your personal security needs are, because Apple doesn't provide any opt

Move Software To New Mac