Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

on Sep 7, 2011 at 9:14:41 pm

My new 6 Core 3.33GHz Mac Pro is arriving this week as a replacement for my 4 year old dual-core Intel Mac Pro. I want to stay on my current OS (10.6.6 with FCP 7) as everything is running smoothly and has been for a long time and with the problems with Lion that have been reported it seems prudent to stay where I am for the time being. That said, is it possible to restore the drive that comes with the new computer from the back-up of my current one? I see that for older Macs (pre Intel) there were build numbers associated with each machine but I am not sure that is the case and am unable to find a definitive answer.
The second part of the question is if I have to revert the OS on the new computer first and then re-install applications how far back do I need to go for FCP? I have upgrade discs going back to the Crossgrade. Thanks for the advice. Much appreciated.

Neal Broffman
One Production Place, Atlanta, GA
http://www.oneproductionplace.com
Latest short: "Line of Sight"
http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/marco-breuer-line-sight
Produced for the deYoung Museum in San Francisco

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

by Andrew Rendell

on Sep 7, 2011 at 9:44:25 pm

Last time I upgraded I used the Migration Assistant and it worked a treat. HOWEVER, I was going from a computer that I'd upgraded to Snow Leopard to one that came with Snow Leopard. I don't know what would happen going between different levels of OS though (I haven't tried Lion yet, on the basis of "if it ain't broke don't fix it", so I have no opinion to offer on it).

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

by Steve Eisen

on Sep 7, 2011 at 11:00:58 pm

The Mac Pro has 4 slots for hard drives. Clone your current hard drive and place that inside your new computer. Boot from that drive.

Steve Eisen
Eisen Video Productions
Vice President
Chicago Final Cut Pro Users Group

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

by Shane Ross

on Sep 7, 2011 at 11:09:25 pm

Worth a shot. But historically Apple doesn't allow new machines to boot from older OS versions. If they ship with Lion, they might not work with Snow Leopard.

Shane

GETTING ORGANIZED WITH FINAL CUT PRO DVD...don't miss it.
Read my blog, Little Frog in High Def

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

on Sep 8, 2011 at 12:10:08 am

Thanks guys, I will give it a go. I ordered the machine from BH and they say that it may ship with 10.6 installed but with a voucher to upgrade so that could be the ticket.
Am I correct to assume that if it comes with Lion and it will not boot from my old drive that I can still wipe the new drive clean and install 10.6 and then build up from there?

Neal Broffman
One Production Place, Atlanta, GA
http://www.oneproductionplace.com
Latest short: "Line of Sight"
http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/marco-breuer-line-sight
Produced for the deYoung Museum in San Francisco

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

by Andrew Kimery

on Sep 8, 2011 at 6:23:51 pm

If it ships with Lion there is firmware that will prevent any older OS from booting, AFAIK.

-Andrew

3.2GHz 8-core, FCP 6.0.4, 10.5.5
Blackmagic Multibridge Eclipse (6.8.1)

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

on Sep 8, 2011 at 9:22:55 pm

That means there is no going back at all?

Neal Broffman
One Production Place, Atlanta, GA
http://www.oneproductionplace.com
Latest short: "Line of Sight"
http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/marco-breuer-line-sight
Produced for the deYoung Museum in San Francisco

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

by Andrew Kimery

on Sep 9, 2011 at 9:02:54 am

That is correct. I think this either started with Leopard or Snow Leopard. There might be ways to hack around it but I don't know what that would entail and what the possible side effects might be.

-Andrew

3.2GHz 8-core, FCP 6.0.4, 10.5.5
Blackmagic Multibridge Eclipse (6.8.1)

Re: Restore New Mac Pro from Retiring Mac Pro Hard Drive

on Sep 9, 2011 at 9:12:56 pm

Thanks. The machine arrived today. If it looks like a huge hassle I will just jump right in with Lion . No guts no glory...but always a backup.

Neal Broffman
One Production Place, Atlanta, GA
http://www.oneproductionplace.com
Latest short: "Line of Sight"
http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/marco-breuer-line-sight
Produced for the deYoung Museum in San Francisco