You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

I2010 Macpro with corrupted OS

My old Mac is a mid 2010 that periodically gives me messages that there are corrupted files and will not let me update past Yosemite 10.10.5. It also will not let me download or install any new software.


Because of this and other issues I have a new Macpro 2021 coming in. My question is if I transfer using migration assistant do I risk getting the old machine corrupted files on the new one? I have no experience at all beyond operating the Mac. Thanks all

MacBook Pro

Posted on Dec 15, 2021 10:15 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Dec 15, 2021 7:13 PM

Your old one is too old to transfer over the MacOS. So you use Migration Assistant (or Setup Assistant if you are ready at first run) to transfer only your files, not MacOS.


You could also use Recovery Mode to repair your Disk, and/or to install a new macOS, right over the old one. By design, this does not touch any of your files, only system directories.


The one thing you may not be able to do on a 2010 model is ERASE the entire disk, unless you boot from the Recovery partition on your Time machine backup drive.



4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Dec 15, 2021 7:13 PM in response to paulfromflagstaff

Your old one is too old to transfer over the MacOS. So you use Migration Assistant (or Setup Assistant if you are ready at first run) to transfer only your files, not MacOS.


You could also use Recovery Mode to repair your Disk, and/or to install a new macOS, right over the old one. By design, this does not touch any of your files, only system directories.


The one thing you may not be able to do on a 2010 model is ERASE the entire disk, unless you boot from the Recovery partition on your Time machine backup drive.



Dec 15, 2021 10:20 AM in response to paulfromflagstaff

You need a Backup:


If you do not have a recent local, disk-based backup, your computer is like a ticking Time bomb. You are only one disk failure away from losing EVERYTHING! Drives do not last forever. It is not a question of IF it will fail, only WHEN it will fail.


If you are using another direct-to-disk backup method that you prefer, and you currently have a recent disk-based backup, that is great. If not, you should consider using Built-in Time Machine. Take steps to acquire an external drive as soon as possible. If you buy one, a drive 2 to 3 times or larger than your boot drive is preferable for long term trouble-free operation. Do not pay extra for a drive that is fast.  (You can get by for a while with a "found" smaller drive if necessary, but it will eventually become annoying).


Attach your external drive and use

System preferences > Time machine ...


... to turn on Time Machine and specify what drive to store your Backups on.  It may ask to initialize the new drive, and that is as expected.

Dec 15, 2021 6:24 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Yes I do have a hard drive that i back this unit up with via time machine. I have quit doing this routinely however due to my problem as listed above. Question still stands so if I make a new back up of this 2010 Mac Pro that I know has system issues in the OS, will this problem carry over to my new 2021 MacPro if I transfer the data over? The 2021 Macpro will have a spanking new SSD hardrive and new OS so basically I want the personal data, pics, docs, etc to transfer over but I do not want any of the corrupted garbage to carry over. Am I right in figuring I can do a transfer that will load my stuff OK on the new one?

I2010 Macpro with corrupted OS

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.