Unable to transfer pre-2010 iMac files via network connection to external drive on 2021 iMac

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Unable to transfer pre-2010 iMac files via network connection to external drive on 2021 iMac

I still have an old pre 2010 iMac which does not have Thunderbolt access (only Firewire 800).

I can't connect my virgin LaCie ext hard drive to it.

I'd like to transfer historical files from this old iMac to my 2021 iMac M1 to then export these to an external 2TB LaCie hard drive connected to the M1.... I can then dump the old Mac.

I have connected boths Mac's via iCloud ... all file share ticked and permitted ... I can see the old Mac files on the M1 but when I try to drag and drop or copy the old Mac files to the virgin LaCie on the M1 the old no entry sign goes up.

The LaCie is apparently pre formatted for Apple Mac products ... the LaCie can well cover the capacity requirement.

Any idiot proof answers please? I'd be very grateful ... thanks

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Transferring pre-2010 iMac files to 2021 iMac M1 via network connection and then to connected external drive -unable to drag files

iMac, macOS 10.12

Posted on Jul 21, 2025 08:36 AM

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Answer 1

Jul 22, 2025 12:17 AM in response to oldcomposer

Get a thumb drive, connect it to the old iMac's USB-A port, use Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility to erase it as MacOS Extended (GUID), copy the desired files to it.

Then on the new Mac copy those files on the thumb drive to the LaCie hard drive (that you have formatted as MacOS Extended or APFS (GUID)).

Remember to periodically backup the new LaCie hard drive to another hard drive because all drives eventually break!

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