How can I move all of my data from my Windows PC to a new Mac?

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How can I move all of my data from my Windows PC to a new Mac?

rcook12 21 weeks ago

My significant other is hinting that she may get me a new Mac for Christmas (Thanks honey!). If she does, is there an easy way to transfer all of my data from my Windows PC to the Mac?

Tags: data, mac, windows

Topic: Operating Systems

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jimlynch 21 weeks ago

See this article from Apple's support site:

Switch Basics: Migrate your Windows files or system to your Mac
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2518?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

"You can easily move your Windows files to your new Mac and use them with Mac applications. Macs can open many different kinds of files from your PC, as long as you have appropriate software installed that can interpret them.

For example, you can move all of your Microsoft Office documents to your Mac if you have Microsoft Office for Mac OS X installed—Office functions almost exactly the same on a Mac as it does on a PC. Also, iWork applications (Pages, Numbers, and Keynote) can use and export many Microsoft Office file types.

Likewise, you can move any Photoshop (.psd) file to your Mac and open it as long as you have Adobe Photoshop (or Photoshop Elements) for Mac installed (Photoshop has many of the same interface on both platforms), or another third-party app that can read .psd files. Ditto for your Quicken, FileMaker Pro, Macromedia Studio, QuarkXPress, QuickBooks, and other application files; if you have a Mac version of the software, you can open your old PC files.

For audio files (MP3, WAV, AAC QuickTime, AIFF, and so on), image files (JPEG, PDF, TIFF, GIF, RAW, and the like), or movie files (MPEG-4, DV, Flash, AVI, QuickTime, and more), you can move practically all of them to your Mac. You can use iTunes or QuickTime Player (included with your Mac) to play almost any audio file, iPhoto or Preview to view practically any image file, and QuickTime Player to watch most movie files.

If you're unsure that a manufacturer makes a Mac version of your Windows software, you can either visit the manufacturer's website or check out Apple Downloads, Apple Store, or Mac App Store to see numerous products made for Mac. Check your software install discs too—some manufacturers release both Mac and Windows versions of the software in the same package."

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ablake 22 weeks ago

Mountain Lion includes a utility called Migration Assistant. You can use Migration Assistant (which can use Time Machine) to migrate your data. It will give you the option to transfer your data from the PC if you are on the same network.

I looked on MacWorld to see if I could find something about it, but the article I found on Migration Assistant doesn't focus on moving files from a PC specifically. Still, it guides you through the process, and hopefully will be of help.

http://www.macworld.com/article/1162154/move_data_from_an_old_mac_to_a_n...

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Christopher Nerney 22 weeks ago

Apple support makes it sound like a fairly simple process (not surprising, since it's obviously one of the first things a new Mac user wants to do). In fact, the company has created an app called Migration Assistant that comes installed on Macs. (You'll need to donwload it on your PC as well if you don't have it already.) After that, you just follow the step-by-step instructions on the linked support page.

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