Macintosh

From one iMac to another

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Problematic graphic card. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Problematic graphic card

I’ve for a long time had problems with my i old iMac 24″ from early 2009. Its graphic card somehow got sick. So, each time I did something that had to do with graphics it either totally froze, or suddenly crashed and restarted the iMac, or showed images similar to the one above where all the content of the screen was like a mosaic from all applications that were actively running. At that stage a forced quit via the button on the Mac was the only way out. Over time it got worse and some days I had crashes about 5-6 times a day. It was very hard to get anything done.

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My new iMac. Screenshot from ElGiganten.se website.

Getting a new iMac

So I decided I just had to get a new iMac to be able to get anything done when at the computer and also to be able to update to current OS and to have a graphic card that was supported by all my graphical software. Took a bank loan to be able to pay for it. That was easily and fast approved.

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My new iMac Photo ©nini.tjader.2016

Last week I bought it and brought it home.

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Connections on the new iMac. Image screenshot from Apple.

As Apple has changed almost all connections at the back of the iMac since my last 2009 model, and built it without a CD/DVD drive, I also had to buy some extra stuff. It says it can have 16MB RAM, but mine has 8 GB RAM. If I had wanted 16GB, I would have had to order that before purchase. You cannot change it afterwards as you used to be able to in older iMacs.

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External CD/DVD drive and adapter from Thunderbolt to Firewire. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Bought an Apple CD/DVD drive and an adapter from Thunderbolt to Firewire. My 1TB external WD MyBook harddisk which is my main backup disk only connects via Firewire.

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Apple powerplug. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Noticed when I unpacked the new iMac that the powercord had a really nicely designed powerplug. Nobody but Apple might be doing beautiful power plugs…

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Old and new iMacs on kitchentable. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Transferring content from the old iMac to the new with Migration Assistant

Next was to transfer my content from the old iMac to the new one. Some swear by beginning from scratch and install everything new from the beginning. I don’t. I use the Apple Migration Assistant. It is reliable and good and I have never had any problems with it. During my years at the technical department at Aftonbladet we always used that to transfer content from one machine to another.

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Old and new iMacs ready for content-transfer. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I set up the two iMacs on the kitchentable.

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Old and new iMacs connected via Ethernet cable. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

I connected the two iMacs via a short Ethernet cable. Then I started the Migration Assistant on the old iMac, got a number on the screen of the old Mac to connect the machines to each other that I input on the new iMac, and made the choices for what to transfer.

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Transfer via Migration Assistant. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

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Choice of what to transfer. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

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Transfer of content starting. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

It prepares to transfer for a very long time. When you, like me, has a lot of content to transfer, it takes it time. Have patience.

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Preparing to transfer… Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

After a very long time it starts the actual transfer.

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Transfer has started. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

When it actually starts the transfer the Migration Assistant shows how long it might take to do the transfer. Do not trust that. It usually takes much longer than it initially says. How long depends on the number of files that are beings transferred and the size of the files. Many small files takes longer than large files. 

At times it looks like it is doing nothing and as if no transfer is being made. But be patient. It IS doing what it should even if there is no sign of it. Do not touch it during the transfer and do not cancel it in the middle of being done.

My transfer started early afternoon one day and was done around 11 AM the next day. It was successful. I worried that the old iMac might crash when doing this, as unstable as it was, but it didn’t crash and it didn’t freeze. That was a relief.

If it hadn’t worked, I would have used the backup on my backup disk and the application Carbon Copy Cloner to transfer the content from the old to the new Mac. It would probably have been much faster.

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Cleaned computer table. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

Took the opportunity to clean the computer table when the Macs were on the kitchentable. It is now dust-free and clean. As long as it lasts…

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The new iMac on the work-table. Photo: ©nini.tjader.2016

A new wireless keyboard and mouse

With the new iMac also came a new wireless keyboard and a new wireless mouse. Both run via Bluetooth and are paired to the iMac already at delivery. They come with a special small cable for charging them.

The mouse I got used to pretty fast even though I find its edges a bit too sharp for my liking. The tiny, short keyboard without a numerical pad is another thing. I don’t really like the short keyboards. I am used to have a numerical pad for numbers. i keeping hitting the wrong keys on the tiny keyboard because they aren’t placed as I’m used to. and, when I am using a lot of numbers, or certain key combinations I keep crossing the hands and arms to reach them. My fingers have to relearn.

Otherwise, everything works just fine. Had to do a few updates of certain applications and to re-apply passwords in certain situation, and updated the OS to Sierra, but otherwise all applications work as they should. Even all my Adobe applications work just fine after the transfer. It is also a pleasure to finally be able to work without crashes and freezes. That was a long time ago I could do that.

What to do with the old iMac?

Haven’t decided yet what to do with the old 24″ iMac. It presently rests on the kitchen floor. I will eventually empty it. If anybody is interested in buying it from me, contact me. It does need a new graphic card though to work properly without crashes and freezes. And it won’t be possible to install the latest OS on it. But…

New wireless short keyboard and wireless mouse. Photo:©nini.tjader.2016

Posted by nini in Macintosh, Nerdish, 0 comments

Adobe Bridge and El Capitain

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If you like me are using Adobe Bridge to import images from camera or smartphone AND has updated to Mac OS X 10.11.x El Capitain, then there is something you need to know. Importing from iPhones and iPads and certain cameras doesn’t work if you choose “Get Photos from Camera…”. Adobe Bridge doesn’t “see” the devices and says that there isn’t any device connected if you choose “Get Photos from Camera…”.

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If you use Get Photos from Camera in El Capitain

According to Adobe: On Mac OS 10.11, Bridge CC does not recognize the following types of devices:

  • Devices (such as cameras or Android-based devices) connected in PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol) or MTP (Media Transfer Protocol) mode
  • iDevices such as iPad or iPhone

Instead of choosing “Get Photos from Camera…” you should choose “Import from Device…” to import your images.

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Bridge “Import from Device”

You will not get all the options with this choice as you do with “Get Photos from Camera…”, but at least you can import your images from those devices (smart phones, iPads and certain cameras) that are not supported by Adobe Bridge in El Capitain.

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Import from Device in Adobe Bridge

If Bridge is pointing to a folder you have earlier imported to, it shows which images are in that folder. If you don’t want to import to that folder again, you click on the Import To: at the bottom of the window and choose which existing folder to import to or you create a new folder as destination by choosing “Other…”.

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Import To

You can either Download All or choose by clicking on the images which ones to import and choose Download. Then you can use Adobe Bridge as usual by pointing to the folder you want Bridge to manage.

Bridge and “Import from Device…” uses the application Image Capture to import from device. It is just a faster way of doing it if you are already in Adobe Bridge.

This is a temporary situation. Adobe is working on solving it. It is solved in other Adobe applications so, one of these days…

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Adobe Bridge

Here is Adobes own explanation.

Posted by nini in Macintosh, Nerdish, Various, 0 comments