Going from a Hackintosh to a Mac Pro, some tips needed.

Feek · 10-08-2008, 19:12

It's been four and a half months since I started my adventures with OS X and I'm hooked. I've played around with this system over that time and I've decided that I do thoroughly like using it. I've done the ultimate try-before-you buy by running the operating system on PC hardware.

I've also done some research and I discovered that Apple hardware isn't as stupidly overpriced as some people claim. I priced up a system as closely in spec as I could to the current Mac Pro and once you take into account the discounts which are available, the price wasn't very different. I felt vindicated to find that I wasn't alone and that Tom's Hardware have done a similar comparison with similar results.

So it's happening, in a few weeks time I shall be moving away from a PC and for the first time ever, buying a computer that's pre-built. I've never owned an 'off the shelf' computer before so it's all quite exciting.

So I have some questions regarding the change from the hackintosh to the real thing.

Access to the hard drive. I'm planning on taking the drive I use for OS X out of the PC and putting it into the Mac. It won't be the boot drive but I'll use it to copy files and stuff off so that I can reinstall applications on the Mac and if possible keep settings. Will I be able to still access this drive in the new machine or will I need to do the equivalent of windows 'take ownership' to do it?

Keychain - Can I export it from here and import it into the Mac?

Mobileme - This machine is currently called "Feek's Mac Pro" which is the same name I expect the new box to be called. Is this going to cause me a problem when I sign into mobileme to sync my data from the cloud back onto the new box?

Firefox - Saving bookmarks and extensions and stuff? Can I just grab it from the applications directory on this drive and drag it into the new drive? Will it all work?

Sleep mode - I've heard this mentioned a lot (it doesn't work on the hack). How long does it take a Mac to sleep and how long to wake up? What's power consumption like in sleep mode?

I'm sure there will be more things to think about, but this is a start.

Ta

Mark · 10-08-2008, 19:25

There's one warning I'd best give you on the Mac Pro. From users of non-Mac systems I've heard FB-DIMMs are rather power-hungry. It's quite possible that the Mac Pro will need more juice than your hackintosh. I guess if you have a working sleep mode that'll do a good job of offsetting that, so it probably won't be a problem. Just fair warning.

Burble · 10-08-2008, 19:27

Access to hard drive - Plug it in and it'll work. if you have some strange permissions on then you may need to play about a bit but it should be a plug and play operation.

Keychain - There is an import/export function in Keychain. You could also try copying the keychain file over if that doesn't work. It's in ~/Library/Keychains, /Library/Keychains and to a lesser extent /Network/Library/Keychains.

MobileMe - No idea. I suspect having 2 machines with the same name will upset the apple cart but don't know for definate.

Firefox - It can work with just copying ~/Library/Firefox over but I wouldn't advise it. Think of it as copying a directory from Program Files on a Windows box over to another. I'd export your bookmarks, import them and grab the addons manually.

Sleep mode - I don't have a Mac Pro so can't comment on that, but on my Macbook it takes about 2 seconds from when I close the lid to when the light goes off and then about 4 seconds from opening the lid to have a working machine. Sleep mode ont eh Macbook (maybe OS X in general) is fantastic. No idea on power consumption.

When you setup the new Mac Pro there is an option to migrate your user over from an existing OS X installation so that might be worth a try as knowing OS X I would expect it to do a sterling job.

Oh, and I shall be jealous when the new toy arrives.

petemc · 10-08-2008, 19:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burble

When you setup the new Mac Pro there is an option to migrate your user over from an existing OS X installation so that might be worth a try as knowing OS X I would expect it to do a sterling job.

Thats what I was going to suggest. Works over firewire at a guess?

Burble · 10-08-2008, 19:33

Firewire and ethernet I believe.

Mark · 10-08-2008, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burble

Firewire and ethernet I believe.

Not sure about ethernet but it seems likely. I know you can do it with Firewire though (assuming you can boot a hackintosh into target disk mode).

Feek · 10-08-2008, 19:48

Thanks for the info I can see I'll have to make some notes about what extensions in FF and what settings I have unless I can find a settings exporter, there probably is one that I've not even looked for yet.

I'm not too bothered about doing a complete user migration because I've probably installed a lot of rubbish in here that I don't need or want so I'd rather start with a spanking clean system and build it from scratch. I'll also be upping the memory from the stock 2Gb which isn't enough as quickly as I can

Sounds as though it should all be pretty painless.

Glaucus · 10-08-2008, 20:25

Get FEBE extension, there is a beta out for for FF3 which works fine. Just google it. That will make exporting and importing very easily. It will do everything from cookies to add-ons.

http://customsoftwareconsult.com/ext...febe/febe.html

Chuckles · 10-08-2008, 21:28

what do you use it for mostly? Unless it's very intense gfx/audio/video you could save a heap and get an iMac. The latest revisions are real beefy

Feek · 10-08-2008, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by AcidHell2

Get FEBE extension, there is a beta out for for FF3 which works fine. Just google it. That will make exporting and importing very easily. It will do everything from cookies to add-ons.

http://customsoftwareconsult.com/ext...febe/febe.html

I'll have a look at that, ta.

Quote:

Originally Posted by starscream

what do you use it for mostly? Unless it's very intense gfx/audio/video you could save a heap and get an iMac. The latest revisions are real beefy

No they're not. Dual core at just over 3GHz with a maximum of 4Gb RAM and no space to nail any extra internal hard drives in is crap in my opinion. It's certainly no faster than I'm currently running and I'd be paying for a non height adjustable 24" monitor which won't fit on my desk when I already have a 24" monitor which does fit on my desk and is only a couple of months old.

Nice thought though

10-08-2008, 19:12	#1
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Going from a Hackintosh to a Mac Pro, some tips needed. It's been four and a half months since I started my adventures with OS X and I'm hooked. I've played around with this system over that time and I've decided that I do thoroughly like using it. I've done the ultimate try-before-you buy by running the operating system on PC hardware. I've also done some research and I discovered that Apple hardware isn't as stupidly overpriced as some people claim. I priced up a system as closely in spec as I could to the current Mac Pro and once you take into account the discounts which are available, the price wasn't very different. I felt vindicated to find that I wasn't alone and that Tom's Hardware have done a similar comparison with similar results. So it's happening, in a few weeks time I shall be moving away from a PC and for the first time ever, buying a computer that's pre-built. I've never owned an 'off the shelf' computer before so it's all quite exciting. So I have some questions regarding the change from the hackintosh to the real thing. Access to the hard drive. I'm planning on taking the drive I use for OS X out of the PC and putting it into the Mac. It won't be the boot drive but I'll use it to copy files and stuff off so that I can reinstall applications on the Mac and if possible keep settings. Will I be able to still access this drive in the new machine or will I need to do the equivalent of windows 'take ownership' to do it? Keychain - Can I export it from here and import it into the Mac? Mobileme - This machine is currently called "Feek's Mac Pro" which is the same name I expect the new box to be called. Is this going to cause me a problem when I sign into mobileme to sync my data from the cloud back onto the new box? Firefox - Saving bookmarks and extensions and stuff? Can I just grab it from the applications directory on this drive and drag it into the new drive? Will it all work? Sleep mode - I've heard this mentioned a lot (it doesn't work on the hack). How long does it take a Mac to sleep and how long to wake up? What's power consumption like in sleep mode? I'm sure there will be more things to think about, but this is a start. Ta __________________

10-08-2008, 19:48	#7
Feek ex SAS Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: JO01ou Posts: 10,062	Thanks for the info I can see I'll have to make some notes about what extensions in FF and what settings I have unless I can find a settings exporter, there probably is one that I've not even looked for yet. I'm not too bothered about doing a complete user migration because I've probably installed a lot of rubbish in here that I don't need or want so I'd rather start with a spanking clean system and build it from scratch. I'll also be upping the memory from the stock 2Gb which isn't enough as quickly as I can Sounds as though it should all be pretty painless. __________________

10-08-2008, 20:25	#8
Glaucus Absinthe Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,855	Get FEBE extension, there is a beta out for for FF3 which works fine. Just google it. That will make exporting and importing very easily. It will do everything from cookies to add-ons. http://customsoftwareconsult.com/ext...febe/febe.html __________________

10-08-2008, 21:28	#9
Chuckles '09 sexual conquests: 4.5 Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,075	what do you use it for mostly? Unless it's very intense gfx/audio/video you could save a heap and get an iMac. The latest revisions are real beefy __________________

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10-08-2008, 19:25	#2
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	There's one warning I'd best give you on the Mac Pro. From users of non-Mac systems I've heard FB-DIMMs are rather power-hungry. It's quite possible that the Mac Pro will need more juice than your hackintosh. I guess if you have a working sleep mode that'll do a good job of offsetting that, so it probably won't be a problem. Just fair warning.

10-08-2008, 19:27	#3
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Access to hard drive - Plug it in and it'll work. if you have some strange permissions on then you may need to play about a bit but it should be a plug and play operation. Keychain - There is an import/export function in Keychain. You could also try copying the keychain file over if that doesn't work. It's in ~/Library/Keychains, /Library/Keychains and to a lesser extent /Network/Library/Keychains. MobileMe - No idea. I suspect having 2 machines with the same name will upset the apple cart but don't know for definate. Firefox - It can work with just copying ~/Library/Firefox over but I wouldn't advise it. Think of it as copying a directory from Program Files on a Windows box over to another. I'd export your bookmarks, import them and grab the addons manually. Sleep mode - I don't have a Mac Pro so can't comment on that, but on my Macbook it takes about 2 seconds from when I close the lid to when the light goes off and then about 4 seconds from opening the lid to have a working machine. Sleep mode ont eh Macbook (maybe OS X in general) is fantastic. No idea on power consumption. When you setup the new Mac Pro there is an option to migrate your user over from an existing OS X installation so that might be worth a try as knowing OS X I would expect it to do a sterling job. Oh, and I shall be jealous when the new toy arrives.

10-08-2008, 19:33	#5
Burble Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 7,826	Firewire and ethernet I believe.