Moving iLife '06 from MacBook to iMac G5
 

Hey all.

My sister just bought a brand new MacBook, which she digs. But despite playin' around with iLife '06, she really has no use for it on the go and would prefer to save the space on the limited hard drive. She would prefer that the new features of iLife go on the family iMac G5 (Rev. B, 20", 10.4.6, 1GB RAM).

Problem is, I can't seem to get the install DVD to play nicely with the iMac. I tell it to install the bundled applications and it says that it can't. I can copy all the files to the hard disk using a program called Pacifist, but they're organized much differently than they would be as installed. Is there another way to go about this? Thanks.

is this the MacBook's system install disc or a stand alone copy of iLife '06?

It's the system install disc, solipsism.

unfortuneately oem software is licensed with that computer only, meaning it is only meant to be used on your sister's macbook. there is some sort of hash code, or something similiar that only allows it to successfully install on certain hardware configurations, ie the mac book only.

since you technically own it, I don't see a problem transfering them from one system to another with out having to buy a new license as long as you are only using it on one system. However, apple may see that differently. Honestly, I have not read every line of the EULA, in fact I can't my head will explode from sheer bordem and confusion, but I am guessing it says that somewhere.

You can always try to transfer them to an external disk, or burn the ilife folder to a dvd then copy them over the imac HD itself. Or just contact apple and tell them you would like to take ilife off the mac book and put it on the imac, who knows they may send you a disk.

Yeah, tlarkin, I figured as much. I tried copying iWeb as a test from the MacBook to the iMac using an ethernet cable (since it has no equivalent in iLife '05 because I didn't want it to screw with anything on the system) It just kinda bounced once and then closed. Subsequent attempts to open iWeb were evidenced just by a teeny, almost unnoticeable blip of the app appearing then disappearing on the dock.

Would he be able to make a Disk Image of the install dvd, and burn that? I did that for iLife 05' but I bet the security measures are a bit tighter for the 06' version.

Hmm...
I wonder if Migration Assistant could be used to transfer the user's apps to the G5?

I probably could, but would that be any different than just putting the DVD in the system? I don't have the actual install DVD for iLife '06, just the OS X Install DVDs.

Oooh, solipsism, I hadn't thought of using Migration Assistant.

disc image would probably be your best bet. I know I never take out a real cd/dvd in the feild with me at all. I keep all the master discs I own in a nice little filing cabinet and just burn them with blanks. i can't tell you how many times i have broken, scratched, scuffed, lost, and forgot discs at my work. I support over 50 buildings so it is easy to leave stuff behind.

just make an image via disk utiltiy and then use disk utility to extract the image to your imac.

What should I make a disc image of, tlarkin? iLife '06 is sprinkled on both OS X Install DVDs, I think.

the folder that contains the ilife application off of the mac books HD

most likely it would be /applications/ilife06

or something really similiar

The apps themselves are just sitting in the Applications folder. Would making a disc image also take into account the Library files that the apps have (like, loops and such, I think they're stored elsewhere)? I've never made an image before so I'm kinda new at this.

an image will make an exact sector by sector compressed copy of whatever you image.

for the most part all resources needed for an app to run are located in that said application folder, otherwise you can view the contents of the install dvd and try and make an image of that, or extract those files to a folder.

I am not in front of a mac right now i am imaging a buch of HPs so I can't say exactly how I would do it (i am one of those people who can just do something but can't always explain it step by step unless i am in front of a computer)

The difference is that your system opens and recognizes the disc, and then you can copy it. Usually, they'll not only embed a hash into the program, but they'll watermark the disc too so just copying the disc is nearly impossible. Again, the last I did that was with iLife 05' but it worked great.

I make exact image copies of the tiger and tiger server dvd with out having any problems, burn them off to a blank dvd(s) and they work.

disk utility has that new option to make a master cd/dvd image, not sure what difference it really makes though

I can open and navigate the disc freely. I just can't run the install-bundled apps only file. I have all the data needed for iLife '06 on the desktop, but it's all in the wrong spot (in the CD hierarchy of however it's organized).

Install disk only work on the model of the machine they were design for.
If you attach a firewire cable to your two Macs you might be able to drag and drop the applications you want from apl. Folder to apl. Folder.
Start one up in Target Mode.
I would try to move the iMovie application first.
You might be able to use Target Mode to install iLife DVD also.

This actually sounds like the best idea yet, for some reason target mode escaped my mind.

I don't have a FW to FW cable, but I hooked up the two Macs over Ethernet about a week ago to try generally the same thing. It didn't seem to work, though. iWeb bounced once and then disappeared forever.

Putting the destination computer in Target Mode is the best solution. Firewire cables are <$20.

It might be worth checking whether the iLife apps on the DVD are universal binaries.

If they're Intel-only, there is a rather rational explanation why they won't work on a G5 without invoking any "embedded hashes" and "watermark" mumbo-jumbo...

What voldenuit said...

Go to About this Mac from the Apple logo in the upper right corner and then choose More Info. When the System Profiler opens, choose Applications from the left hand column and sort by Kind.

I would still try to install iLife off the install disk in Target Mode.
Apple has a way of putting on disks both versions of applications and a lot of other things they don't tell us.
Your right, forget the drag and drop.
Go to http://dealmac.com/ to look for a firewire cable-just do a search.
You should find one for $4 to $10.
You will need a firewire when you buy a new Mac and to move files.
Once you use Target mode you will say how did I live with out it.

I'm positive they're universal, because I was able to get GarageBand opened just by copying it off the disc. It's acting weird, though; I think it's because it's not in the proper location and there are incorrect files in the system library.