Mac applications backup and tranfer

[fog37]

Hello Forum,

I have asked several people and looked online as well on this topic. I have a mac and back all my information up using the Time Machine.

1) If I buy a new mac (new and different operating system) will I be able to transfer all the data and specifically the various computer programs that are installed on the new computer on the new computer using Time Machine? I don't have the old installation dvd for those softwares but I don't want to lose them.
If Time Machine cannot do that, I think there may be 3rd party applications that can do that.

2) I am often using external memory USB flash drives to store and transfer information. But if I saved the data on a mac and want to try to transfer it to a PC, the drive looks empty. why? Is there a way around this?

thanks,
fog37

 

[jedishrfu]

You may have a filesystem on your USB flash drive not supported on PC.

Here's a how to for setting up one that will work:

http://www.howtogeek.com/73178/what-file-system-should-i-use-for-my-usb-drive/

 

[axiom]

This is what you are looking for https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204350 & https://support.apple.com/kb/ph10725?locale=en_US

Also, if you have an external HD as a backup you can clone your drive to your new computer using Carbon Copy Cloner. This will make an exact copy of your hard drive's contents and is an indispensable piece of software or you can connect your old Mac to your new machine in Target Disk Mode and using CCC, clone your drive to the new machine

https://bombich.com