Q: Rather than switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10, I decided to buy a Mac. What's the easiest way to transfer my pictures, important files, Gmail, music and Google Chrome bookmarks from the PC to the Mac?
Kim Munson, Bloomington
A: Most of that information can be transferred automatically using Apple's free Windows Migration Assistant program. Anything the program doesn't transfer can be moved via a standard flash drive.
To use Migration Assistant, the Mac and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi or wired network, and both must be running the migration program. The Mac comes with it, and you can download it for your Windows 7 PC. Note that you must download the PC version that matches your Mac's operating system (see "move your data" at tinyurl.com/t5bc8gt). The transfer can take hours because the Migration Assistant moves so many things, including:
• Your Windows system settings, such as language, location and even wallpaper.
• Directories and data. Migration Assistant will transfer "top level directories" (such as the list of what's on your C drive), and will move the data you've stored in two folders called "Windows" and "Program Files."
• Bookmarks for Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox. For Chrome, you can move everything to the Mac by using the "sync" feature (see tinyurl.com/t5prjkh).
• Pictures, music and more. Your Windows photos will move to the Mac's "home folder." If you have iTunes, its content will be divided among four Mac programs: Music, TV, Podcasts and Books (for audiobooks).
