How to migrate to a brand new Mac from a more-recently-updated Mac?

I just bought a new 15" MacBook Pro, brought it home, followed the Migration Assistant instructions on my old 13" Retina MacBook Pro running Mavericks (which explicitly say to install all software updates on the source machine before migration; I did so, including an OS X update), powered on the new computer, and when prompted to do so connected the two via Ethernet (using two Thunderbolt adapters; I do not have a Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt cable).

The old Mac appeared on the new Mac's migration screen, but with a warning sign over its icon. When I clicked it, I got:

This source contains a newer release of OS X. Your Mac requires an upgrade before you can migrate from this source.

I've found sources saying this can happen when you upgrade to Yosemite, but I have not done so. I'm just running Mavericks, up to the newest software update. So I assume the issue is that the old Mac is running a newer Software Update.

How can I proceed with Mac-to-Mac migration? I would like to avoid having to purchase new equipment if possible; is there some way to update the new Mac even though I haven't set it up yet?

Solution 1:

It's quite likely the new MacBook is running OS X 10.9.4 or older, depending on how long it was built prior to shipping and purchase. In this case, you'll want to create a throwaway account on the system to set it up and use Software Update to bring the system up to the same patch level as the old one from which you're migrating.

After you've updated the system, you can run the migration wizard and import your profile and apps. After that's done, make sure the new account has administrator rights and then you can log out of the throwaway account and delete it.

Alternative method: If you have access to another Mavericks-compatible Mac, you can login to the App Store on your Apple ID and download Mavericks. Then use DiskMaker X to create a bootable USB (use an 8GB stick). Then do a fresh installation of Mavericks from that. The version of Mavericks from the App Store is 10.9.5 currently.

Alternative method 2: Do an Internet Recovery with the MBP: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

Note that either of the installation processes will require you to go into Disk Utility and erase the volume to which you wish to install the pristine OS. If you don't erase the volume first, the installer will merely upgrade the volume, not replace it. NOTE: Do not erase the Recovery Partition; otherwise you'll be unable to do an Internet Recovery.

Internet Recovery should download 10.9.5*, giving you version parity with your updated system.

• It's possible that if you overwrite your existing 10.9.4 that Internet Recovery will install the same version. I am unsure of how IR will work in an overwrite mode versus clean install.