OS X :: How To Migrate A User Directory Without Migration Assistant
Nov 4, 2010
I recently did a clean install and now I am attempting to migrate user data to the new install. I have a Mac Pro with four internal drives. OS X is on the boot drive, of course, and the user home folder I'd like to transfer is on another internal drive. (This is because I had moved all user directories from the boot drive to a separate internal drive in the Mac Pro. A consultant advised me to do this to increase performance.)
I thought I'd be able to use Migration Assistant to simply migrate the user to the new install, but it appears you can only use MA with a Time Machine back-up or a disk with OS X installed.
So what's the best way to move this user back?
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Sep 9, 2010
The MacBook has no firewire port, so to migrate it tells me to use Ethernet. I've done that before without too many problems, so no worry. But this time it tells me to insert the disk that came with the new machine into the old machine and install "DVD or CD Sharing Setup" software. I have inserted both the CDs that came with the new machine into the old, but cannot find anything that gives me that software. There is no "Disc 1."
I would rather migrate than to copy the user account over, but have done that successfully before, too. (fyi, once you copy a user account into the new Macintosh HD > Users folder, you then go into Users (in Sys Prefs) and add that exact name that is on the folder. It will tell you it already exists and say 'OK.')
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Apr 14, 2012
I tried to use the "migration assistant" to migrate data form my old MBP to my new MBP. Both with Lion.it just clonated the old MBP into the new one (the main user), wich replaced some new apps (ilife, and others) with the old vervions tha were im the old MBP.I tried to erase the Macintosh HD, reinstall Lion from scratch but it happened again. What am I loosing during the process?
Info:
MacBook Pro (15-inch 2.4/2.2 GHz), Mac OS X (10.7.3)
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Jun 30, 2014
I spent 4 days trying to get OS X Migration Assistant to successfully migrate between two desktop machines, both running Mavericks 10.9.3.Â
The two machines were connected by an ethernet cable, and all migrations would fail after 16-24 hours, with the progress bar stalling out at "Less than one minute remaining".Â
Before every failed transfer, Migration Assistant would inaccurately show "157 KB selected" for transfer if the "Computer & Network Settings" option was checked, or "0 KB selected" for transfer if only the "Applications" or "Documents & Data" options were checked.Â
I finally realized that the migrations were failing because I was opening and clicking through Migration Assistant on both the source and target machines at around the same time.Â
The eventual solution was to open Migration Assistant on the source machine first, and click through as far as I could until the source machine was actively looking for other machines on the network.Â
As long as I waited until then to open Migration Assistant on the target machine, it would correctly calculate the size of the files to be transferred and the migration would succeed.Â
So, the order in which you open Migration Assistant seems to make a big difference: source first, then target.Â
My problem is solved, but only after several days of hassle, so I wanted to post this in case other people had a similar issue.Â
(I tried many suggested fixes that did not work, included reinstalling OS X on the target machine, running disk repair and fixing permissions on both source and target, changing file sharing on the source machine to include the whole drive, trying to migrate Applications and Documents & Data separately, turning off wifi before the transfer, etc.)
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Jun 28, 2014
Just got a new MacBook Pro, wanted to transfer my data from the old (2010) MBP. I've done this dozens of times before, but always manually, via Finder copies from external hard disks, etc. This time I decided to try the Official Method, using Migration Assistant. After numerous tries, I couldn't get Migration Assistant to work between the two MacBook Pros (both running 10.9.3), even with Apple's assistance. So I decided to try it with a MacBook running 10.6.8. It worked (though poorly; Migration Assistance needs some serious repair), which was useful (now I know that Migration Assistant works, and it's not a problem with the cabling I was using, but something in the old MBP).  But now I have two user accounts on my new MacBook Pro, which I don't want, plus the added account has now been made the primary account, with (some) data from the previously primary account moved to it.Â
So I want to delete the new, added, now primary user and return the MBP to its former, pristine state. So I have to go through all the data (fortunately there isn't much; both the new MBP and the MacBook were only recently set up) that's been moved from the original account to the added account, move it back to the original account, then delete the added account (if I can). This was somewhat complicated by the fact that the ~/Library folder is now invisible by default, but I figured that out. However, what I'm wondering now is, when the second, added account was made the primary account, did it assume all attributes of the former primary account, including its number? I know that user accounts in Mac OS have numbers, like 501, 502, etc.
How can I see the numbers of these two accounts? And if the added account is now number 501, when I delete it, how I can I restore the number 501 to the original account? Or perhaps I should just return the new MBP to its factory state, and start over? But I can't, since it didn't come with any Install DVDs (nor indeed, with an optical drive). (I've been out of touch with the Mac world for several years due to illness, am only now learning about the changes since 10.6, which I'd been using until less than a week ago.) I can wipe the MacBook Pro and reinstall 10.9.3, but that might lose some information specific to this computer that came with it.Â
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Mar 22, 2012
I have Macmini 2.1 2007 year
After install 4 GB RAM (work only 3 GB) i install MAC OS X 10.7.3
Now i joined Macmini to Domain Active Directory 2008 R2. Joined via standard tools.
Macmini have a local user.
How i can migrate all settings, all data local user to Domain user?Â
When i used MAC OS X 10.6.8 i can joined to Domain via Likewise Open, and after i can use Likewise tools for migrate.
But now, in MAC OS X 10.7.3 i can't joined to domain via Likewise... and use migrate tools.Â
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May 24, 2008
Migration Assistant works fine when moving files from Powerpc Imac to intel imac. However, while the files all move over to the new computer the new user profile does not appear. There are a couple users already on the in the intel mac, and this would be a third user account on the machine. Tech support said this is not possible. We are running 10.5.2.
I know I have done this without issue in the past with our other office machines, but this time I am stumped. I need all the system settings, mail, etc. to move over to the new machine.
Lastly, system preferences says that the user name (and short name) is taken when I tried to just recreate the account. I booted with the cd to see if I could reset the password and see the user there and no luck there either.
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Mar 25, 2012
Set up my 21.5" iMac last night, set up a new user "Rory" - then downloaded Migration Assistant on my PC to transfer files, music, pics, docs and my iMac has created "Rory1" since I've discovered I should've transfered docs across BEFORE I set up an initial user!Â
The only thing I'd set up on my original "Rory" mac account was downloading Flash Player and installing my email to 'Mail' - so I've hardly done a lot of configs.Â
Can I just delete the original "Rory" profile and use the "Rory1" profile that the Mac set up? ( I realise the Mac has done this because my old Windows PC user name was obviously called "Rory" as well).Â
Or, is it easier to try and get the files (transfered from the PC under 'Rory1') to the original Mac profile of "Rory".Â
It's only 12 hours since I first went to set the my Mac up so as I said, I'm hardly in that much of a pickle yet - am I?!Â
Info:
iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3)
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May 5, 2012
When i try to migrate my windows account with the Windows Migration Assistan, in OS Lion 10.7 i only see local accounts like Administrator, but not domains account... I run the migration assistant from the domain account that I want to migrate... Â
Help me!
Info:
MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7)
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Apr 4, 2012
will migration assistant overwrite my user accounts on the computer that i am transfering to?
Info:
iMac (20-inch Early 2009), Mac OS X (10.7.3)
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Dec 2, 2014
I just bought a new Mac Mini (Late 2014, ships with Yosemite) to replace a defunct MacBook Pro (Late 2008, last ran 10.8.5). I have a local administrative user account and some server and network data that I want to migrate from the latest Time Machine backup of the MacBook Pro to the Mini. I don't want to copy anything else to the Mini. Neither Setup Assistant nor Migration Assistant will let me deselect anything though. All the check boxes are greyed out. Clicking on them does not uncheck them. This forces me to copy everything from the Time Machine backup to the Mini. Then the Mini won't restart.  It won't even boot into safe mode. It just gets stuck in a reboot-loop until I enter recovery mode, wipe the system drive, and reinstall Yosemite.Â
Info:
Mac mini (Late 2014), OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)
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Apr 26, 2012
I set up my new air and now want to transfer my info from my macbook pro and I seem to have missed the boat and want to go back and do it . the computers are in different names with diff. passwords.
Info:
MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.2)
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Apr 9, 2012
I got a MacBook Air a few months ago and finally got around to migrating data from my MacBook Pro. I am seriously not happy with the results (all I really wanted was to move my iTunes and a limited few apps, and it seems that I got nothing that I wanted). I used a Time Machine backup from an external HD for the migration. Is there any way to undo the migration?
Info:
MacBook Air
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Dec 17, 2010
I have an iMac Intel Core2duo, 10.4.11 and I've just got a white macbook 10.6 which has a firewire slot. I have no idea how to transfer files from my iMac to the mb - can you help, please? I have not yet started the mb, in case I can use the setup assistant to migrate files.
so I'd be glad if someone can tell me [a] HOW to transfer files, [b] HOW to transfer iPhoto, [c] HOW to transfer iTunes and if I need to buy a cable, then what to look for.
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Nov 22, 2009
My wife and I have the newest MacBook Pros (well, mine is about a year old, but it's one of the "new" ones with the black keyboard and black trim around the screen).
I would like to migrate her profile from this, the older MBP, to her brand-new MBP, but am finding that it just won't connect via our wireless network.
I would like to give it a try with a firewire cable, but can't seem to get 100% agreement as to the one I need.
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Jan 8, 2010
I've a MacBook, and I'm trying to get everything onto a new to me MacBook Pro. It's the 2.4 Aluminum one, but does not have Firewire.
Any ideas what to do? Can I use USB? Or do I have to go through the network and spend 14 hours?
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Mar 24, 2008
Now comes the anxiety of getting all my "stuff" onto it. I've dome some searches regarding the use of migration assistant but have discovered some diverging opinions. I've heard to use it for everything. Some have suggested using it for prefs and settings but not hard files. I've also heard NOT to use it if I'm migrating from a G4, which I am.
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Jul 24, 2009
Ive just got a Macbook Pro, late 2008 model, and i'm running into some difficulties transferring my settings/programs/files etc from my old macbook (purchased 2006).
Both are now running the latest version of migration assistant, and i've tried both ethernet and airport connectivity (I dont have a firewire cable).
Regardless of which method i use, both laptops just stay at the 'looking for other computers' phase. Ive had a quick google/search and cant find a solution, anyone help?
I use bootcamp if that makes a difference?
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Jul 5, 2012
I'm having trouble using Migration Assistant to migrate my old iMac PPC G4 with 10.4.11 to my new iMac Intel i5 with 10.6.4. I used the option to use Ethernet or Wireless since the new iMac only accepts Firewire 2.0 and the old Mac is Firewire 1.0. I connected an Ethernet cable between the computers AND both are connected to the same network.Â
Using Migration Assistant on the new Mac, it brings up the screen that it is looking for the other Mac and gives me a passcode to enter when prompted on the old Mac. Using Migration Assistant on the old Mac, it brings up the screen that is it "Searching for other computers..." and does nothing else.Â
On the new Mac, migrate option "From Another Mac". On the old Mac, migration option "To Another Mac".Â
What can I do to make both Macs play nice?
Info:
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5
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Aug 23, 2010
My new hexacorer arrives tomorrow and am making plans for the switch. I originally I assumed I could remove my SSD from my current machine and just pop it in, but I realized today that the 10.6.4 build is different than the current one that Apple has seeded to the community. Am I wrong that this wouldn't work? I'd rather avoid losing a lot of my settings that I've had for over a year, unless it will be better in the long run. I have never used migration assistant and have my doubts about it's effectiveness, but wanted to know what most of you guys did when the new machine arrived. Start fresh, time machine restore, superduper, migration assistant or any other methods?
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Nov 21, 2008
I just bought a new Rev A. Macbook Air for my GF. I don't have it yet. Currently she has a Powerbook 12" running Tiger. She will want to do some very light file transfers. Being the resident geek, I am in charge of this. I don't see any real need to bother with migration assistant. Tranferrring her music, bookmarks, and address book are no issue for me. She barely has any apps worth transferring.
My only real concern is about mail, coming from Tiger to Leopard, and the fact that she uses a mix of email sources...MobileMe, Gmail, etc. Setting up the accounts is not a problem, but I'm wondering about the actual message files on her Powerbook. After I set up her main user account on the MBA, can I just replace the mail folder in her home folder with the mail folder from her Powerbook? Some of the messages are IMAP, and some are POP accounts which she doesn't want to lose. I did this very thing when I got a new desktop, but it was a Tiger - to - Tiger transfer, so I just want to check if there are any issues doing this from Tiger to Leo
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Apr 8, 2009
If i have 2 macbooks and want to copy one itunes library and iphoto library to the other macbook do i just use migration assistant (or whatever its called).. I want to just COPY not transfer and erase off the old one.. So i want to be bale to transfer it but still be able to play music on the old computer.. so i guess what im getting at is when using migration assistant does it transfer the files, or just copy and transfer?
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Apr 9, 2009
I'm trying to transfer my applications, along with my music, to my macbook. I have my iMac backed up via time machine on an external drive. I hooked up my macbook to the external and ran migration assistant. I tried to transfer the applications, but it said - "create a new acct..existing user account is the same"
naturally, i use the same name for both my imac and macbook. so i changed the user name and account to my imac and my imac. so what is going to happen if i transfer this? does it create a new user account on my macbook with these programs or what? i dont understand what the issue with accounts is with migration assistant, seems like it would be easy if i could just transfer photo folder, etc without having to create different name. also when i transfer applications does it transfer all the info, preferences, etc?
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Apr 25, 2009
I have recently purchased a 24" intel iMac (latest revision) running Mac OSX 10.5.6. I tried to transfer the user account from an older computer upon initial startup using the built-in migration feature, but it failed and reported that "there are no versions of mac os x available on your old mac," which is obviously not the case, as I am trying to transfer from an old white PowerPC iMac (with the hemisphere swivel base) running Mac OSX 10.4.11. All the correct procedures were followed using a firewire 400 to 800 cable.
I then found somewhere that it is wise to try to create an account on the new computer and then try to use migration assistant to transfer the account. I tried this several times, and every time the new computer did not recognize the older mac, and just left it searching (all the correct procedures, such as holding down the T key during restart on the old computer, were followed. The old computer has the firewire symbol floating around on the screen as it should).
I also tried the network option, where the new computer gives a number to type into the old computer, thereby linking the computers. This also was unsuccessful and just reported that a network error occurred.
On one of my latest firewire attempts I was given a message on the new computer that stated "Your old mac might not be able to connect to this one using Firewire" What?
Does this mean I'm screwed? How do I transfer my old account to my new computer? Please let me know if you need additional information on the situation.
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Apr 27, 2009
I have Adobe CS4 Master Collection installed on my powerbook g4 (1.67ghz) and am looking to buy a new aluminum macbook pro this week and was just wondering would migration assistant copy all of my copy of CS4 to my new macbook without any problem
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May 30, 2009
I will be buying a new White MacBook soon. I want to share files between the new MacBook and my iMac (first gen. aluminum). Will the files I transfer from my iMac stay on my iMac once I transfer them? Migration Assistant seems to be the easiest way to transfer files from one Mac to another Mac from what I read from searching this forum. Also, I read in some threads that transfered files are sometimes hard to find on the new computer.
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Jun 25, 2009
I recently left a company and my Macbook Pro seems to have been left with me as a parting gift. (I'm hoping, no one has said anything for quite a while...) Should this turn out to be true, I want to wipe it clean and start fresh, while keeping all my old files, and as many apps as I can. The way it's currently set up I don't have administrator access, so it hampers how much I can do with fixing/troubleshooting things etc. So I want to install a clean system.
What's the best way go about this whole process? Migration assistant? If so, is there a way to use migration assistant not directly from mac to mac, but from this mac to an externanl hard drive, then wipe this one clean and install the system, and then use Migration Assistant to bring everything over to this laptop, now with the new system?
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Jul 10, 2009
Ok so in the future I plan to upgrade my Mac Mini to an SSD. I have two questions.
1. Can I take out my stock hard drive and place it in a Firewire 800 enclosure and use Migration Assistant?
2. Does Migration Assistant transfer my Applications?
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Sep 29, 2009
Yesterday I did a migration assistant (MacBook Pro to MacPro)to get a music file from a friends computer and what i think happened is that I migrated his WHOLE system because now my hard drive has 4.3 GB left when before it was virtually empty because I use ext. hard drives. My question is WHERE are all these files because I dont see any new files (not even the music file that I intended on migrating) but my hard drive is filled up. And if possible, can I remove all the files at once since they all came at once?
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Nov 2, 2009
Long story, but apple tech said I should do an archive and install to correct a problem I have been having. I have first gen. macbook, so disks are probably Tiger (or whatever came before Leopard). If I do the archive, will it keep my updates to things like Snow Leopard, iLife 09 etc? Or will I need to use Migration Assistant to get info back from a SuperDuper backup on an external drive? Or will I need to update all software first? As an alternative, I thought I might just go ahead and do a complete clean install. Same question, will Migration Assistant bring back updates from an external, or would I need to do the clean install, update to Snow Leopard, iLife, etc., and then use Migration Assistant to bring the rest back?
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