Migration Assistant not recognizing old macbook

I am trying to transfer my files from my old MacBook Pro (2006) to my new MacBook Pro (mid-2012) using Time Machine Backup. From Migration Assistant, once I get to where it is "looking for other computers" it is not finding anything. I have my old macbook connected to my external HD using USB and my new macbook connected with firewire. Can anyone help?!

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Migration Assistant not recognizing other Mac via FireWire

I am trying to transfer files from my G4 Mirror Doors Power Mac to my new Intel iMac via the instructions that come up on the new iMac. I am running the latest version of 10.4 on the G4.
I have the two machines connected via FireWire. I restarted the G4 holding the "T" key down and sure enough, the floating "FireWire" icon comes up but shortly after that, the new iMac says, "There are no versions of OS X on the older machine" which is obviously not true.
I tried the Ethernet route and loaded the Install Disk from the iMac into the G4 as instructed but that disk did not recognize either of my 2 internal drives as valid for installation.
Any suggestions?

FWIW, I have had no problems using Migration Assistant or understanding its prompts, at least when using the version included in the recent Migration and DVD and CD Sharing Update. In this version or later, every option has both a title & descriptive info below it & there are no places I can see in which everything is called a document. You may want to check your MA version number & make sure it is version 1.2.3 or later, as described in About the Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update. This may help avoid any confusion you have had.
However, keep in mind that MA is designed to migrate files from one backup or startup disk at a time. It will transfer items from one home folder on a connected drive to the corresponding one on the new drive but these items must be enclosed in a home folder (in /Users/) on that drive. If you have elected to store these items on a non-startup drive lacking that hierarchy, you must import them using some other method & decide where to put them on the new drive. MA cannot make that decision for you.
Moreover, if you tell MA to import only your "Documents" folder, it will not import such items as your Movies, Music, Pictures, or other home folders, so for example your ~/Pictures/iPhoto Library file will not be imported, nor will be your ~/Music/iTunes folder (which contains your iTunes database files, even if the iTunes Music folder containing all your music files is stored elsewhere).
Without knowing exactly how you have 'piecemealed' other files & folders into your new drive, I do not know what to tell you to do to best complete the migration process. If you can supply more info about that, & about where exactly the original files & folders are stored on the older Mac, perhaps I or someone else can give you more useful info about doing that.

Tiger migration assistant not finding old mac's OS X Panther Disc

My new Intel G5's Tiger Migration Assistant isn't finding my old Power Mac OS X Panther Disc.
I have several partitions on my old mac, a few for various versions of classic environment, etc., and my firmware is up to date. I just got an Intel G5 and the migration assistant is finding only the V9 partitions. It says wiating for disks to appear but the Mac OS X disc never does.
I haven't used those V9 parts in a long time. I kinda wish I had gotten rid of them.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Henry

Thanks for the response.
I just ran across something that I hadn't seen before. In the forum it said that the user names need to be the same name on both machines. Mine is different because I want to use both on the same network eventually, and I'd since had a son with the same name so I needed to add an ititial...
If they can be different, then...
I did what you suggested, but still the only disks that appeared were the various os 9s. They are on a seperate partitioned disk, so I went in and disconnected that one. Now I start up the computer and the OS X disc is there and seems happy, but after I start the Migration Assistant now, and it leads me to the point where I have to restart the old computer after hooking up the firewire, I restart, hold the T and it starts-up and then turns off. I'm thinking that's bad.
I have a start-up issue that I didn't think was related, but I'm no guru and this is now a start-up issue. Maybe, if you ahve the time, you couls glance at that and let me know if you think so:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4284157#4284157
Thanks very much,
henry

Migration assistant not recognizing disc

The Apple genius bar wiped my imac clean and reloaded the OS 10.8.3, etc. In an attempt to retrive my backup files on Time Machine, I opened Applications/utilities/Migration Assitant.app. I selected backup from disc but it will not recognize the disc even though its contents are viewable in the Finder.
What can be done to accomplish the file migration automatically or manually?

I suspect that you should be using Time Machine and not Migration Assistant. See Pondini's TM FAQs, for starters.

I am using migration assistant with my old MacBook and a new iMac but I'm just getting a swirling bar and spinning wheel. No signs of any progress after an hour. Drive is about 250 gbs.

The old MacBook says "the other mac is ready" and the new iMac says "successfully connected to other Mac. They are connected via Ethernet. Shouldn't there be some sort of indication of progress? It just looks like they're stuck.
Thanks!

The old MacBook says "the other mac is ready" and the new iMac says "successfully connected to other Mac. They are connected via Ethernet. Shouldn't there be some sort of indication of progress? It just looks like they're stuck.
Thanks!

HT4889 I am using migration assistant from my old macbook pro to my new imac, but it seems to have stuck about 1/3 of the way through. Any suggestions??

Both are on the latest version of MacOS (made sure I had them completely up to date before starting).
Laptop and imac are connected via ethernet cable. Has been stuck for at least 2 hours showing "About 3 hours and 12 minutes remaining". Not sure what to do??

Disconnect and connect your Ethernet cable. If the migration doesn't continue, restart both Macs and start the transfer again. Wi-Fi and Ethernet are slow so I don't recommend you to use it unless it's the only option you have

After using "migration assistant" from my old iMac to my new iMac, some tools stick while using Photoshop CS 6 Extended. My current operation system is 10.10 Yosemite. I was wondering if UN installing then RE installing CS 6 might solve the problem. If th

After using "migration assistant" from my old iMac to my new iMac, some tools stick while using Photoshop CS 6 Extended. My current operation system is 10.10 Yosemite. I was wondering if UN installing then RE installing CS 6 might solve the problem. If this is recommended, I would need complete instructions on doing this. I have there serial number for the product.

using migration assistant is problematic.
at this point yes, you should uninstall everything migrated, clean and then reinstall properly using the installation files.
cleaner: Use the CC Cleaner Tool to solve installation problems | CC, CS3-CS6
installation files:
Downloads available:
Suites and Programs: CC 2014 | CC | CS6 | CS5.5 | CS5 | CS4 | CS3
Acrobat: XI, X | 9,8 | 9 standard
Premiere Elements: 13 |12 | 11, 10 | 9, 8, 7
Photoshop Elements: 13 |12 | 11, 10 | 9,8,7
Lightroom: 5.7| 5 | 4 | 3
Captivate: 8 | 7 | 6 | 5
Contribute: CS5 | CS4, CS3
Download and installation help for Adobe links
Download and installation help for Prodesigntools links are listed on most linked pages. They are critical; especially steps 1, 2 and 3. If you click a link that does not have those steps listed, open a second window using the Lightroom 3 link to see those 'Important Instructions'.
window using the Lightroom 3 link to see those 'Important Instructions'.

Migration assistant not working (10.5.8 Macbook to new Lion iMac)

Just bought a new iMac and had the Apple store update it to Lion. I fire up migration assistant on both and new iMac tells me to update software on the macbook - but there are no software updates available, I'm totally up to date.
I've tried ethernet, wireless, enabling cd sharing on both, restarting, initiating from either. Doesn't seem to be any info on this exact case online... I don't want to restore the system to get to the setup assistant because i'll lose my lion download.
Can anyone help?
For something that the Apple store said would be dead simple this sure is a pain in the a$$

CEOofTNFYA wrote:
This is absurd. I would like to take a minute to thank Apple for making sure that:
Nothing on their own website indicates that a transfer from a 10.5.8 to Lion is currently impossible.
Are you sure you've read everything on this page?
If I can read it right, it says on step 2:
"Step 2:
Make sure you have the latest version of Snow Leopard."
I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but for me, that means "yon can't install Lion from any other system version than 10.6.8"
I don't think it's fair either. Leopard owners will have to buy 2 systems, but advertised, it definetely was.
Yours.
JP

Migration assistant not working with iBook - macBook

I have used migration assistant many, many times before. I just purchased a MacBook and my iBook is having trouble in firewire mode. It seems that the iBook will boot up in firewire mode, the migration will begin, but after 5 minutes the iBook freezes, and the dancing firewire icon stops moving. This is VERY frustrating as one might imagine. Any suggestions? I have shocked the pram on the iBook, I have restarted the process 10 times now. PLEASE HELP!!!!
-i

Did you reset PRAM on macbook as well?
Also try to repair disk and repair permission on iBook.
Good Luck.

Macbook Pro: Migration Assistant not connecting to external hard drive? Help!

I've had my hard drive re partitioned today and all my data was dragged onto an external hard drive.
The genius guy said to connect the drive & use migration assistant to transfer everything.
I understand I could drag and drop files but I want everything to be done properly through migration assistant but it won't pick up the external drive , however it's files are accessable through finder. Migration assistant just constantly gives me the message, 'looking for computer'.
Why is this? Could someone help? I'd be really greatful!
Thanks,
Joe

Pondini wrote:
The genius guy . . . isn't.
Tell me that isn't possible

Why is Migration Assistant not seeing Time Machine backup?

Had year old iMac with Snow Leopard and recently was lucky enough to have it replaced with a brand new model with Lion. Had the previous iMac backed up on external drive with Time Machine.
I know I can't restore from that Time Machine backup since I am now on Lion but shouldn't I be able to migrate my old user account from the Snow Leopard Time Machine backup to the new Lion system? The Lion Migration Assistant will not recogize or show the drive or backup from Time Machine though even though it is mounted in the Finder in Lion.
Any ideas?

I just had a similar problem to this. I have a MacBook Pro (Lion) that has been backed up to an attached USB Time Machine disk that was formatted on this same machine. I had a major crash, and had to reinstall Lion, and my Time Machine backup drive did not show up in the list. I do see several drives on my network, but not the locally attached USB drive. I rebooted and tried several time, no joy.
The backup drive passes all disk tests, and shows up when plugged in to other machines, and even shows up in the boot menu (but will not boot) when the MacBook Pro starts. And it has the secret flag file (if you do not know, the drive MUST have a zero length file titled ".com.apple.timemachine.supported" (note the leading .) at the root of the drive or the drive will not be recognized) and it should just work. It did backup to it just fine, but I cannot restore.
I finally made this work (I think) by actually getting another external USB drive, formatting it, and then using another machine to copy the Time Machine backup from the old drive to the new drive. I added the myster flag file to the new drive (see above) and connected it to the MacBook Pro. This time, it did recognize it.
I am trying to do a restore now, and looks like it should work just fine. What a pain in the butt.
I would love to hear from Apple what causes this. There must be an easier solution than to spend 6 hours copying a full back from one 2 TB drive to another! SIgh!
UPDATE: OK, it showed up as a restore disk in the "restore utility" in the energency partition, but I need to install a new OS (there was some curruption) and after installing a New OS, and getting to the migration screen, once again, this new drive does not show up. ARGHHHHhhhhhhh
Message was edited by: orubin after thinking it was working.

HT4889 Am I wrong or does Migration Assistant not work in Mountain Lion (10.8.2) when migrating from a PowerPC running Tiger (10.4.11)? Apple really needs to get on the ball or face losing people buying their new desktop products.

The title alone speaks to my frustration about this issue.
Used the process that was recommended by Apple to migrate from my "Lampshade" iMac (PPC running 10.4.11) to the new iMac (Intel running 10.8.2) and I got bupkiss...
Just a spinning wheel (not beachball) and no drive recognized using Migration Assistant for both nor when using Target Mode on the iMac running 10.4.11 and Migration Assistant on the iMac running 10.8.2. Which is ironic, or more accurately oxymoronic, since the iMac in Target Mode (10.4.11) is recognized on the desktop of the iMac running 10.8.2 but not in the Migration Assistant. And before you can misdiagnose..it is not the Thunderbolt connection since I have the Apple recommended Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter and also used the Firewire 400 to 800 cable to expedite the transfer.
On a personal note...
I'm not bashing Apple for this...they are "head and shoulders" above the competition in what they do but I've been burned a few times so I feel I can share a small bit of loyal customer advice...I understand your iOS and mobile products hold huge sway in company focus and market-share but I find it a tad unwise to slack on the desktop applications. I don't recall any app for the iPhone/iPad family being made on the iPhone/iPad...only from desktop applications if I recall correctly. And how can I clearly "Move my Mac even further ahead" as your marketing states when I can't even migrate my files from my old Mac to my new one in a simple fashion as per your instructions?
I thank anyone in advance with an answer or even a workaround for this issue and please have a great day.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4889
Migration from Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger to OS X Lion
Migration from Mac OS X v10.4 computers to OS X Lion over your Wi-Fi or a wired network is not supported. However, if both Macs are equipped with a FireWire port, you can use Target Disk Mode to transfer your data:
Verify that both Macs are equipped with a FireWire port. Note that different model Macs may have different FireWire connectors, which will require an appropriate cable, such as FireWire 400 to FireWire 800.
On the Mac you want to transfer data from, Restart, and immediately hold the T key.
Wait for the FireWire logo to appear on the screen. If it does not, restart and try again.
Connect both Macs via the FireWire cable.
On the Mac you want to transfer data to, Open the Migration Assistant application.
Select the option "From another Mac, PC, Time Machine backup, or other disk" and click Continue.
Select the option "From a Time Machine backup or other disk" and click Continue.
Select your other Mac's volume, such as "Macintosh HD", from the list, and click Cont
EDIT: Actually I realize you did follow these directions and if your drive is seen on the new Mac it should work. You're entitled to free Apple support with the new purchase, I'd give them a call.

Migration Assistant - Problems copying 2009 MacBook Pro data to new MacBook Pro

Purchased new MacBook Pro and tried to copy old MacBook Pro (circa 2009) data to new one using migration assistant. It stalled after about 20 hours via wireless. My question is how can I restore the new machine to factory settings and start over? Or is there a better way to copy the remaining files/applications? Please note that I've tried to run migration assistant again and it keeps exiting to login screen on the new MacBook Pro - after connection is made.

How much RAM does it have?
In spite of what Apple says, 4GB is not practically adequate with the new 64-bit systems (Lion and successors). All MBPs from Early 2011 forward, with user-installable RAM SO-DIMMs, can take up to 16GB with no problems and with greatly enhanced performance.
And if you still persist in running the systems with 4GB, make sure there's ample paging space on the HDD.

Migration Assistant Not Enough Space

Hey all,
I'm having a problem with Migration Assistant that's driving me crazy. I just bought a new Macbook Pro with a 256GB internal drive, and I have a backup of my old computer from last year that is about 350GB in size. What I am trying to do is individually take over some items from the Time Machine so that I don't fill up the HD. Here is what I have done so far:
I took over 100GB of an iTunes library as well as other system settings and documents. I had left something like 50GB on my internal hard drive. Not enough for my 109GB photo library.
So, I purchased a large SD card (128GB) to be the permanent home for my photo library. However, I had to maneuver some things around to get this to work, which has been a HUGE pain.
What I ended up doing was copying my whole iTunes library, which was about 98GB to the SD card. I juggled some other things around beforehand, and even though my photo file on the backup is only 109GB, it kept telling me I didn't have space. So I did the whole iTunes library instead of parts of it...
I now have 150GB free. Migration Assistant still tells me I don't have enough space for the transfer. How is that possible!? That's an extra 41GB of data.
Anyone have any suggestions? I've already verified the HD on the macbook is fine via Disk Utility, not sure what else to do.

Well yeah, I could always buy a bigger external. I was thinking about exchanging the 128GB SD card for a 256GB, but I've been able to make it work in the meantime. I freed up another 10GB of data on the hard drive, and that allowed the photo library to come off the time machine back up. Then I cut down my iPhoto to 97GB instead of 111GB, and am in the process of transferring that to the SD card. I put the iTunes off on a 2nd computer in the meantime, and once I have iPhoto off this computer, I can make sure all my documents are on here, then erase the old time machine backup, and re-partition the drive to have half time machine back and half storage space for another iPhoto back up and miscellaneous items.
Thanks for the advice!

Migration Assistant not finding my new iMac

I had a VERY slow MA process going from old iMac to new iMac. So I did a little research and apparently it was so slow because by default I was getting a wireless process. So I turned off the Airport on the old iMac and conncected the machines with an ethernet cable. Now the new machine is not getting recognized by the old one. TIA for your help.

I feel the easiest, and most reliable, way of migrating data from an old Mac to a new one is using the Time Machine backup from an external drive.
The best source for help with this process comes from "The Great Pondini". Here's a link to his site that is, by far, the premier source for help with this transfer:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Setup.html
Since you've already booted your Mac up and tried Migration Assistant, Setup Assistant won't be available to you (it's only available upon initial bootup of a new Mac).
I would pay particular attention to user accounts when you look at pondini's site, as Migration Assistant can create some headaches for the unwary.
Enjoy your new iMac!

Migration Assistant not recognizing old macbook

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