First-time Mac user with Migration Assistant woes

I'm a new Mac user with a MacBook Air. Still trying to get the migration process completed after three days so I can start using my computer. Looks nice, at least. Three questions:
1. After a 36-hour migration attempt from a PC over Wi-Fi, and with 2 hours to go, I'm getting a "Reconnecting to Mac" window on the PC. If it reconnects, how long could it take? It's still sitting there after 15 minutes.
2. If I cancel the migration process, do I have to start over and cross my fingers for another 36 hours, or does it pick up where it left off?
3. Is there any way to get a faster file transfer, say by Ethernet cable (I have the adapter), USB, anything. This is becoming painful.
I have verified the Wi-Fi connection is up and running. I can connect and reach the internet from my PC.
I don't want to schlep to the Apple Store. I bought this on Apple's assurance that the migration process would would work. If it doesn't, I'm returning it.
Thanks.

Steve, you don't have to run Migration Assistant right away. You can set it up as if you weren't going to migrate anything. You can start using your Mac right away.
Later, you can run Migration Assistant any time you want.
Depending on when you cancel MA, it is probable that whatever it did up to that point will be lost. 36 hours is unreasonable.
After you start using your Mac and are comfortable that it works to your satisfaction, connect the two with an Ethernet cable. Make sure it's a Category 5e or Category 6 patch cable (most are today). Then run MA. That ought to work and nothing will be faster.
For what it's worth I never got MA to function properly upon initial setup. It ought to work in theory but mine would get stuck at about the 99% point. Running it after initial setup has always been more reliable. I don't know why.

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Steve, you don't have to run Migration Assistant right away. You can set it up as if you weren't going to migrate anything. You can start using your Mac right away.
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Depending on when you cancel MA, it is probable that whatever it did up to that point will be lost. 36 hours is unreasonable.
After you start using your Mac and are comfortable that it works to your satisfaction, connect the two with an Ethernet cable. Make sure it's a Category 5e or Category 6 patch cable (most are today). Then run MA. That ought to work and nothing will be faster.
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Hi. First of all I am a brand new Mac user. I am having problems watching videos. It constantly plays for a second or two, possibly a minute and then stalls....I wait....it picks back up, plays for a second or two longer and repeats the process, so basically it is a very bad viewing experience all around doing this. I have all the software updates. I am a former pc user so trying to adjust to the Mac. I don't know where to begin on fixing this so if someone has any insight or could help it would be great.
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If you are using wireless, you might want to try plugging your computer directly into the cable or DSL modem and running the speedtest again. This will determine if it's a connection problem, or a problem with your wireless (possibly your router). I recently had a router go bad, and the only symptom was it was cutting the connection speeds in half, both wired and wirelessly. When I plugged straight into my cable modem I had full speed.
What is really strange is the disparity between your upload and download numbers. Usually, the upload is 1/10 of the download, not 2x larger. I've only seen this at work where they throttle our download speeds to 6,000 kbps to keep us from downloading large files for free on the wireless, while the upload speed runs 20,000 kbps. At my home, for example, I have 4,000 kbps download, and 400 kbps upload.

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Can't help with the iTunes thing, since I don't have a PC to muck with. However, once you sort this issue out, see these, and welcome to Mac land:
Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
Mac 101: Mac Essentials,
Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts,
Anatomy of a Mac,
MacTips,
Switching to Mac Superguide, and
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Lion Edition assuming that's what you're running.
Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:
Quick Assist,
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides,
Take Control E-books, and
A guide for switching to a Mac.

I have just opened my brand new Macbook Pro and I'm a first time mac user. I have tried to download flash to enable me to watch you tube clips, but on trying to download it, it says I need to close Safari but after doing so, it still won't respond.

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Actually you need to quit Safari which is different from closing. With Safari open go the menu bar for Safari/Quit Safari.
Mac 101: Get Started Using A Mac

I'am a first time mac user, can any explain to me how to transfer file i.e. iTunes ,pictures, other files.

I'am a first time mac user, can any explain to me how to transfer file i.e. iTunes ,pictures, other files.

Select a file you want to transfer and drag it to the desired destination.
If you need help with the basics of OS X you can:
Select Mac Help (or Help Center) from the Finder's Help menu and enter a search keyword. For your question you might search for "copy," "file copy," or "drag and drop" for example.
See Apple - Support - Mac 101
Visit the Apple website where you will find additional information and tutorials on how to use OS X.

I am a first time Mac user. how do i get windows.

I am a first time Mac user. how do i get windows.I am student; can I avail of a discount should I need to buy any packages

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see
http://store.apple.com/uk/browse/home/education_routing
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There is a problem in updating iphoto and iMovie, read a response here from a certain Dahveed if I'm not wrong to try this, however I'm a first time mac user, how do you delete this ... /Mac HD/Library/Caches/com.apple.appstore/adoption.plist

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Hello, I'm Cheryl A
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<Email Edited by Host>

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
The process to transfer your files from an external drive to your MacBook Pro is pretty easy with Migration Assistant, so you can do it yourself.
Connect the external drive (your Western Digital external drive), open Migration Assistant (in /Applications/Utilities) and follow its steps. It will allow you to choose what files you want to transfer, and it will create a new user account with the transferred data. For detailed steps > http://pondini.org/OSX/MigrateLion.html
Also, as you are a new user and if you feel you do not know how to use OS X, have a look at Mac Basics articles and videos > http://www.apple.com/support/mac-basics

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When using the Migration Assistant, my Time Capsule is not discovered. It just spins and looks and never finds it. I rebooted the Time Capsule, but this does not seem to help. Any ideas?

Start over.. factory reset the TC. As noted below, nothing will happen to your files.
The Factory Reset universal
Unplug your TC/AE. Hold in reset. and power the TC/AE back on.. all without releasing reset and keep holding in for about 10sec. The time is not important.. it is the front LED rapid flashing that indicates you are in factory mode.
Release reset.
If it doesn’t flash rapidly you have released reset at some point and try again.
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Hi and congratulations on your new 'best friend'
The OSX that is on your new MBP is OSX Snow Leopard version 10.6.3
And it does not contain any bloatware as with most of the Windows PCs you can buy.
Apart from the OSX itself you get the 2009 full version of Apple iLife suite plus a 30-day trial version of Apple iWork suite (which can easily be deleted if ou don't like it).
Nothing else on it.
While others round here might do a complete reinstall of OSX on a new Mac, I myself have never done that and have no problems with my Mac.
Device Drivers are part of OSX and updates to them are released as system updates from Apple with their own installer program.
In OSX there is a 'System Profiler' application, which lists all devices of your Mac plus the full software environment.
May I suggest to have a look here for beginners
http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/
Have Fun
Stefan

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First time mac user and...

Hey guys
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@ Jonge17
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A web operator who tells you that you have a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with your computer, or that you have won a prize in a contest you never entered, is trying to commit a crime with you as the victim. [Some reputable websites did legitimately warn users who were infected with the "DNSChanger" malware. That exception to this rule no longer applies.]
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First-time Mac user with Migration Assistant woes

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