Help transferring files from old Mac 10.3.9 to new Mac 10.6.1

Hi - I just bought a new iMac with Snow Leopard and I am trying to transfer my old files from my iMac running 10.3.9. I connected a FireWire cable between the two and restarted the old iMac while holding down the "t" key, using Migration Assistant on the new iMac. Migration Assistant kept saying that it was waiting for the old iMac to restart, even though the old one HAD restarted. I looked on the forums and saw that I should try to run Setup Assistant from the Utilities folder on the old iMac. But there isn't a Setup Assistant in the Utilities folder.
So I am at an impasse. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Some of the items I've found via searching suggest to avoid transfer or migration of older
files from the ancient 10.3 over to the newer 10.5 or 10.6. And when the old computer is
a PowerPC, the new Intel-based Mac may not see or be able to use some of the items.
The older Setup Assistant is supposed to do for Panther 10.3 what the newer Migration
Assistant does for Tiger 10.4; to an extent. The results from the older system are limited.
There is a way to have the new computer import some of the older computer's user files
and account info into it, before its first run; but with a leap so great between 10.3 & 10.6,
the results overall won't be as satisfactory as just running the new computer totally new;
going through the setup and upgrade processes independent of the old Mac altogether.
The Apple Support- Snow Leopard page should have some upgrade and migration help
info on there which may be helpful: http://www.apple.com/support/snowleopard/
It would appear that the instructions for migrating from an older Mac to one running 10.5
or 10.6 apply to the older computer, so the Panther software may be secondary if it really
matters at all in this process. See this document, and wonder along with me... This is not
quite the same as a migration assistant; but you don't need FW Target Disk in either case.
• Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6:
How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3322
The older method may not apply in the path you've chosen, outlined here, below;
but note there are matters about file and older app compatibility in the newer OS:
• Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4:
Transferring data with Setup Assistant - Migration Assistant FAQ
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1554
In the past, I've done a bit of upgrade and some migration action and found that overall,
the new OS X seemed to work a lot better with nothing old involved. That's just me!
And I'm sure each individual's mileage may vary...
Good luck & happy computing!
{ edited for no great reason }

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1. Repair the hard drive and permissions using Disk Utility.
2. Backup your data. This is vitally important in case you make a mistake or there's some other problem.
3. Connect a Firewire cable between your old Mac and your new Intel Mac.
4. Startup your old Mac in Target Disk Mode.
5. Startup your new Mac for the first time, go through the setup and registration screens, but do NOT migrate data over. Get to your desktop on the new Mac without migrating any new data over.
If you are not able to use a Firewire connection (for example you have a Late 2008 MacBook that only supports USB:)
1. Set up a local home network: Creating a small Ethernet Network.
2. If you have a MacBook Air or Late 2008 MacBook see the following:
MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)- Migration Tips and Tricks;
MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)- What to do if migration is unsuccessful;
MacBook Air- Migration Tips and Tricks;
MacBook Air- Remote Disc, Migration, or Remote Install Mac OS X and wireless 802.11n networks.
Copy the following items from your old Mac to the new Mac:
In your /Home/ folder: Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, and Sites folders.
In your /Home/Library/ folder:
/Home/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
/Home/Library/Application Support/iCal (copy the whole folder)
Also in /Home/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need including folders for any third-party applications)
/Home/Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
/Home/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
/Home/Library/Preferences/ (copy the whole folder)
/Home /Library/Calendars (copy the whole folder)
/Home /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
/Home /Library/Safari (copy the whole folder)
If you want cookies:
/Home/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
/Home/Library/Application Support/WebFoundation/HTTPCookies.plist
For Entourage users:
Entourage is in /Home/Documents/Microsoft User Data
Also in /Home/Library/Preferences/Microsoft
Credit goes to Macjack for this information.
If you need to transfer data for other applications please ask the vendor or ask in the Discussions where specific applications store their data.
5. Once you have transferred what you need restart the new Mac and test to make sure the contents are there for each of the applications.
Written by Kappy with additional contributions from a brody.
Revised 1/6/2009

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