HT4889 Is it possible to use the migration assistant to transfer only some documents and data? For example, I was to transfer my music, but not my word documents. There doesn't seem to be any options to customise what you are transferring - its all or not

Is it possible to use the migration assistant to transfer only some documents and data? For example, I was to transfer my music, but not my word documents. There doesn't seem to be any options to customise what you are transferring - its all or nothing

LBraidwood wrote:
Is it possible to use the migration assistant to transfer only some documents and data? For example, I was to transfer my music, but not my word documents. There doesn't seem to be any options to customise what you are transferring - its all or nothing
Yes, that's why I recommend one have more than TimeMachine as a backup because if certain files or folders are corrupted on the TM drive, your not logging into your migrated user account or not be able to transfer it what so ever.
Then it's a REAL PAIN and costs $99 to bit read the TM drive to get the files out, then it's mess to go through and sort all the empty placeholders from the real files as TM doesn't save duplicates in each state, just uses the previous state's copy if there are no changes.
If you create the same named user account on the new machine, and simply transfer files via a USB thumb drive and place say music contents into the Music folder, then it will work too.
Look into making clones of your boot drive, the benefit here is it's bootable, you can access the drive directly to pick and choose files, run the computer just like before etc.
Most commonly used backup methods explained

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I used the migration assistant to transfer files from my PC to my Mac but it recreated my user profile from the PC and I wanted to transfer the files to the new different user profile I've setup on the Mac. How can I transfer everything now?

I have an older Windows laptop and I am switching to a new MacBook Air. The main user on the Windows laptop is going to be different than the main user on the MacBook. I used the migration assistant to transfer data to the MacBook but it recreated the whole older profile on the new Mac when I just wanted to pull everything over into the new user profile I had already created on the new MacBook. How can I go about putting the data over into the new user profile and erasing the older other user profile it recreated? Would I erase the old user profile on the new Mac and start over with the migration assistant using some setting I missed that lets me pull the data over to the new main user on the MacBook? Or is there a way to rename the old user profile on the Mac to match what I want the new username/password to be somehow?
Or would it be best to back the data I really need from the old PC onto an external HD and then copy it over to the new Mac from the external HD?
Looking for advice on how to best go about this. On the old PC I had multiple profiles and it was awkward. On the new Mac I just want a single profile for the primary user and both users will just share the same user profile. I wasn't sure if the Migration Assistant only let you recreate entire profiles or if there was a way to just import data from the old PC's primary profile into the new Mac's new primary profile with some setting adjustment.
Data would be docs, pics, bookmarks, music. Fairly basic.
Thanks for any and all advice,
-Crosscourier.

Look in the /Users/ folder.

I just bought a new iMac and used the Migration Assistant to transfer my files. Initially, all was working, but now a week later, I get the message that the application manager is missing, and I cannot get Photoshop and InDesign to launch. I do not want t

I just bought a new iMac and used the Migration Assistant to transfer my files. Initially, all was working, but now a week later, I get the message that the application manager is missing, and I cannot get Photoshop and InDesign to launch. For my personal use, I did not a need to join Creative Cloud. Have you any suggestions for a work-around?

Try to install Adobe application Manager from below link and check
Adobe - Adobe Application Manager : For Macintosh : Adobe Application Manager : Thank You

HT2518 I USED THE MIGRATION ASSISTANT TO TRANSFER MY PHOTOS FROM A PC TO MY NEW MAC. HOWEVER, THE PHOTOS ARE NOT ORGANIZED AT ALL. DID I DO IT WRONG OR DO THEY JUST TRANSFER OVER IN A BIG BATCH INTO IPHOTO?

I used the migration assistant to transfer my photos from PC to mac. The photos were not organized at all. They were in the all files section in my finder. I just clicked and drug the pics file to iphoto and the are just in there in a big bunch. Was there a way I could have had them transferred over in there folders from PC?

The Apple Support Communities are an international user to user technical support forum. As a man from Mexico, Spanish is my native tongue. I do not speak English very well, however, I do write in English with the aid of the Mac OS X spelling and grammar checks. I also live in a culture perhaps very very different from your own. When offering advice in the ASC, my comments are not meant to be anything more than helpful and certainly not to be taken as insults.
Do you know where the actual photo files are located on your laptop? If so, you can transfer them to the Mac over a LAN or by saving them to an external HDD, thumb drive or burning them to a disk. Then you can import the photos to the iPhoto app that came on your new Mac.
It would be the same process for the videos, however, it would depend what type of video files they are, as to which Mac app might allow you to view them.
BTW, since your Mac is new you need to Accept the iLife apps; iPhoto, GarageBand and iMovie into your Mac App Store/iTunes account. Open the MAS, sign into you account, go to the Purchased pane and accept the apps.

My computer has just prompted me to download the newest version of Itunes and now there doesn't seem to be any option to "add folder" to library, just "add file to library" so have to do one song at a time and is very time consuming!! Help?!

My computer has prompted me to install the newest version of Itunes and now there doesn't appear to be any option to "add folder to library", only "add file to library" so have to do each song individually and very time consuming....help! Anyone know if I can get this feature back? Thanks so much, Charlotte

Use CTRL+B to put the top menu bar back on screen. Add File to Library and Add Folder to Library are both under File.

My iMessage is not signing in after I used the migration assistant

I used the migration assistant to transfer my stuff from my old mac, after I deleted my trash and tried logging on to iMessage. It won't log on and just keeps spinning the wheel. How do I get my mac to work?

I suspect you are not connected to the internet.
Try this - Reset the iPad by holding down on the Sleep and Home buttons at the same time for about 10-15 seconds until the Apple Logo appears - ignore the red slider - let go of the buttons. (This is equivalent to rebooting your computer.) No data/files will be erased. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1430
Then reconnect.
 Cheers, Tom

I recently used the migration assistant and now my music has not transferred and it wont play, any ideas on how to get all my music and films to actually work?

Hello,
I recently used the migration assistant on my old macbook air to transfer my data to my new macbook pro, yet it seems that my music and Films have not fully transferred over. i have used macs for a while now and haven't had any problems before, yet now itunes has the names of my music and films yet it can't locate the original file. any ideas on how to get this fixed? i don't want to buy all my music and films again.
Help?!
Thanks

Did the original files actually transfer? They would be in Music>iTunes>iTunes Music. You may just need to rebuild the library if the files are in that folder.
Clinton

I have transferred a load of files from my PC to my iMac using the migration assistant. The message on both machines say that the process was successful bu tI can not find the files on the mac. Any ideas?

I have transferred a load of files from my PC to my iMac using the migration assistant. The message on both machines say that the process was successful but I can not find the files on the mac. Any ideas?

When you use Migration Assitant it creates another user account and puts your files there. Please log out of your normal account and log into the new account. Had you use Setup Assistant when it asked if you were migrating that would not have occured. You have a couple of options, combine the two accounts (not recommended) or start over, use Setup Assistant and have everything in one user account. Here is a link to Pondin's guide for Lion Setup Assistant tips however if you want to combine the two accounts he has addressed that in
http://pondini.org/OSX/Transfer.html

HT4889 How do change the ownership of files after using the migration assistant?

After I copied all of my files across using the migration assistant, the tool is nice enough to assume that I want to use the same ID that I had on my PC. This is not my case as I am using a different name on the mac. How do I get the files from the other user name? I have already set the sharing permissions so that I can see them on both user ids, however the only way I can see to update is to copy them all. As I have about 1TB of files, this is a little inconvenient. Any thoughts?

Thanks. It got me on the right track. At the end, I copied the 1TB over and just deleted the other profile. I tried to set the ownership to my regular ID by removing the lock from "Get Info" but I still had to move them out of the other "user" folder.

I had to reinstall ox and snow leopard on my imac g5. I used the migration assistant on my macbookpro to copy everything onto the imac. The apps came in fine, but all folders say "no access." None of my user names seem to work. What now?

My iMac G5 was running too slow. I tried everything I could think of or find in the literature, but finally had to start over by reinstalling OX and then Snow Leopard. I lost all my folders and applications, so I used the Migration Assistant on my MacBookPro to copy everything onto the iMac G5. The applications all came through fine, but all of my folders have the "no access" icon on them. I followed the instructions I found on line, but none of my user names worked. What do I do now? Am I just out of luck? The only other alternative I can see is to transfer all my folders onto a thumb drive and put them into the iMac, but that will be slow and cumbersome.

Are you now using a different username from the one you used prior to migrating? If so that is the reason for the problem. You might, then, give this a try:
To fix Home folder permissions
Open the Terminal application in the Utilities folder. At the command line prompt enter or paste the following command line:
sudo chown -R `id -un`:`id -gn` ~
Press RETURN. You will be prompted to enter your admin password which will not be echoed.

After I used the migration tool to transfer contents of my previous MacBook Pro I cannot log in to my new MacBook Pro. I have tried using old and new passwords but to no effect. I cannot use my Apple ID. How can I re-set my MBook to factory setting pls?

I have been a proud owner of Apple products for many years. However, this problem is very frustrating! Any help will be appreciated. I used the migration tool to transfer the contents of my old MacBook Pro to my new shiny MacBook Pro Retina! After migration finished I tried to access my new MacBook Pro retina. However, when asking me to log in it refuses to accept the passwords from either the new MacBook or the old one! I do not have the option of using my Apple ID either.... Please help! Unfortunately, I am past my 90 day Apple Support!!

Restart holding down the CMD+R keys, launch Disk Utility and erase the HD, quit DU, and restore the OS. On first boot, use the Setup Assistant to do the migration. Details in Pondini's Setup New Mac guide.

I have copied Iphoto library from other MAC using the migration assistant, when starting Iphoto the rebuild however stops half way (no progress after 24 hours)

Using the migration assistant I copied my users from an old MAC (2007) to a brand new on. After a few attempts and software updates this worked. For Itunes and mail for example all data was available. On starting my Iphoto however there was a problem. When starting there is the message that the library, to be able to work with the new Iphoto Version, needs to be updated. In the process of doing this the programm seems to get stuck after 40 % of progress and even after 24 hours does not continue. I have tried to use the I-Photo First aid, but before starting any of the steps it wants to re-allign the old library to the new Iphoto version ans subsequently get's stuck on the same spot again !! Is there any advice you could give ?
Thanks,
John

I have tha same problem.
iPhoto asks for updating, then it shows a bar about the conversion in progress, then it shows that it is working on faces library and then the circle spot stop to turn on faces library and starts in the middles of iPhoto window.
After three days nothing changed!
Any help?

I used the Migration Assistant to move data from my Time Machine to my new Mac.   Most data has been moved successfully but none of my iPhoto pictures have been moved.   Looking at my Time Machine now I find that the earliest back-up is dated after the Mi

I used the Migration Assistant to move data from my Time Machine to my new Mac.   Most data seems to have been transferred successfully but none of my iPhoto pictures have been transferred.
My Time Machine now shows the earliest available Back-up to be after the Migration Date.   My iPhoto pictures seem to have either been lost in the migration process or are locked in my Time Machine prior to the earliest back-up date now accessible.
Any advice on recovering my old iPhoto pictures would be greatly appreciated.

First go to iPhoto Preferences, look in both General and Advanced tabs to make sure that things are set to import from camera into iPhoto.
Then if that doesn't help, connect the camera and open Image Capture in your Applications > Utilities folder and see if you can use Image Capture to reset the import path from the camera to iPhoto.
Image Capture: Free import tool on Mac OS X - Macgasm
Message was edited by: den.thed
Sorry John, I didn't see your post when I clicked the reply button. Dennis

I recently bought a new macbook pro and set it up using the migration assistant and my mac mini. I can't get the text message forwarding feature to work with both computers.

I recently bought a new macbook pro and set it up using the migration assistant from my mac mini. I can't get the text message forwarding feature to work with both computers. It keeps saying that I only have 2 devices setup, my iPad and my macbook pro. When I mess with the setting on my mac mini, it goes from saying that that is one of the devices to my macbook pro being the 2nd device. I think that something happened as a result of my using the migration assistant and now it thinks that my macbook pro and my mac mini are one and the same computer. Any ideas?

Thanks, Sig.
The old computer is a 2.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
The new one is a 2.3 GHz intel core i7
In going over this, thanks to "tallking it out" with you, I did discover the Text Edit problem. Because I've still been unable to get the new computer text size (fonts or whatever) to match the old computer, I did not notice that the curser is now different--the line midway down the curser has to be placed on the line I am working upon, otherwise the edits go elsewhere on the page. Now, with a bit of difficulty, I am able to get Text Edit to work correctly.
If you have any ideas as to why my menu bar and Text Edit type are still so slow, I'd love to have them.
(I went through the process you suggested earlier, re my Trackpad preferences, and found no improvement.)

Hello, I need help with my macbook pro. It looks like I cannot install anything anymore. Everytime I try to install a new software, use the migration assistant or click the lock to make changes, it simply does not react.

Hello, I need help with my macbook pro.
It looks like I cannot install anything anymore. Everytime I try to install a new software, I simply get stuck during the installation type process. I put in my password, it does accept it, but it does not go any further.
I tried to reset the password, put no password, repair the permissions, the disk but nothing will do. I nearly got stuck with the log in screen but finally succeeded in disabling it.
So I thought I might try to create a new account but I cannot click the lock to make changes. It simply refuses to react.
I am now thinking about using the migration assistant to save all my settings, data and so fourth, but again I get stuck when I have to type in my password. It accepts it but nothing happens...
I guess it has something to do with the authorization process, but can't find anything on the internet about it... Can you help me out?
I am running Lion 10.7.3.
Regards,
Nicolas.
(I apologize if any grammatical/structural mistakes were to be found, english is not my mother-tongue. )

You probably won't like this suggestion, but I suggest you reinstall Lion.
First, backup your system. Next, reboot your system, press/hold the COMMAND-R keys to boot into the Recovery HD. Select 'Reinstall Mac OS X'. If you purchased Lion as an upgrade to Snow Leopard, the reinstall process will install Lion 10.7.3. If your system came preinstalled with Lion, you might still get Lion 10.7.2. Both installs are a total install of the OS. None of your apps or data will be impacted. Just the OS.

HT4889 Is it possible to use the migration assistant to transfer only some documents and data? For example, I was to transfer my music, but not my word documents. There doesn't seem to be any options to customise what you are transferring - its all or not

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