Migrate files, etc. to new user?

I just had to create a new user acct with admin privileges to solve a problem with Adobe Bridge. Is there a way to carry over all of the settings from my original user acct?
Thanks
Peter

Alright, I copied all of the folders that were in the old acct to a new folder on the root level. Two things worth noting - 1) nothing was flagged as a problem during that process 2) when I was done I clicked on the Users folder and there IS a Deleted Users folder evidently created when I tried your original suggestion. I never looked for it thinking that the never-ending spinning wheel was a failure.
So now, would you trust that dmg file? I opened it and it appears OK, but can I be sure?
Whether I use the dmg or the manually copied folders, wouldn't I have to copy everything to the new user acct to maintain my previous state?

Similar Messages

I have a new Macbook Pro - trying to migrate files etc from my Macbook Air using a Thunderbolt Cable between the two. I follow the directions but the two computers never "discover" each other. WiFi connect works but 70 hours is a rough deal.

I have a new Macbook Pro. Trying to migrate files etc from my Macbook Air using a Thunderbolt Cable between them.
I follow the directions but the two computers never "discover" each other - using a WiFi connection works but 70 hours is a rough deal.
(Mac OS 10.8.2 on both computers)

Are you trying target disk mode?
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10725
Ciao

Re-installed Mac OS X on I-Mac, will migration asst. return files etc. to new config.

My I-Mac desktop was currupted. Reinstalled operating disks. How should I use Migration Assistant to get Mac back with my Mail and I Photos etc. Now even Safari says it's Version 4.0.2. I'm stuck. Lester

Where is your files and stuff?
1: Get you machine connected online and use Software Update first.
2: Install your programs from fresh sources is always best.
3: Then if your user files are on a TM drive then use Migraine assistant.
or
If your files are on a data drive, then drag and drop manually into their Music, Documents, Pictures etc. but you need to create a new user that matches your old user, and you need to change the hard drive to match what it was before just to avoid problems.
https://discussions.apple.com/message/16276201#16276201

Bringing all old files, etc. into new MacBook Pro?

I haven't gotten my new MacBook Pro, but I don't want to have to waste too much time getting things going when I do. I have my current PB G4 backed up to an external hard drive with Time Machine. How do I update the new MacBook Pro with all the files from the backup? Can I use Time Machine to do this? Does Time Machine know that there are old files from a previous machine that need to be brought into the new one?

If you have a TM backup then, yes, you can migrate files from the TM backup. This would be done using Migration Assistant. Since you will be migrating from a PPC machine please review the following:
A Basic Guide for Migrating to Intel-Macs
If you are migrating a PowerPC system (G3, G4, or G5) to an Intel-Mac be careful what you migrate. Keep in mind that some items that may get transferred will not work on Intel machines and may end up causing your computer's operating system to malfunction.
Rosetta supports "software that runs on the PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the items that are not universal binaries or simply will not work in Rosetta:
Classic Environment, and subsequently any Mac OS 9 or earlier applications
Screensavers written for the PowerPC
System Preference add-ons
All Unsanity Haxies
Browser and other plug-ins
Contextual Menu Items
Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5
Kernel extensions
Java applications with JNI (PowerPC) libraries
See also What Can Be Translated by Rosetta.
In addition to the above you could also have problems with migrated cache files and/or cache files containing code that is incompatible.
If you migrate a user folder that contains any of these items, you may find that your Intel-Mac is malfunctioning. It would be wise to take care when migrating your systems from a PowerPC platform to an Intel-Mac platform to assure that you do not migrate these incompatible items.
If you have problems with applications not working, then completely uninstall said application and reinstall it from scratch. Take great care with Java applications and Java-based Peer-to-Peer applications. Many Java apps will not work on Intel-Macs as they are currently compiled. As of this time Limewire, Cabos, and Acquisition are available as universal binaries. Do not install browser plug-ins such as Flash or Shockwave from downloaded installers unless they are universal binaries. The version of OS X installed on your Intel-Mac comes with special compatible versions of Flash and Shockwave plug-ins for use with your browser.
The same problem will exist for any hardware drivers such as mouse software unless the drivers have been compiled as universal binaries. For third-party mice the current choices are USB Overdrive or SteerMouse. Contact the developer or manufacturer of your third-party mouse software to find out when a universal binary version will be available.
Also be careful with some backup utilities and third-party disk repair utilities. Disk Warrior 4.1, TechTool Pro 4.6.1, SuperDuper 2.5, and Drive Genius 2.0.2 work properly on Intel-Macs with Leopard. The same caution may apply to the many "maintenance" utilities that have not yet been converted to universal binaries. Leopard Cache Cleaner, Onyx, TinkerTool System, and Cocktail are now compatible with Leopard.
Before migrating or installing software on your Intel-Mac check MacFixit's Rosetta Compatibility Index.
Additional links that will be helpful to new Intel-Mac users:
Intel In Macs
Apple Guide to Universal Applications
MacInTouch List of Compatible Universal Binaries
MacInTouch List of Rosetta Compatible Applications
MacUpdate List of Intel-Compatible Software
Transferring data with Setup Assistant - Migration Assistant FAQ
Because Migration Assistant isn't the ideal way to migrate from PowerPC to Intel Macs, using Target Disk Mode, copying the critical contents to CD and DVD, an external hard drive, or networking
will work better when moving from PowerPC to Intel Macs. The initial section below discusses Target Disk Mode. It is then followed by a section which discusses networking with Macs that lack Firewire.
If both computers support the use of Firewire then you can use the following instructions:
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

After creating a new user account, how do I move my files into the new user?

I have an issue where my 'Desktop/Screensaver' prefs seem to be corrupt somehow. When I click on that icon in System Preferences, it stalls and I get the spinning ball, thus resulting in a force quit. After reading a Mac Format magazine where someone wrote in with a similar issue, they said to trash various prefs (did that and made no difference) and if that didn't work, try creating a New User account (therefore creating brand new system prefs) and move your stuff over.
Well, I've created the New User account, but I can't figure out how to move/copy my stuff into the user folders. After copying and attempting to move stuff in, I see folders with a red circle with a white line through it (like a 'no entry' sign).
Any clue as to how this can be done? All I'm trying to do is to reinstate the system prefs so they are not corrupt anymore on my log-in.

No. Not the main Library folder. Make absolutely sure you are in the Home Library folder and not the main Library folder.
Your Home Library folder is hidden in Lion. To get to it, in the Finder menu, select GO and hold the option key down. Select Library in the submenu. The Finder window will open in your Home Library. This is where your user prefs are stored.
Once there, you will see the Preferences folder. Open it up, select all items within it and move them to the trash. You will need to restart in order for the new Finder preferences to be recreated.
Once you restart, then you will be back to the default preferences to the system and all applications. And yes, it will affect all settings including your Dock, just as logging into a new user. You will have to reset everything there also.
If you wish to do a selective method, instead of deleting all preferences, try deleting the one associated with your problem. Screen saver problems should be affected by the system preferences, so try deleting this:
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
com.apple.systempreferences.plist.lockfile
Note that when you delete system file preferences, a restart will be required. For applications, just quit the application before trashing preference files.

How do I move files to a new User?

I recently upgraded my MacBook from Snow Leopard to Lion and afterwards I noticed the font had changed in my mail preview and in other places such as when on Safari. I went to the Genius Bar and after 3 hours of trying this and that the tech figured out that there was a problem with my User files. He made another User and logged in with that and everything looked fine. His original thought process was to reload the font (Helvitica Neue) but that never worked. He suggested wiping the drive clean, reinstalling Lion and then the rest of my files from backup. I really don't want to have to do this.
Is there some way to easily move everything to my new User?
Carol S.

Have a read here http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/Transfer.html
Stefan

How do I update the protected AAC file to my new user id (w/ email)

I have a bunch of protected AAC song files with my origional user name, pre email that I bought from itunes. When I am signed in with current email user name, and try to play the song it asks me to log in with the origional id which no longer existss because its now a email address. When I delete the files and try and redownload them under match they don't show up either. What to do?

Hi,
You need to authorise those tracks using your old Apple ID and password i.e. the one you used when you purchased those tracks
Jim

Migration assistant created a new user when transferring files from a PC to mac

I just bought a new macbook air and proceeded to transfer my itunes music files from my old PC to my new mac using the migration assistant. I could not find my music files that I had transferred in itunes on my admin user account but later found them on another user acount that I had not created. I was wondering if there was a way to collapse the two user accounts into one or transfer my music from one account to the other? (I tried using an external hard drive but it would not add my music files to the itunes library). Any ideas??

Cattus Thraex wrote:
I agree with the idea of an enhancement request, MA should have some more options if used later, normaly users a curious to log into the fresh system, and transfer data and settings at a later date.
Unfortunately, a "merge" option, where it would add things to an existing user account, isn't realistic. That would work fairly well for such things as documents, where everything is in separate files (although settings and preferences would get a bit tricky).
But not for things like iCal, AddressBook, or Mail, where there are complex structures. Trying to merge those in any automated way would be very complex. Even worse would be 3rd-party apps that Apple can't possibly know how to handle.
One thing that might help would be rewording the "You can transfer information later using Migration Assistant" line at the bottom of the Setup Assistant window:
A number of us have asked for that to be worded differently -- warning that it's much better to do it first, or not to install stuff you're going to need, or something. All to no avail, of course.
Tell Apple what you think here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

HT2518 Migration Assistant set up new user to which I don't have access to any of the files!!!

I tried to transfer my PC files using Migration Assistant. It set up another user and when I try and go to that users files, it says that I don't have permission to access them. What do I do now?

I'm going to assume the consolidating files does not work due to hard drive space limitations.
Since you're moving to Windows 7, have you tried using the Windows files and settings transfer utility? That will move everything for you to the same location on the new computer, it also allows some control over what actually gets moved.
Alternatively, if you know the location of all of the media, it can be manually moved by copying it from the old computer to the new computer in the same location.
Also, using the Apple article on moving the library, take a slight twist on what it says. Move the iTunes library to the external drive, update the settings in iTunes to reflect the library being on the external drive, then consolodate it.
The options are endless for moving the library... it simply takes a little effort to make it happen and possibly a twist on existing "standard" methods depending on your unique situation.

Restoring my files on a new user profile

On a macbook 10 i changed the details of the user profile and it automatically upgraded the profile into yosemite mode
How do I retrieve all the files I used to have?

Do you have a backup you could restore from?
What details did you change? More information would be helpful.

Transferring all files etc to new computer

I have an iMac with 2 users, me as administrator and my son as a user. I am buying him a macbook air. I would like to basically transfer the contents of the iMac to the MB-air upon purchase of MBair. now i know this is done a number of ways, and you are prompted your options to do this when you first start up the new computer. If I do this will it basically mimic the ibook with me as administrator and my son as a user? almost like a clone?
roger

For more details, see Best Practices and Setup new Mac.

Migrated in lion to new user.. but then deleted user from accounts....

is the information and files i migrated over still on the harddrive somewhere? or is that space once again free.... also is there a way to see what files are on my mac in all accounts that are taking up space?
thanks in advance!

Not if you fully delete an account (third option.)
There are third-party software utilities that will scan the drive and display what's installed ranked by size or other sort key. Try OmniDiskSweeper - MacUpdate or CNET Downloads

How to handle migrating files to a new drive and Time Machine

I have recently moved to an SSD in my Mac Pro. As such, I am going from a 2TB main drive to 256GB. This is no problem, as the majority of my 700GB of files are old work and don't need to live on the speed of the SSD. My plan is to leave them on the 2TB, which will no longer be the boot drive. However, what will become of my Time Machine backups? If I leave the HDD directory structure the same, I presume it will keep the backups of my files. However, this means everything that I moved over to my SSD won't have any backup history. In addition, if I rename the HDD, or restruct it, then I will lose everything.

You nedd the Install Disc 1st.
How to format your disks...
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/partitioning_tiger.html
(To Install OSX on an IntelMac the Drive it needs the GUID Partitioning scheme mentioned at the bottom.)
Thanks to Pondini, Formatting, Partitioning, Verifying, and Repairing Disks...
http://Pondini.org/OSX/DU.html

Migrating to new user account: must chown old account's files- I think

Is there a way to selectively chown the files/folders owned by a particular user, while leaving other files/folders untouched? I'm in the process of migrating to a fresh user account on my machine. I copied what I need from the old user's home directory and chowned it recursively, as described on an Apple support page. The support page makes no mention of chowning files/folders elsewhere on the machine, but I've found plenty of stuff in other locations that are owned by the old user:
/Applications (lots of stuff)
/Library (lots of stuff)
/private/var/tmp (a small lot)
/private/var/vm/app_profile/ (2 files)
/usr/local/clamXav/ (1 easily replaceable file)
/usr/local/lib/codec/ (4 files/folders)
I'm planning to delete the old user once I'm confident that everything is working, and I'm not sure what would happen if some critical files are owned by a deleted user. The old user was an admin account, if that matters. Oh, and I'm running OSX 10.4.11 on a PPC mac, if that matters.
Any help appreciated

Niel- that article you linked to is great. Lots of helpful info that's relevant to my situation. Thanks!
After reading the article and comments, I'm a little unsure whether to use "find -L" or just "find" (or "find -P") when finding files that need chowning. It sounds like "find -L" would include symlinks that point to files/folders owned by the old user, regardless of who owns the symlink itself, whereas "find -P" would only include symlinks that are themselves owned by the old user. I think "-P" is what I need (the man page says the -P behavior is the default, so I guess I just need "find" by itself). Someone commented about this, and the article's author acknowledged some of their other suggestions, but not this one. ?
I think if I was going to change ownership of all the old user's files, I'd need to run the following commands on a few directories (/Applications, /Library, etc.):
     find $dir -user $olduser -exec chown -h $newuser {} \;
     find $dir -group $olduser -exec chgrp -h $newuser {} \;
I'd also have to look for filenames that end in the old user's uid, with something like
     find / -name "*501"
     or
     find -L / -name "*501"
However, it occured to me that while there may be files I want that are owned by the old user, there are probably also files I don't want to migrate over, like if the system's already created equivalent files for the new user and I'd be overwriting something that could cause problems. I'm going in circles
At this point I think I'd better make such changes selectively when problems crop up that I think could be solved by doing so, rather than make system-wide changes in one fell swoop. I want to fix small problems, not make big ones.

How do I create a new user, move my old files etc over, and delete old user

This is why I think I need to.
My computer got hit by lightening, and I may have created a new user account through netinfo rather than system preferences /accounts/+user. Mail used to open twice, but no longer. Now, Safari askes me for my keychain password twice, Spotlight can't find a folder on the computer when the search is restricted to folder and computer, though the folder is there and easyfind finds it, and when System Preferences/Spotlight/Privacy has the hard drive icon added, then deleted, Spotlight still does not find anything. (Yes, everything is backed up, on CD, DVD, and online.) Microsoft Tec Support says
"Here is a summary of the key points of the case for your records.
When you contacted us on August 8, you had requested assistance with Microsoft Office 2004, as your installation of the updates was unable to find the correct version of the software to update. After creating a New MAC User, we identified the issue to be with a corrupt MAC User account, and not a Microsoft issue. "
I believe Microsoft. So, creating a new user was easy.
But copying files uses up too much hard drive (movies, music), and may miss keychains, preferences, mail, address book, and documents. Since Spotlight no longer works, who knows what is happening. (Yes, I've repaired persmissions, and disk repair. No change). I'm using up my hard drive trying to move files to the new user. If I share files, or put them into a public folder, then delete the old user, will I still have the old user's files in the new user's account? It is not clear to me what I should be trying to do in order to create a new user, move my old files etc over, and delete old user. Thanks.
My responses will be slow, because I have to drive to town to use the internet. I've ordered a new airport which may take care of that problem. SO be patient.

Hey -
I need to do the EXACT same thing, but have no idea how. Has anyone out there done this?
My situation is a tad different..this is a new Mac (and I'm a brand new Mac user). Tons of querks occur under my original account (videos won't run, Safari won't support certain plug-ins). I spent 6 hours on the phone w/ 4 different Apple Reps and nobody could fix it. A rep finally looked at my MacBook Pro in person today. He created a new account just to see if that would work and under that new account, everything works perfectly fine (no querks, can view video). He tried switching a million settings in my original account to no avail.
He said to create a new account (as he did) and move my files over to the new account and then go back to the original and delete it. How do you do this?! I can't figure it out! I've got a new account created, but of course it just has the default folders in it w/ the little red icons next to them! Thanks in advance!

Migrate files, etc. to new user?

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