Migration Assistant questions

I've been having issues with my MacBook .... intermittent it won't start up (freezes on gray screen), that I suspect indicates the hard drive is about to die. I've duly backed up everything via time machine to an external fire wire drive and ordered up a new hard drive.
I propose to do a fresh install of OSX from disc on the new drive and then migrate across my settings (don't want to restore from time machine in case it isn't the hard drive and is system software faults)... but hope someone could just clarify:
1. Will migration assistant bring over Mail, Address Book, Safari bookmarks, iTunes library and iPhoto library?
2. Should I de-authorize my iTunes on the old hard drive (subject to it staying alive long enough) before I remove it?
Any other tips appreciated
Steve

Options to further know if it's your HD.
You can perform a hardware test on the computer. check here to learn how to do this : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509
Try booting from an install disk. hold the option key down when you power on your computer. choose the install disc, Run disk utility to verify the disk or use other similar software like disk warrior to see if the HD is bad.
TO ANSWER YOUR DIRECT QUESTIONS: with important information about Time Machine and Migration Assistant Utility
1. Will migration assistant bring over Mail, Address Book, Safari bookmarks, iTunes library and iPhoto library?
Yes. Migration Assistant Utility transfers documents, music, photos, applications, network settings, and preferences. It works on a user level by basically moving over your user account with everything in it. Migration Assistant DOES NOT transfer over the Operating system so you will have to install a fresh copy on the the new hard drive anyway.
Pulled from the Apple Site.
" If you’re setting up a new Mac(or HD) with files from an old Mac, *Time Machine* can help simplify the process. Just use Migration Assistant to copy portions of any Time Machine backup to a new Mac, or select *“Restore System from Time Machine”* in the Utilities menu on your *Mac OS X install disc*. Choose any date recorded in Time Machine to set up your new Mac exactly as your previous Mac was on that date."
2. Should I de-authorize my iTunes on the old hard drive (subject to it staying alive long enough) before I remove it?
You can leave this authorized because you are not installing in a new computer. iTunes will never know you changed hard drives
Good Luck
Matt
Message was edited by: msurowiec

Similar Messages

Migration Assistant Question (From 10.4.11 to 10.5.5)

I have a question regarding Migration Assistant in regards to upgrading from Tiger to Leopard. I do backups of my entire internal HDD onto an external firewire drive using SuperDuper. I do not make a bootable drive, I backup to a disk image that can be mounted. My question is thus: when I upgrade and choose Erase and Install (if I want to), would I be able to use migration assistant on the disk image (once it is mounted) to move all my files over? Or would I have to make the external drive bootable in order to do this?
Any help you could give me would be great!
Message was edited by: pr0digal

Migration Assistant only works with Firewire drives, not disc images stored on Firewire drives. You would be better off re-cloning your drive directly to the Firewire drive to make a bootable image.
However, you need not do that to upgrade on the same computer. You have two upgrade options: Upgrade Install or Archive and Install. The latter puts a fresh install of Leopard on the hard drive without erasing the drive, and it saves your old system in a Previous System Folder. There is an option to transfer your user account(s) and network preferences. I would recommend using this option. The procedure follows:
How to Perform an Archive and Install
An Archive and Install will NOT erase your hard drive, but you must have sufficient free space for a second OS X installation which could be from 3-9 GBs depending upon the version of OS X and selected installation options. The free space requirement is over and above normal free space requirements which should be at least 6-10 GBs. Read all the linked references carefully before proceeding.
1. Be sure to use Disk Utility first to repair the disk before performing the Archive and Install.
Repairing the Hard Drive and Permissions
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (Utilities menu for Tiger.) After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported, then quit DU and return to the installer.
2. Do not proceed with an Archive and Install if DU reports errors it cannot fix. In that case use Disk Warrior and/or TechTool Pro to repair the hard drive. If neither can repair the drive, then you will have to erase the drive and reinstall from scratch.
3. Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When you reach the screen to select a destination drive click once on the destination drive then click on the Option button. Select the Archive and Install option. You have an option to preserve users and network preferences. Only select this option if you are sure you have no corrupted files in your user accounts. Otherwise leave this option unchecked. Click on the OK button and continue with the OS X Installation.
4. Upon completion of the Archive and Install you will have a Previous System Folder in the root directory. You should retain the PSF until you are sure you do not need to manually transfer any items from the PSF to your newly installed system.
5. After moving any items you want to keep from the PSF you should delete it. You can back it up if you prefer, but you must delete it from the hard drive.
6. You can now download a Combo Updater directly from Apple's download site to update your new system to the desired version as well as install any security or other updates. You can also do this using Software Update.

Exchanging MBP Laptops... Migration Assistant Question.

Hello Everybody,
I recently purchased a new MBP 13" i5 with the stock hard drive. I tried upgrading the hard drive to a larger size but had issues with clicking sounds and excessive Load Cycle Counts. Since it is a new computer Apple recommended that I return this MBP and special order a new one with a larger hard drive (I'll use the extra drive as a backup). So that's what I did. The replacement computer will get to me this Friday and I will have a chance to migrate before returning the original MBP.
Here is my question:
Could I clone my current drive to the new drive and just put that into the computer (since all of the hardware will be identical)?
Or could I just run the migration assistant (using a CAT6 ethernet cable) the first time I start the new MBP even though the OS version on the new computer will most likely be 10.6.6 and the original MBP OS is now 10.6.7?
Thanks in advance for anyone who can answer this question.

Here is my question:
Could I clone my current drive to the new drive and just put that into the computer (since all of the hardware will be identical)?
No! Use Setup Assistant rather than Migration Assistant. Assuming the old machine has a Firewire or Firewire 800 connection use that connection rather than than a ethernet connection. Firewire tends to be more reliable than ethernet. Follow the instructions found on Pondini's Setup Assistant tips your migration should be very smooth.
Before physically connecting the machine make sure you have the correct Firewire cable. Look on the old machine (or even better refer to the manual) to see if it's FW or FW 800. You will need one of the following cables:
Firewire 400 to 800 Cable
Firewire 800 Cable
If you don't want to order from Amazon you can probably find similar cables at Radio Shack or your local computer store.
Roger

Deleting an older user account and migration assistant question

Hello,
So I'm out of the loop big time. I've had my current 17" iMac since 2006 (10.5.8) it's the white border one. Anywho I just got my new 27" i7 iMac and feel really stupid trying to migrate from the old computer to the new one. I couldn't figure it out so had to call Apple help.
First off I put the ethernet cable in the back of both machines thinking it was the Firewire and chose the Firewire option and kept wondering why it wouldn't work. Then it dawns on me I have the ethernet cable in. So I try to transfer that way and get stuck on the Install Mac OSX install disk and install the CD or DVD setup something or other. Well I stick the DVD in my old iMac and open the install disk and see nothing that says CD or DVD setup. I call the Apple line and realize that because my new iMac isn't hooked up to the internet I can't use the ethernet option (okay why I didn't realize that I don't know but it's been a long week and I haven't migrated a computer in a long time).
On top of all that the lady tells me the new iMac has a 800 Firewire and my old one only has a 400 Firewire (so that is why I couldn't get my Firewire 400 cable to work).
So she tells me it will take ages to set up wirelessly but I need to click no and not transfer data to the new iMac, then setup my internet then go back into migration assistant on both machines and click the network option. It is taking ages to do this.
I told her I was on the forums and that doing it this way would create a new user account and she said just to delete the old one once the new one is created. Is it that simple? My old user account is called Pink Tuley and new one is called Tuley. So once the migration is complete (think it's going to take hours on end, my old machine is 160GB with about 140GB of it full) do I just delete the older Pink Tuley account?
Yes, this is a long winded question I know.
Message was edited by: spiralgirl

elmac,
I'm currently migrating my old iMac to my new iMac via the internet wirelessly. I did what the Apple support told me to do since I don't want to go out and buy a new Firewire cable (I have a 400 one now and would have to get one that has a 400 and 800 on each end which I could have bought at the store had I known).
Instead I chose not to migrate and set up my iMac with the internet, and now I'm migrating via migration assistant opened up on both machines using using the network option. It's okay if it takes forever to do as I've waited this long (I had to wait 5 weeks for my Macbook Pro HR-AG to arrive).
My old user account is called Pink Tuley and I thought there would be mass confusion if I named the new user account the same name so I chose Tuley for this one. Once I'm all migrated do I just go into the user accounts on my new iMac and delete Pink Tuley?
Message was edited by: spiralgirl

Migration Assistant Question re Tiger to Leopard

I am planning on updating a friend's Mac Mini from tiger (10.4.9) to Leopard, via the Retail Leopard DVD.
Trying to look for time shortcut here, she has no backup beyond a flash drive, I will bring over an ext FW HD for full user folder data backup at the start of the process.
And I plan to do the Archive and Install with Preserve Settings. (I am too leery of Updating Leopard ontop of Tiger.)
My questions,
(a) Will Leopard ask to run the Migration Assistant after "Archive and Install" -- or does it ask this only after a full Format (erase the HD) Install type?
(b) If I were to run Migration Assistant manually after the Leopard installation, can it pull data from a backup of Just the User folder (and of course sub folders) and the Applications folder -- assuming I was pressed for time and only backed up those to external HD, not taking the longer time to clone the whole disk clone of System, Library, Etc etc)?
Or does Migration Assistant require a fully operating Mac or Cloned HD.
(My guess, based on the reading of Apple's info pages, is that it will only work from a full OS X machine or full clone.
And that it would only pull over user data - as per: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1554 "can transfer data (including account settings and home folders)")
Any one have any experience with that sort of safe but faster installation?
(I only ask because she (friend) is very time sensitive and does not want to be twiddling thumbs during a full clone of the Tiger (Mac Mini) HD first.... sigh...)
Thx.
Message was edited by: Bruce

BruceTech wrote:
(a) Will Leopard ask to run the Migration Assistant after "Archive and Install"
No. But if you select "Preserve Users and Network Settings", the user home folders will be left undisturbed, so Migration Assistant won't be needed for those things.
It's been a long time since I installed Leopard, but apparently "Archive and Install" will also preserve the Applications folder. It's mainly the System and Library folders that will be affected buy such an installation.

Clean install/Migration Assistant question

Hi,
I'm looking to do a clean ML install (upgrading from 10.7) on a new SSD for a 2009 MacPro. I have a SuperDuper clone of the MacHD on a bootable FW drive. Basically I'm just looking to get Mail accounts and messages, Safari bookmarks, Keychain info and fonts/font families from the existing boot drive and reinstall or manually transfer everything else. Can Migration Assistant handle this? Do I need to create a new user account on the new drive?
Thanks for any help or suggestions!

Setup Assistant, which will open after the installation, will do that and is generally considered more reliable. You will probably need to create a new user to get out of Setup Assistant.

Migration assistant questions for Server 10.6.8

Currently on 10.6.8 server on an iMac that was used for lots of things (users logged into it and installed apps). Moving to the Oct 2009 Mac Mini Server that had no optical drive. It has 10.6.8 server, and I want to migrate just for the server related stuff.
I've already installed the 10.6.8 over the "remote install osx" in Utilities (over LAN), and it's sitting at the Migration assistant screen, showing no volumes, yet.
1) do I now just plug the older server and new server directly together with lan cable for the migration assistant to see each other? I know the server will be down for a bit during this...
2) I don't want to migrate the all the apps and junk... just the server related stuff, like OD, user shares, etc.
What settings should I be checking in the Migration assistant to have my server working with sharepoints, OD users, and all except APPS?

I've done a migration recently from a Mac Mini Server to a Mac Pro. I thought that migration the server by portion (like you) would be the most normal way, but turns out that I actually mirrored the entire disk image and it worked great. I simply booted my Mac Mini in Disk mode (FireWire) and copied it over.
In your case, it might be easier to start that way and remove the unwanted apps. At least, you'll be sure to have all your settings right away.
If you don't do that and start with a clean install, you'll need at least to migrate over your OD user using the Server Admin OD. Then, you'll need to "ditto" your mail, iCal and Address Book data over. The 10.6 Admin Guides, available on the Apple support website, are very detailed on the backup procedures.

Another migration assistant question

Greetings everyone,
last night I got my brand new iMac, i used migration assistant to transfer all my files from my old Powerbook G4 to the new Imac. Everything went smooth with the exception that when I open the finder at the left under "devices" my iMac has the same name my powerbook had (powerbook G4 12") is there anyway I can change the name of the device to something else?
Thank you for the help, Apple forums rock!
Rob

System Preferences/Sharing pane. Rename it right at the top.

Migration assistant question

I will be using Migration Assistant tonight to move files, e-mail, contacts, etc... from an almost 10-year old Dell running XP to a new MacBook Pro. I have read the help articles on the Migration Assistant and it appears that it moves the items to a new user account. Do anybody know if I can have the info from the PC moved into an existing user account on the Mac? I don't want to end up with a new account because the user has been using the current account (for browsing, web maile, some saved pictures, etc....) already since Christmas. Thanks!

Doesn't look like it will, but give it a try, and if it sets up a new user account, then just delete it (or cancel migration) and then try Manually migrating or consider just transferring the emails, photos, etc that have been created on the Mac in the past 3 weeks to the migrated account (i.e. for emails, use Mail->Mailbox->Export Mailbox, copy to /Users/Shared, then switch to the migrated account and then Mail->File->Import Mailboxes from Users/Shared. When done, delete the user account not needed.

Migration assist question

I did a migration (from my Imac) of files & folders to my new powerbook. why did all my photos go right to the hard drive and not into Iphoto? thx!

when I open the HD window by clicking on the icon in upper left of screen they are right there after the other folders that were there from install.
the Imac (source) has version 10.3+ the powerbook has 10.4.9 but i think the Iphoto versions are the same.
I was able to highlight all the pics from the HD window and drag them to Iphoto and then I deleted or trashed them from the HD folder, that OK isn't it?
I have not been able to hook up the two with ethernet yet, I did this by target the old mac thru firewire.

Question re: Migration Assistant

Brief question regarding Migration Assistant:
We currently have an iMac in the office that's about 3-4 years old (specs associated with this iMac are posted along with this question, of course). We are going to be acquiring one of the brand-new 27 inch iMacs at the end of this month.
The old iMac only has USB 2.0, along with FireWire 800. The new iMac only sports USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt.
Therefore, in order to use Migration Assistant I'm assuming I will need to get adapter cables…? What exact adapter cables are recommended under the circumstances?

I'm assuming that the Thunderbolt to FW800 adapter sold by Apple would work on the new iMac (I didn't even realize that there was no FW support on them - I'm not in the market for one - but I think that the handwriting is on the proverbial wall when it comes to FW).
I would call Apple or drop by your local Apple Store just to confirm that the TB>FW800 adapter will work on the new iMacs.
I'm sure glad I'm cutting my FW drives loose and going with TB drives now...
Clinton

New iMac Question - Rosetta & Migration Assistant

I'm getting a new 27-inch iMac in the next few days but I have a couple of questions beforehand. I still need to use some Rosetta-based apps so will I have to install Rosetta on the new 27-inch iMac or is it already pre-installed? Seems to me that I've read somewhere that Rosetta is a "custom-install" with Snow Leopard.
This leads me to the next question about the Migration Assistant. I will need to transfer my data from the old hard drive to the new 27-inch iMac. The easiest way being with the Migration Assistant. In the past, when I've bought a new Mac and right after connecting the new Mac and my old Mac together via FireWire and starting the new Mac up for the first time, I've just transferred the data right away before even setting up a new user account on the new Mac. But if I do this now and Rosetta isn't yet installed, will my old apps and related files be transferred properly?
I guess what I'm getting at is this - should I boot the new 27-inch iMac up first, then install Rosetta (if an install is needed), then set up a user account on the new 27-inch iMac and then run the Migration Assistant to transfer data from the old hard drive? Or should I just run the Migration Assistant on the very first startup of the new 27-inch iMac and transfer the data right away?
I hope this makes sense. Thanks for any help you can offer. I'm trying to plan this out properly in advance and I don't want to mess anything up.
Gerard

I know this was long ago - a day or 2 after July 3, 2009 (purchase date of our iMac) - but here is what happened:
Connected old computer (eMac) to new iMac to start "Migration" software. Waiting for boot and recognition extremely long.
Choices came up to migrate EITHER software or files.
I swear I selected "files" but it migrated software, over an enormous time.
Takes too long to migrate, so when I discovered no files were transferred, I went to old computer to copy data to DVD and "migrate" manually.
Went through that process on eMac; DVD burned; eject DVD and take to iMac.
I "trashed" the folders from the eMac (they were not needed on the old computer).
Guess what? The DVD DID NOT burn all the folders that I told it to burn.
Data lost: Several years of tax information! Teaching files! I don't even know what else!
Best of all, after talking to a certified Apple technician who happens to be a friend, he doesn't think there is any way to recover that data.
Why in the **** would I migrate applications (is that legal?) to a new computer?! That software's FIRST focus should be to preserve DATA, also known as FILES.
I know that I made some errors in this - - ERRORS IN CONFIDENCE IN APPLE!
Can you help? Can you send me software to recover my files? Can I have it today or tomorrow? That's when I need the info for my tax filing and FAFSA applications for 2 (TWO!) children to go to college next year.

Migration assistant from Time Machine - more questions

I have recently used Time Machine with Migration Assistant to transfer account information from an old iMac I am decommissioning. At first, I decided to simply transfer account information documents, and not any programs. However, after completing the Migration, I tried to use it again to copy across programs. However, the second time I used it, the Assistant did not recognize the Time Machine backup for the old iMac (even though the sparsebundle exists). Furthermore, when the older iMac began its Time Machine 'cycle' (eg, it has not been fully shut down yet), it did not recognize this bundle either, and created a new TM backup.
Can anyone help? I am most concerned with ensuring I have what I need on my new computer. But also would not want to have to get rid of the old sparsebundle, as it might contain information I need in the future.

Have you run any backups of the new Mac? If so, how did you answer the "Re-use" prompt, per #B5 in [Time Machine - Troubleshooting|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/Troubleshooting.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).
It sounds like you did, and selected "re-use." If so, that may be the problem. The old sparse bundle was "converted" to belong to the new Mac, so all the new backups belong to it.
That would also explain why backing-up the old Mac started a new sparse bundle -- the old one is now associated with the new Mac, not the old one.
Migration Assistant uses the last backup from the sparse bundle you select; you can't pick and choose which one you want.
Your best bet may be to use the +*Browse . . .+* option, per #17 in [Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions|http://web.me.com/pondini/Time_Machine/FAQ.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum). See if you can find the last backup of the old Mac. If so, you should be able to selectively restore from it. You'll need to restore to an "alternate location;" see #15 in Troubleshooting.

Questions about Migration Assistant

I'm getting ready to move the contents of my G4 iBook to a new Intel-powered MacBook. I assume Apple's Migration Assistant can handle a lion's share of that job but I have a question...can I change the UserName (and ShortName) on the new computer and still migrate everything over with the Apple utility? For example, a particular concern is how to handle the information contained in Keychain. When that file gets moved over, how do I make it the default Keychain and set it to unlock with the new computer's password?
And any other issues I should be aware of when moving from a G4 machine?

Actually you cannot migrate a user folder that has the same name as one already created. However, because you are moving from a PPC to an Intel Mac there are some cautions of which you need be aware:
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 or G4 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 (does not work), TechTool Pro (pre-4.5.1 versions do not work), SuperDuper (newest release works), and Drive Genius (untested) may not work properly on Intel-Macs. The same caution may apply to the many "maintenance" utilities that have not yet been converted to universal binaries.
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 or copying the critical contents to CD and DVD or an external hard drive will work better when moving from PowerPC to Intel Macs.
Basically the instructions you should follow are:
1. Backup your data first. This is vitally important in case you make a mistake or there's some other problem.
2. Connect a Firewire cable between your old Mac and your new Intel Mac.
3. Startup your old Mac in Target Disk Mode.
4. 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.
4. 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/com.apple.mail.plist (* This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.)
/Home/Library/Preferences/ copy any preferences needed for third-party applications
/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 another forum user 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.
Be careful about what you migrate. Migrating an entire user folder is not a good idea when moving from PPC to Intel. Stick to your movable folders as described above.
PPC applications may not work after migration. If they don't then simply reinstall them.

Recent Migration Assistant issue and question

Just purchased a MacBook Pro and DID NOT utilize the MIGRATION ASSISTANT at startup and initial set-up. Wish I would have. I did not have FIREWIRE with me to accomplish.
Anyhow - went ahead and initialized start-up and registration ect.
Just did a complete MIGRATION from my older eMac that is updated with OSX Leopard via FIREWIRE tonight - two days later. Had to rename my USER FOLDER to be different as the name I have established on the new MBP.
It MIGRATED the entire HD off the eMAC as expected quickly and easily I might add.
I assumed it merged the new APPLICATIONS such as SAFARI - iTUNES ect... and simply updated them on the MBP Hard drive.
Not the case - it seems that I have two different versions of each application file - new and old - and for example iTunes using old LOG IN file transferred my iTunes Library - but when I LOG OFF and log back on using the new USER NAME - my iTunes does not show my old Music Library ect...
Same thing with SAFARI - the old application has all the previous bookmarks ect...but not the newer version.
I even have two different DESKTOP BACKGROUNDS with my two different USER Files folder ID's. The DOCKS are different with both USER files also - different shortcut icons showing up in each.
WEIRD?!?
I have my PALM PILOT application that transferred as well and I had previously installed the software this morning so now I have two different PALM applications.
QUESTION: - What or How do I merge these two into one single DESKTOP or am I forced to toggle back and forth by logging on and off under two different user names ect.?
What about iTunes and Safari - is there anyway to merge them into one functioning application instead of two. Any way to DISCARD or TRASH one and still leave the other intact?
Do I actually have two program applications now installed on the HD? I looked in the Application on HD and only one Safari, iTunes, Palm Pilot ect...show up there.
Need help!
Chris Kaiser

Not weird at all. You migrated a PPC system to an Intel system. A perfect situation for disaster. You have but one viable option.
Boot from the OS X Installer Disc One that came with your MBP. Do an Erase and Install which will wipe the disk clean and reinstall the proper version of OS X for the computer.
When this is completed reinstall all your third-party software from scratch. If you have PPC only versions then upgrade them to Intel versions if you can. All third-party contextual menu items, preference panes, startup items, internet plug-ins, and the like must be replaced with universal binaries as the PPC versions will not work and may crash OS X.
You can reinstall pre-bundled software from the Install Pre-bundled Software installer located on the OS X Installer Disc One.
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 or G4 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 or copying the critical contents to CD and DVD or an external hard drive will work better when moving from PowerPC to Intel Macs.
Basically the instructions you should follow are:
1. Backup your data first. This is vitally important in case you make a mistake or there's some other problem.
2. Connect a Firewire cable between your old Mac and your new Intel Mac.
3. Startup your old Mac in Target Disk Mode.
4. 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.
4. 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/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 another forum user 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 3/12/2008
In the future you should post questions about the MBP in the MacBook Pro forum. This is the Mac Pro forum.
Message was edited by: Kappy

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