Migration Assistant showing 0.0kb User Profiles

Hi all,
My iMac hard drive recently died, but I have been backing it up to Time Machine to a backup disk, so I'm trying to migrate my user account to my friend's MacBook. However, Migration Assistant keeps displaying these user profiles as having 0.0kb. Why is this? It seems to just hang when I attempt to migrate data. Also, how would I go about migrating just the settings and permissions of the profile, and keeping the rest of the data on the drive?
Thank you for any help
Aaron

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Was your iMac PowerPC or Intel?

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Migration Assistant doesn't respect User Templates

Hi everyone,
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Some people that I work with are very change-phobic, and I've created a default user template that respects what they've been doing for a long time and includes what I need to do my job. The main things I've changed include reversing the natural scroll direction (I know, I know, I like it myself, but like I said, some people I work with are incredibly change-phobic) remote login settings, showing the Library folder, and including default login software (such as new backup software we've decided to deploy at the same time as new computer deployments).
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Hi John,
While your link was certainly informative, it isn't really addressing my problem, though I appreciate your response.
I don't know if this may interest you, but you can force the Setup Assistant to run without reinstalling Lion. Just boot into single user mode (command+s), then remove this file:
rm /var/db/.AppleSetupDone
You see, your mac, upon every boot, checks to see if that file is present. Its not really even a file that holds any information (its just a file named .AppleSetupDone). If the file is not present, your computer will run the "first-run wizard," or Setup Assistant.
It's also a trick you can use if you don't have an administrative account on a computer.
Anyway, I'm still hoping I can get answers about why migration assistant refuses to respect the defaults I've set at:
/System/Library/User\ Template/English.lproj/Library/Preferences/
Best, and thanks again,
Allen

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persol19 wrote:
Yes, there were no system files included. Soley the items that are incopassed within the user file.
Rats. It's awful that Apple doesn't warn folks about that.
Since I am not able to use them as backups, what is the best way to restore all of my previous preferences, calenders, notes, adressbook, etc.?
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Make a large pot of coffee.
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Snags40 wrote:
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... any other "Top John" housekeeping tips? Or anything handy worth knowing to prevent myself getting in a future pickle?
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There are few absolutes but in no particular order,
Don't bring any preconceived ideas that may be rooted in Windows PCs to the Mac. The Mac is a different world and it is only getting more so.
Aside from periodically running Software Update, the Mac needs no maintenance. Macs are designed to be neglected.
All hard disks fail eventually, which means a backup plan is desirable. Buy an external hard disk drive and plug it in. Time Machine will ask you if you want to use it as a backup disk. You do. Time Machine does the rest so you can continue to neglect your Mac.
Installing software is like inviting someone into your home. A lot of trouble can be avoided by not opening the door just because the bell rings. Trouble comes in the form of "toolbars", "scanners", "optimizers", "cleaners" and similar ilk that often accompanies websites in the form of popup windows or other in-your-face techniques, mostly Flash advertisements. Remember that nothing enters a Mac unless you invite it in by providing your password. Before you grant access to something know what it is, what it does, and how to get rid of it if it starts making a mess. There are no viruses known to infect OS X but malware exists.
As for uninvited intruders, the Mac is very secure. You do not need any anti-virus utilities. OS X is the descendant of a decades old multiuser, multitasking operating system that was designed from its very beginning to keep users protected from malicious interference. Some AV tools are benign, many are harmful, but all are superfluous. Some Windows AV products published by well-known and respected companies fail miserably on the Mac: see point number one. OS X already includes all the virus protection it requires. I recommend nothing more.
Don't panic if something goes wrong. Search here for help but don't necessarily believe everything you read. Knowledgeable participants are usually literate.
Beware of phishing scams. They are getting better all the time. It doesn't matter what computer you're using, nothing can stop you from willingly providing your name, password, Apple ID, mother's maiden name and social security number in order to inherit a fortune left in your name by a deceased Nigerian prince.
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Cattus Thraex wrote:
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Tell Apple what you think here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

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Hi and Welcome to the Forums!
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Occam's Razor nearly always applies when troubleshooting technology issues!
If anyone has been helpful to you, please show your appreciation by clicking the button inside of their post. Please click here and read, along with the threads to which it links, for helpful information to guide you as you proceed. I always recommend that you treat your BlackBerry like any other computing device, including using a regular backup schedule...click here for an article with instructions.
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jeevescat wrote:
Thanks for your reply.
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Jyrki:
I have been using a Mac for twenty years because I considered it simple. But if one has to resort to procedures like described in the link you provided, one might as well use a PC...
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cornelius

Migration assistant won't transfer user account

Hi
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jeevescat wrote:
Thanks for your reply.
The migration assistant behaved as usual, I've used it countless times, it came up with the list of accounts, in this instant there was only the one, and all the boxes were ticked to transfer all apps, files etc and all data from this account.
At the end of the transfer the computer restarted, but instead of going straight to the desktop, it ran through the account creation procedure.
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Migration Assistant showing 0.0kb User Profiles

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