Migration assistant source doesn't see target

target: MAVERICKS 10.9
source: LION 10.7.5
i'm trying to use Migration Assistant to transfer from an older mac to a new one. On the new one, I can get to a page that offers a code: 'Transfer Information to this Mac'. But the older/source computer doesn't offer an opportunity to input that code as it runs the Migration Assistant -- the wheel continues to spin. File sharing is enabled on the source computer. Software is up to date.
I'm doing this transfer over WIFI since I don't have the appropriate firewire, etc.
I've tried numerous ways to get this going.
I should add:
-I am doing this AFTER completing the Setup Assistant
-source computer is a Chinese OS and the target is an English OS.
(i don't see how these points would matter but i thought best to mention them.)
any advice would be weclome.

They both need to be on the same network. Ideally on Ethernet, otherwise it might take days to copy GB's over wifi.
Here is the Apple info on the subject…
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5872
See if that helps clarify the process.

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After reinstalling Snow Leopard, migration assist and doesn't see my time machine disk.

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Migration Assistant: Source Mac not detected

Hi everyone :) I just bought a MacBook Pro 15" Retina Display (OS X) and I've been wanting to transfer all my applications/files via Migration Assistant to this Mac from the source Mac, my MacBook Pro 15" (2009 - I think it runs on Snow Leopard) I bought a thunderbolt cable to facilitate fast transfer but to my horror, the Migration Assistant on the target Mac is stuck on the "Looking for Computers" page and has yet to detect my source Mac (I'm running it in target disk mode). I've tried everything said on the forums: repair disk permissions/turn off firewall... But to no avail. Please help as I need to set it up before school starts!
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Welcome to Apple Support Communities
LeEn94 wrote:
More details: My source Mac has bootcamp (windows partition).. Does it in anyway affect this? Also, I have not touched Time Machine since I didn't know how it works. Is there any advice on transferring via thunderbolt?
It doesn't affect, so your problem is another one.
The first MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt was released in 2011, so your 2009 MacBook Pro has got Mini DisplayPort instead of Thunderbolt. This means that you can't transfer the files through Thunderbolt.
You have to look for another connector like Ethernet or FireWire (you will need adapters), or transfer your files through Wi-Fi (slow but you won't have to purchase anything)

Migration Assistant-source and recipient won't play together

When I connect an Intel Mac late 2009 to my new Retina 5k, both running updated Yosemite, the receiving Mac can see the source Mac, but the source can't see the receiving unit. The wheels just keep spinning (overnight) without detection. I've tried using an ethernet cable and my reasonable fast wireless network--no dice on either. I didn't use MA when I set up the new Mac. Suggestions? Thanks,

Since you run Migration Assistant from the new computer, there is not need to worry about what the source can or cannot see. If you are using your local network be sure to enable File Sharing on the source computer.
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I am trying to use the Migration Assistant to transfer data from my PC (XP SP3) to my Macbook Pro. It hangs up when the Mac tries to transmit a passcode to the PC. It never comes through. I've tried using my wireless home network, and I've tried connecting the two with an Ethernet cable. (Do I have to change any settings on my computers when I do that?) No dice. I've searched for an answer on this and haven't found one. Anyone have one? Thanks!

They both need to be on the same network. Ideally on Ethernet, otherwise it might take days to copy GB's over wifi.
Here is the Apple info on the subject…
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5872
See if that helps clarify the process.

Migration Assistant adn iMac wont recognize Target Disk Mode of iBook

Friend purchased a new iMac 20in and went to use Migration Assistnat to transfer from older iBook. Will call this iBook1
Following directions, he hooked up Firewire cable, rebooted iBook1 into Targe Disk Mode (TDM). New iMac would NOT recognize existance of TDM iBook1. So we began the following sequence of tests to isolate the problem.
1) Using a second iBook2, hooked up original iBook1 in TDM to iBook2. The HD of iBook1 showed up on the desktop of iBook2 as it should, along with all the files inside of it. This verified that the cable was good and that the firewire port on the iBook1 was working as well as TDM on iBook1.
2) We rebooted the iMac, restarted the Migration assitant and placed the iBook2 into TDM and connected them. Migration assistant worked, recognizing the iBook2 as it should. This verified that the iMAc firewire port and Migration assistant was again working fine. We also rebooted the iMac and hooked up the iBook2 in TDM w/o Migration assistant, and again it worked fine.
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No matter what we did, we could NOT get the new iMac to recognize the older iBook1 via firewire TDM. All other connections betwen the computers worked fine. All systems were running 10.4.10. We reset the PRAM, we fixed permisions, still the new iMac would not recognize the iBook1 in TDM.
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I'm having the same problem connecting my iBook G3 500 in Target Disk Mode to my new iMac, the icon does not show up on the iMac. I have tested the Firewire on both computers with a FW XHD and they work fine. I took the iBook in to work and connected it to an eMac and a ProBook Intel with no problems. Back home tonight and it still fails to show the icon of the iBook in TDM on the desktop of the new iMac. Suggestions on a fix ? Thank you.

Imac host doesn't see target computer

Hello,
I'm having difficulty copying files from the host computer to the target computer. The target computer is an Imac 700Mhz G3 and the host is a 400Mhz (DV?) G3. Both are running OS 10.3.9. The problem is that the target computer does not show up on the host desktop. I've tried rebooting the host but to no avail. Is this a firewire firmware issue? How can I check the firewire firmware version? Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Al

Hey Al,
Have you read through:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=58583
The only thing there is requirements for the target:
"iMac (Slot Loading) with Firmware version 2.4 or later"
but you've got to have 4.1.9 since you're running 10.3.9.
But to check it go to "about this Mac > more info > Hardware overview
It should say:
"Boot ROM Version 4.1.9 f1"
Try another FireWire cord.
Try different FireWire spigots
Try switching host and target wouldn't make any difference for dragging files around.
Could have a blown FireWire ( A client blew hers out with a bad cord, I mean it was smoked! Scorch marks on the board and everything. Those are easy to diagnose "Uhhh I think it's this place where it's totally burned")
Richard

Migration assistant stalls on "applications folder"

hi all
i'm having an odd problem upgrading a g4 dual gig desktop system to tiger using the erase and install option, after cloning my drive to an external fw hd. when i finish the install and get to step 3 (transfer your information) the migration assistant stalls on my old "applications" folder - it just sits there with the word "calculating" next to it. i tried leaving it alone for a while to no avail. with the "applications folder" checked (and calculating) the "transfer" button is greyed out. there is also an option for taking files and folders from the drive with the cloned system, and when i uncheck the "applications folder" and check the drive where this folder resides, "transfer" becomes active. i tried doing it this way, but it just copied the files to a folder on the upgraded system, without copying all my library support files, prefs and such. anyone have any idea what's going on? this has always worked flawlessly for me in many other installs. i'm stumped!
thanks
bruce
g4 dual gig "mirror face" Mac OS X (10.4.5)

well, none of that resolved anything. here are a few more details: after installing 10.4 and getting to the "import from another partition/computer" section of the migration assistant the file list shows the applications folder i need to access, but instead of a size it reads "calculating." even if i let it sit for several minutes this doesn't change. i ran the usual disk utility repair permissions and verify disk procedures, and everything comes back fine. if i try to boot from the clone everything seems very slow: boot up takes quite a while, it hangs on "waiting for apple file service" for several minutes and "login window starting" also takes forever. once it gets done i get a blue screen hang. if i boot into the new install of 10.4 and run the migration assistant, it doesn't see the partition with my cloned system at all. the first time i tried migrating the files, when it wouldn't see the applications folder, it did allow me to copy the files into a folder on the new system drive. this didn't help much of course, since it didn't bring the support files over. i'm resigning myself to having to reinstall all my apps manually, a big PITA.
<sigh>
g4 dual gig "mirror face" Mac OS X (10.4.7)
g4 dual gig "mirror face" Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Clean install of Lion but Migration Asst. doesn't see my Time Machine

So I did a clean Lion install and it worked perfect. I made a Time Machine backup right before I installed. During the install process I tried to import from a Time Machine backup and Lion did not see my disk. So I finished the install, and my backup disk appears just fine. If I start time machine, I can browse the disk. But if I go migration assistant it will not see the disk. Am I doing something wrong here?
TIA

Are there any directions somewhere for how to do this? Thanks.
For questions like yours, the definitive place to start is here:
http://pondini.org/TM/Home.html

Migration assistant can´t find TM backup

I have just done a clean install of Mavericks on my MBPr. However, the migration assistant does not recognize the time machine backup.
I CAN se the disk just fine, and I can even choose to to a complete recovery of the TM backup, so it seems to me that the machine knows that there is an external drive with a working backup there.
How can I get migration assistant to understand the same thing?

WhyCantThingsBeSimple wrote:
Well I have good news. By following the various steps and repairing the sparse bundle file on the TC, the Migration Assistant was able to see the backup like it had always been there.
The restore of my entire backup file seems to have transferred completely.
Yay!
I will spend the weekend pairing down my HD and moving data I don't readily access to an external HD, then running a running a new TM backup to that external drive.
Not to the same external HD, I hope? That's not a good idea. See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #3 for details.
Can I run a repair on the TC the same way to see if that helps the disk, or is there something else that I can/must do if portions of the TC's HD are failing?
As far as I know, there's no utility that will do that. There are plenty of disk evaluation/repair utilities, but they only work on internal or directly-connected drives.
About the only thing you can do is to erase and zero-out the disk; if that fails, you know the disk is bad, but if it succeeds, that doesn't necessarily mean it's ok. And, of course, you lose all your data!
At this point my gut says that the backup file was probably damaged from Time Machine backing up during my last round of issues with the new OS updates crashing the system
That's quite possible.
How old is your Time Capsule? A few fail in the first few months, of course, and some of the original 2008 models are still going strong, but a fair number seem to start having trouble after 2 or 3 years.
But, as posted earlier, depending on a single set of backups, especially if made wirelessly, is a bit risky. See Time Machine - Frequently Asked Question #27 for more explanation and some recommendations. I'd strongly recommend making some sort of "secondary" backups.

Migration assistent, can't find my external HD, help!

I have reinstalled OSX 10.8.6 on my moms Mac mini2,1, 1,83 GHz, 80 Gb harddisc, 2Gb ram, bus 667MHz, to keep the speed fresh. The time machine copy from her mac is on a Iomega external hardisc 160 Gb, the "disctool/help" detects it as Toshiba MK1652GSX Media, physically it has two USB connections. But when I use Migration Assistant it doesn't appear as a option to choose.
On this external harddisc I have a Timemachine copy that goes back to 2008. I can see the harddick on the screen, I can connect the harddisc to Timemachine and it can start to copy and save, I can even copy back my moms documents, but still Migration Assistant can't find it.
I need to migrate all her applications, iPhoto for instance as the most important as well as her I need to migrate her letters and adresses.
What do I do?

Dear MrHoffmann
Maybe it is because I am foreign, that I don't understand correctly, and for that I am very sorry. I can't imagine what a restore of a Time Machine disk is then. And I tried to find out what a scratch disk is, and the online computer dictionary told me it was an external HD, with a space for not permanent files. Maybe I misunderstood that too. Where do I then perform a restore of the backup? And where am I told if the disk is vail and bootable... sorry for my lack of understanding. As I understand I am not able to boot from a Time Machine backup, at least before Lion, and I am talking about Snowleopard. And I am not able to understand Install logs. This just sounds too difficult and far beyond what I am cabable of with my skills. Sorry.
But on the other hand, I like to learn. And I am returning to my moms house for a few days in the end of september. And with me I can bring all kinds of tools to examin her Time Machine disk, extra hardisks, my macbook with the same system and age as my moms old Mac Mini2,1 (2006) and other things, mayby if I can find out excactly what to do, I can find out what was wrong with her Time Machine disk or Migration Assistent, to prevent that from happening again.
Thank you for taking your time to help me :-)
Bodil

Inability to properly move over iPhoto library via Migration Assistant

My hard drive on my iMac recently crashed, and I got a new one via my warranty. I'd been running Time Machine regularly, and thankfully nearly everything was saved, but my iPhoto library doesn't seem to be working out properly. I can't get it to load into the system.
I had Leopard before the crash, and I upgraded to Snow Leopard install when I got the new hard drive. I ran Migration Assistant, and I can see that all of my photos are on the hard drive, but when I load up the iPhoto Library, it gives me an empty folder with no photos in it whatsoever. I tried important the entire photo directory into iPhoto, and that gave me a mishmash, with every original and every copy and edited photo in there, in no particular order, without my keywords, starred photos, or anything like that. This is unacceptable, so in a fit of irritation, I deleted all the photos I had in iPhoto, and decided to reimport via Migration Assistant my entire iPhoto library again.
I think I screwed something up, because this wound up creating a new profile that had the photos in it, that was only accessible after I changed the sharing & permissions settings. It still gives me errors, saying that I don't always have permission to access the files via iPhoto. I've tried taking the entire photo and dropping it into my main folder and resetting the iPhoto Library to look at that, but it hasn't yet been successful. I can also only periodically see my photos as individual files (does iPhoto lock away your files somehow when they're imported via the iPhone), so I think that I could just reimport everything into a fresh iPhoto library, but I don't want to do so except as a last ditch effort, because I'm not sure it'll catch everything that I had, and also I spent literally hours starring and organizing my photos. I don't want to have to go through that again, especially if it isn't successful.
Also, as a sidenote, how should I have done this? At this point, would it just be best to do a clean reinstall of the entire system, deleting the accidentally created additional new users profiles which I don't want and can't seem to get rid of. I just want my new hard drive to be as close a mirror of the old one, saved via Time Machine.

I remigrated my originally saved drive, and encountered the same problem. It seems to be an issue with iPhoto not recognizing my iPhoto library from before. Could this be because I upgraded from Leopard to Snow Leopard? Everytime I try to rebuild that library, it comes up as empty.
If this is the case, how do I get in and get the photos out of iPhoto Library so I can reimport them, even without the tags that I had. Of course, I want my tags and stars, but I really don't want to just lose my photos. I've managed to grab a couple of them, but they seem to just be thumbnails, rather than full sized photos. They're at 320x240, which is way too small for all my photos to be.

Migration Assistant on MBP stalls, fails

We have a nice new MBP and are trying to move the contents of a PB G4 to it with Migration Assistant.
All works well with FireWire cable and disk mode and initial apparent transfer of data, but the MA process has stalled on both of two attempts, at different points. In one case we left the two connected so the transfer would occur overnight but in the morning we found the old machine with the firewire logo stuck in one spot on the screen (instead of hopping around like it does initially) and the MBP MA message still at 49 minutes remaining.
So we have a new MBP and can't get the old data onto it.
Please share your ideas, thanks.

Sometimes Migration Assistant just doesn't work. For whatever reason it just doesn't copy everything. Anyway, try repairing the disk permissions on your PowerBook and macBook Pro and see if it helps.

Possible permissions issue - i used migration assistant from a backup and now i have multiple issues

Hi everyone,
I'd say my techie skills are low to medium so bare that in mind and be gentle with me
So 20" dual core died on Friday. poss psu issue which i will fix in due course. In a fit of extravagance I decided this message from beyond the grave from MR JObs was telling me to buy a new quad core on Saturday morning.
Because old imac was dead i used time machine back up via "migration assistant"
intially it could see the back ups but then seemed to spring to life after 20 mins
Got message saying not all content had transferred but reckon most did except for some safari stuff ( paswords etc).
Then i started to get issues with permissions i think.... asked me for passwords every time i tried to move files between folders or to trash or do pretty much anything.
read something about permissions conflicts when migrating from another admin/home account from and old imac
That when i started to activate my over "confident with technolgy" gene - i set HD permission to owned by "me" instead of system and then applied to all enclosed items
oops
now getting lots of dodgy messages eg every driver on the make brings up eeor message sayuing it was incorrectly installed
ran permissions repair - 25 mins later loads of unexpected acls have been corrected though not all -
still getting error messages about a few which i tracked down manually one by one and, sure enough, are still showing as owned by "me" and not system. Corrected them
Noticed at this point all other .kext files in same loaction have two permissions rows for "system in "get info" window = is this the root of my problem since using migration assitant?
still having issues
software updates won't install via the "software update" function but was able to install a couple of them myself direct from apple website.
back ups won;t back up to drive assigned - just keeps saying T|ime machine could not complete the back up even though there is space on freshly formatted external drive
so guys ..
have just created an unholy mess?
should i reassign "system" as owner for everything and then change foders such as documents and music etc to be owned by "me" or is that tooo simplistic?
should i wait till my old mac is brought back to life and re-do my migration ( since deleted the existing back up from old imac so thats not an option)
should i blame it all on apple and get them to sort it out under warrenty
or should i run naked down the street shouting wibble...
all help gratefully received . MY experience of apple products has been seamless over the years until now and I can't help think I have done some thing bad the wife will never forgive me for
HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You may not have created a mess, it's possible you simply don't know where your data is after migrating. Had you followed the Setup Assistant's on-screen prompts when you initially turned on your new system you would be running just fine by now. My guess is you haven't been exposed to Pondini's Lion Setup Assistant tips.
Migration Assistant (MA) and Setup Assistant (SA) are cousins, similar but different. The primary difference is MA creates a new user account which can be confusing to some users. If you successfuly migrated then log out of your existing using account and you should see the new user account. Log into that account then you should see the migrated data. If you do then use Pondini's Transferring files from one User Account to another.
However if you have totally made of mess out of things then I'd start over, this time using the Setup Assistant Tips beginning where he discusses Second Chance.

Using Migration Assistant to restore after hard drive failure?

My MacBook's hard drive recently went kaput. The replacement arrived today and I attempted to do a TM restore when booting from the Snow Leopard disc. However, it inccorrectly states "This disk does not have enough space to restore your system." The new hard drive is exactly the same as the old one; both are 640 GB. I have researched this issue for hours and no one seems to know how to fix it, and frankly I am shocked that Apple has failed to recognize this serious problem.
So, my question is, can I use Migration Assistant with a fresh install of SL and get exactly the same results as I would if I had restored via Time Machine? Will I lose any data in the process that I would have had, had I done it via TM?
Another thing: I was messing around in the Migration Assistant window just to see how it worked. I selected everything that was available to be restored. However, it stated there was still around 150 GBs of free space on the drive. I had nowhere near that much free space on the old drive, and one would think that that would have left TM with enough space to go through with the restore. How is this sudden new, free space accounted for?

If you haven't already, use Disk Utility (which should be available early in the Snow Leopard installer boot process) to partition and format the new disk. Select the drive (not the volume), select the Partition tab, click on the Options button, then select "GUID Partition Map Scheme" (or whatever the exact wording is). Then format the volume as "Mac OS Extended (Journaled)".

Migration assistant source doesn't see target

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