Migration Assistant with Firewire

I am trying to transfer files from my G3 iMac (system 9), to my G4 (OS Tiger).
Using Firewire, and targeting, I am able to mount the iMac onto the G4 desktop.
But, when I double-click on the firewire drive icon, the color wheel keeps spinning, on and on, and the volume never opens. I usually end up having to restart my computer. What is happening ? How do I get this to work, so I can retrieve my files ?

Using target disk mode is not technically a network problem so this thread is in the wrong section.
But just out of interest have you tried doing it the other way round. Example mountng the G4 on your imacs desktop and then you can drag n drop files across.

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Upgrading: Migration Assistant with FireWire or Time Machine Restore?

Hello,
I recently ordered a new Black Penryn MacBook to replace my 17" iMac. Would you recommend using the Migration Assistant with FireWire or a Time Machine restore in order to copy all of my data to the MacBook? I have the option to do both, but am unsure of which would be the best. Is the time machine restore more suited to restore a failed drive as opposed to facilitating a data transfer between two machines? Finally, regarding either of the transfer options, will there be any issues with keychain or application data that I should be aware of? Thanks for your help!

Those are two of the option presented by Migration Assistant. I think the end result will be the same. If I was doing it, I'd use the FireWire method, just because it's coming directly from the source instead of through a backup archive structure.

Using migration assistant with firewire disc

I am trying to transfer my settings and applications etc. from a firewire disc that was previously connected to my old but good G4. The iMac and the external volume have the same OS and there is no problem booting from either volume. When I first tried using Migration Assistant, I selected the transfer from another volume on this computer option and the process started and then the drive stopped transferring; I had to Force Quit Migration Assistant. I repaired permissions on both volumes and tried again. This time the process got as far as listing the accounts, which I selected only to get a message that there was a name duplication and to alter the account name for transfer; the result was to flip back to the same message. Since then I have been unable to get even that far. Any ideas?

Perhaps you could give me some assistance?
My HD was just replaced by Apple. I decided now was the time to upgrade to 10.4. This I did and used software update to bring everything up to date.
I had cloned by defective drive to an external FW and would like to use Migration Assistant to move as much as possible back to the new PB drive. I realize I could run into some trouble since I don't know what info was lost on the defective sector(s).
When I try MA, it recognizes the external drive but the user accounts will not show up in the next screen--the "rotating bars" (I don't know what it's actually called) just goes on and on. I left it running for over 6 hours with no result.
Should I just do a straight copy of the user folders? Can I do that with the applications folder?
Al PB 1.5GHZ Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Migration assistant with Firewire 400

Hello,
I want to transfer files from a white Macbook using OSX 10.5 to an older iMac PPC using Tiger. Both computers have Firewire 400 port. Is this possible as both are using different version of OSX?

It depends on what you plan to transfer. Whatever that is Migration Assistant doesn't sound like the proper tool.

Migration assistant without firewire

Can anyone suggest a way of using the Migration Assistant without firewire?
The firewire port on my iBook is fried and that's where my life is stored. I just got my new iMac and wanted to use Migration Assistant to move everything over to it. Without firewire is there some other way of moving all my data except piece by piece?

No, not that - but it is a useful app. Carbon Copy Cloner has good feedback too(mostly - some users here reckon it's rotten) - & it's free/donationware(?) I believe.
Being firewire-less, using such an app would still be slow & you'd have the same doubts about what to copy/overwrite as doing it totally manually.
Most of your home folder can likely be straight-forward copy/replaced - but I think I'd be more careful about the library folder & only copy folders from that which don't exist on the new mac. Bring the home/library/mail folder over complete - but just leave it on the desktop & use mail-file-import mailboxes.
Addressbook : I'd use file-export vcard after selecting all the addresses on the old mac - then import on the new. Unless you've got directories to retain, in which case copying the home/library/addressbook folder would retain these.
Before replacing any file/folder on the imac - close all applications & keep a backup of the file/folder in case things go pear shaped.
for apps - select the ones that don't exist on yr imac - & drag 'em over (all at once) into the apps folder on the imac. Some may not work unless you run an installer for them on the imac - but likely most will. Come right back if any apps have specific setups that you don't want to have to go through manually.
It can be easier to copy the whole hd over first - put it in a folder so you can't get confused - then you can leave the slow transfer to run. After that's finished, you just move what you want from the copy you made on the imac - which will be much much faster. It makes it seem much less frustrating imo.
Actually - don't drag/drop the hd icon - make a folder on the imac & drag the apps,library,users & system folders over into the folder you made.
anyway - don't trash, keep original imac files/folders somewhere until you're happy that everything works right. Then eventually trash them and the HD copy.

Using Migration Assistant with Time Machine or Super Duper data

Can I use Migration Assistant with a Time Machine or Super Duper backup on an external drive instead of the original computer? I'm thinking of upgrading my Mini to a new one but only have one monitor. Not in the mood to hunt down an old monitor & buy adapters, etc. If I can, are there any tradeoffs using a backup instead of the original Mini? And is TM or SD preferable for this purpose? The current Mini runs 10.6 SL.

KevinD wrote:
Can I use Migration Assistant with a Time Machine or Super Duper backup on an external drive instead of the original computer?
yes to both.
I'm thinking of upgrading my Mini to a new one but only have one monitor. Not in the mood to hunt down an old monitor & buy adapters, etc. If I can, are there any tradeoffs using a backup instead of the original Mini?
none.
And is TM or SD preferable for this purpose?
makes no difference.
The current Mini runs 10.6 SL.

Using Migration Assistant with Boot Camp?

Hi there. I am planning on switching from my 2007 MacBook Pro to a new MBP. I have Leopard installed as well as XP via Boot Camp. I used the migration assistant before when switching between an old imac and a new one. My question is, will using migration assistant via firewire cable transfer over the Windows XP partition?
If not, is there a semi-easy way to do this?
Thanks!
Kara

You need to use something like WinClone
http://www.twocanoes.com

Migration Assistant with Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter?

Hey gang-
Finally retiring my mid-2007 iMac with a new Late-2013 iMac. Yayyyy!
I've always been happy with Migration Assistant, but wanted to ask the experts if Migration Assistant will work with the Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter. I'm planning on connecting the old iMac Firewire 800 port to the new iMac Thunderbolt port via the adapter. On a related note, I assume that same as always, I will need to boot the old iMac into Target Disk mode, right?
Thanks!
Dave

Of course. You can connect both iMacs with a FireWire 800 cable and a Thunderbolt to FireWire adapter without any problem. The problem would come if the old iMac has not got FireWire 800 ports, but the Mid 2007 iMac comes with one.
In order to use Migration Assistant and transfer files from another iMac through FireWire, you need to put your old iMac in Target Disk mode as you said. To do this, simply hold the T key while your old iMac is starting up until you see the FireWire icon in the display. Then you can set up your new iMac, and you will be asked to transfer your data.
If you have already set up your new iMac, use Migration Assistant (in /Applications/Utilities) > http://pondini.org/OSX/MigrateLion.html

Migration Assistant with External Hard Drive

Can the Migration Assistant be used with an external hard drive which has a complete install of OS X on it?
I am finally upgrading my old iMac for a new iMac. I plan on harvesting the old iMac's 60 GB drive and put it in an external enclosure for added storage. Though the old one's firewire ports work fine, I thought it might be easier to migrate the old iMac's settings from the "new" external drive rather than going through the targeted disk mode and all.
Thanks for any opinions,
Michael
iMac DV, G3 400 MHz, Grape Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I did this just yesterday yesterday. I put a new disk into a G4 iMac, installed a fresh copy of Tiger on it and then migrated the user folders across from the old drive that I put in a firewire enclosure. Obviously if you go for an Intel Mac then you will have to be careful with the applications.

Applescript Migration Assistant with network transfer

Hello,
I have an applescript that opens Migration Assistant then waits for it to finish. This has worked great in the past using firewire, but we want to switch to using the network transfer feature. When you start a network migration with Migration Assistant, it closes all applications including my applescript.
The question is how can I prevent my applescript from getting killed during a network migration or how do I ask Migration Assistant to kindly not kill my applescript when it migrates over the network?
Thanks

ok, found the answer, All i had to do was to re-configure the TC to make it not connected to any networks but ethernet, and migrated. Then, i reconfigured it back again

Upgrading: Migration Assistant & External Firewire Drive w/ Image

Hello, and thanks in advance for your guidance with this inquiry! I am considering upgrading from my PowerBook 12" to a current MacBook Pro 13": If I back up the PowerBook to an image via Disk Utility or SuperDuper and onto an external firewire drive and restore it there, will I be able to then use Migration Assistant to transfer that data to the MacBook-or can Migration Assistant be used only to transfer data directly between the two laptops? Thanks again so much, and a quick reply is especially appreciated since I may be selling my PowerBook tonight! : )
Best Regards,
Robert

Migration Assistant offers the option of migrating data from "Another volume" or something like that, which includes external hard drives. I used that option to migrate data from an external USB drive to my daughter's new unibody MacBook last December, when it proved impossible to migrate directly via Ethernet or FireWire connection from her old Powerbook running Panther. We cloned her internal drive to the USB drive using SuperDuper, and then the migration from that drive worked flawlessly.

Migration assistant with WiFi or ethernet cable?

I've just read that one can transfer files between Mac OSs either over WiFi or via ethernet cable and wonder if there are issues I should be aware of prior to attempting it. How long would the transfer take? Which is faster and more reliable? I'll be going between OS 10.6.8 and Mavericks (or Yosemite, depending on how long we wait to make the purchase).
Can I use the same ethernet cable that currently connects my iMac to the wall LAN outlet but use it to interconnect the two ethernet ports on the two machines for this transfer? I seem to remember requiring special ethernet cross-over cables for some type of action in the past (but so long ago that I don't remember why or what I was doing). I'm planning on obtaining a new iMac that will lack a Firewire port and need to think about how to go about this transfer.
I've had experience using migration assistant between two 13" MacBook Pros via Firewire 800 cable that took 2 hrs for the file transfer. The recipient was running OS 10.9.2 and the source OS 10.6.8. Only about 150 GB needed to be transferred.
Thanks to all for advice.

You can use either Ethernet, wireless, or a FireWire to Thunderbolt connection. Ethernet will be faster than wireless, and will work with the same cable; a crossover one isn't required.
(110026)

Migration Assistant using firewire not working between new iMac and G5. Ah!

I unpacked my new iMac 21.5' last nite and spent three painful hours trying to use Migration Assistant to tranfer files from my old iMac G5, which is using OS X 10.4.11.
I follow all of the instructions ver batim: connect the 400/800 firewire between the old and the new iMacs, start migration assistant on the new iMac, reboot the old iMac holding down the 'T' key until the firewire symbol pops up on the screen. At that point, the new iMac sits there with the message 'waiting for the other iMac to restart.' It never seems to recognize the old iMac. I tried rebooting, reconnecting the cable, etc. No luck.
I also tried using the ethernet option with no luck. The computers find each other but after entering the 'code' twice, the old mac gets stuck 'searching for other computers on the network.'
Any advice? I'd really like to use my new iMac!!!!

May not help but give this a try on the G5:
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 and Leopard.) 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 click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now restart.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
I would also first turn off both computers then connect the FW cable. If both computers have a FW800 port then you can use a standard FW800 cable. Boot the G5 into TDM. After the TDM screen appears boot the new computer normally.

Using migration assistant with macbook air

Since there are no Firewire on the MacBook Air, can I use a USB port to transfer my apps using Migration Assistant?

Hi Jean-Paul,
You can use wireless as well as a wired connection for Migration Assistant (you'd need the USB-to-Ethernet adapter if you went wired).
Assistance with Migration Assistance - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4413

How do I use migration assistance with hard drive reader for dead macbook

Hi,
My old mac laptop died without warning.
I took it to the apple store and they suggested getting a hard drive reader and using that to transfer
across my files.
I've connected it up and have requested the migration assistant to transfer the files. Last night it
said it would 27 hours to transfer and now this morning it is saying 72 hours. This seems to
be a very long time - is it correct? Can I make it go faster or is there another way?
I've got a bit of music on there but nothing excessive. I do have about 15,000 photos though.
I'm not very techy so any assistance would be very helpful
Thanks
Sarah

Hi, that's far to long, unless maybe it's USB1.1 speed.
If USB2 or Firewire, I'd start ober & try Disk utility>Repair Disk on the external drive.

Migration Assistant with Firewire

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