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.

Similar Messages

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.

How to use migration assistant without creating dual user accounts

I want to use migration assistant to transfer apps, software & files on my macbook pro to my new macbook air. How can I do this without creating two user accounts for myself on the m-book air -- my account from the m-book pro & the one that the air makes me create as soon as I do start-up? Can I just use the same name & password for both? or will that make things go badly awry?
Thanks!

If you have not booted the MBA for the first time and gone through the Setup Assistant, then I would use the Setup Assistant to make the transfer before you even create another user account. However, if you've already created the new user account on the MBA, then create a new admine one with a different username than the account you will migrate. Log into this new account, delete the first account you made, then use Migration Assistant to transfer your account from the MBP.

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.

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 without Ethernet or FW

Hi...
WIll be getting a refurbished MacBook tomorrow, along with a new Airport Extreme. My problem is that the Powerbook (G4) it's replacing has a dead ethernet port (one reason I'm replacing it). Also, the MacBook apparently doesn't have a Firewire 400 port, so connecting it to my Powerbook for migrating appears to be out as well.
I'm assuming it's smarter to install the Airport Extreme before cranking up the MacBook for the first time. Will the Migration Assistant on the MacBook automatically find that wireless connection (once set up with the Powerbook), or will I have to manually go back & run it Migration Assistant later? Would Bluetooth work in this case?
Any help or thoughts would be appreciated! TIA...
Paul

Oh, and I suppose (hope) bluetooth is not supported for this.. otherwise you can litterally expect weeks (if not months) to perform the transfer
Set up the airport first, have the macbook plugged to it via ethernet, and use wifi to connect the powerbook to the airport. This will use the wifi only for one machine, getting a bit more speed out of your network.

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 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

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.

Wish to halt Migration Assistant using Wireless

I just began moving my wife's user information from her one year old iMac to her new Macbook Pro using Migration Assistant over a wireless connection. Although I knew it would be slower than a hard-wired connection, I had no idea it would take 7+ hours to transfer her information.
The firewire cable I have fits the iMac but not the new MacBook Pro. I have a hardwired cat-5 network I can use if there is a way to stop the Migration Assistant without messing everything up. Is it possible to stop the process in mid transfer and start again using a different (faster) connection? Or should I just let it go and check to see if it completed in the morning?

Stalled at 49 minutes. Would not proceed. I force quit the iMac's Migration Assistant and then hard booted the MBpro. Reconnected the two using a cat 5 cable. The MBPro launched install and when Migration Assistant came up I selected ethernet option using cat5. I relaunched Migration Assist on iMac and entered the required numbers. The MBPro said it found an interrupted migration... would I like to continue. I said yes.
It completed the migration of information in about five minutes. So all looked good at that point. Unfortunately, it stalled again when it asked for an Apple ID and password. I entered both, but the options to continue or go back are not available (grayed out). I can select Learn More, but that doesn't offer anything other than text explanations.
So I swallowed hard and rebooted again. It launched the install process again. I chose to skip the migration assistant when asked (I'd already moved the user information previously), and I took it to a desk where I could plug in a cat5 connection directly to it that had internet access. This time it took the log in information and confirmed all the information on the apple web site for my wife's userid. It passed to the end of the install process. The only unusual thing is that my wife now has a userid/name for this MBPro as an admin AND her original userid/name from the iMac as an additional user. One with her first name only and the other with her whole name. It seems to be okay. I can just set it up to go to her other name from the iMac as default and keep the one set up with the install as her admin/back up name.
So all is well. It completed the migration/set up with all the issues resolved. Rebooting midstream did not create a problem after all. I did not have to reinstall the OS. I am very relieved. My wife thinks I'm a hero. I can live with that.

Migration assistant + time machine error

Hi,
I just bought a new iMac 24" and was trying to migrate my data over. Upon starting the iMac, I chose the option of restoring using "time machine" backup. Migration assistant found my backup and I chose that and after a "calculation space" screen it started transferring the data over but it never ends. At the end of the whole process, the "progress" screen (with the progress bar) and the statement saying "Less than 1 minute to completion" (or something to that extant), it just stays there. Nothing happens, it says it is "moving files to link applications". I've done this 3 times, and the last was with a clean install of Leopard using the restore disc. All of them gave the same problem, at first I thought it was a time calculation error but after leaving the 3rd installation alone for 3 hours and it was still stuck on that screen, I think the system hung.
What is wrong?
The backup is on a partitioned 1TB firewire 800 HDD.
Any help would be appreciated.
Desmond

The exact error message when I select the Time Machine backup (which is displayed with yellow triangle on the hard disk) is 'Volume contains an OS X installation which may be damaged.'
The older iMac has the system on the built-in SSD and the applications and files on the internal hard disk whereas the new iMac is a fusion drive. I wonder if this is what the problem is, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that someone in a similar situation was able to use the migration assistant without any problem (can't find it now, though).

Migrating data without losing anything

I need to use Migration Assistant with Firewire cables to copy data from a Macbook Pro using SnowLeopard to a MacBook Pro using Lion OX. The computer I'm copying too (the one using Lion) has many programs on it that I don't want to lose – they will not be lost in the process, right?

The computer I'm copying too (the one using Lion) has many programs on it that I don't want to lose – they will not be lost in the process, right?
Right.

Migration Assistant Problem

Bought a new iMac 24" 2.66 GHz. Tried to run Migration Assistant via Firewire from old iMac (Power PC G4 OSX 10.4.11). Tried it in the initial set up but didn't work. Then tried it after initial set up of new Mac and was prompted that I needed to change the name of the account in order to migrate since the main account on my old and new computers was the same. Didn't seem like I had another option. Transferred data but it is stored in a separate account from the main one I used to set up the new computer, and I have to log out of the main account to the other account to see it. Is there any way to make these 2 separate accounts to talk to each other? Should I just forget the initial account and use the new account even though the computer is set up through the initial account? Should I just find a way to start over and restore factory settings?
Friends say Migration Assistant works seemlessly but this has been anything but.

bdd95 wrote:
Bought a new iMac 24" 2.66 GHz. Tried to run Migration Assistant via Firewire from old iMac (Power PC G4 OSX 10.4.11). Tried it in the initial set up but didn't work. Then tried it after initial set up of new Mac and was prompted that I needed to change the name of the account in order to migrate since the main account on my old and new computers was the same. Didn't seem like I had another option. Transferred data but it is stored in a separate account from the main one I used to set up the new computer, and I have to log out of the main account to the other account to see it. Is there any way to make these 2 separate accounts to talk to each other?
no.
Should I just forget the initial account and use the new account even though the computer is set up through the initial account?
yes. just delete that account and use the migrated one.
Should I just find a way to start over and restore factory settings?
Friends say Migration Assistant works seemlessly but this has been anything but.

Ooops with Migration Assistant

Oh, I think I really messed up! I've spent a few days on my new Macbook Pro; I am using Parallels for the first time and I installed that, and MS Office, and Quicken. But I wanted to get all my photos and documents from the old laptop- a MacBook 10.5.8- onto the new one. So I used Migration Assistant without really knowing how... I expected to see all the old files on the new computer. Which I do, but now all the NEW stuff is gone! All the new downloads! Did they get erased?? How can I use both old and new applications on the new laptop?

Please read the warranty paperwork that came w/your computer.
You have 14 days to return the computer w/no questions asked. Plus you have 90 days of FREE phone tech support on top of your standard 1 year warranty unless you also purchased AppleCare which gives you an additional 2 years of coverage plus FREE phone support.
Strongly suggest that you take FULL advantage of the above before it runs out. Let Apple deal w/the problems.

Stumped! Migration Assistant won't work - need to setup new mac asap!

OK, I've been trying to transfer files from my iMac to my Macbook for three days - no luck.
I did a wipe and install on the macbook first. But then Migration Assistant wouldn't work b/c it said the machine i was transferring do had an older OS than the iMac. SO, I reinstalled Leopard on the iMac - but now All my files are in the "Previous Systems" Folder - so when I try to use Migration Assistant - it calculates my transfer files at 0 KB.
Same thing happens when I try it from my latest Time Machine Back up.
I've tried migration assistant with firewire, ethernet and Time Machine. etc, but no luck.
Now, I'm just copying all my files over - but I NEED to have all my mail msgs and applications transferred!
Any suggestions I feel like I've tried everything - I've read many many articles here but I'm getting frustrated and tired.
thanks in advance!
http://discussions.apple.com/profile.jspa?userID=262360

scarchord wrote:
OK, I've been trying to transfer files from my iMac to my Macbook for three days - no luck.
I did a wipe and install on the macbook first. But then Migration Assistant wouldn't work b/c it said the machine i was transferring do had an older OS than the iMac. SO, I reinstalled Leopard on the iMac - but now All my files are in the "Previous Systems" Folder - so when I try to use Migration Assistant - it calculates my transfer files at 0 KB.
Same thing happens when I try it from my latest Time Machine Back up.
What version of OSX is that backup?
And what version is on your MacBook?
It sounds like the iMac and/or backups are on Snow Leopard, and the MacBook is on Leopard. If so, you can't transfer from a newer "major" version of OSX to an older one (but you can transfer from, say, 10.6.6 to 10.6.4, although some Apple apps may not be happy with older versions of their data files).
If the backups are Snow Leopard, update the MacBook to Snow Leopard and do the transfer from the backups, either via +Setup Assistant+ or +Migration Assistant.+ See [Setting up a new Mac from an old one or its backups|http://web.me.com/pondini/AppleTips/Setup.html] (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of the +Snow Leopard > Installation and Setup+ forum).
The other article is for transferring from a PPC Mac to Leopard or early versions of Snow Leopard.

Migration assistant without firewire

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