Migration Assistant won't connect to TM backup disk

Replaced 'drowned' MacBook Pro with a new one. The old one was using Time Machine to back up onto a partition of a LaCie hard drive plugged into the USB port of an Airport Extreme. Backups appeared to be fine (both on the partition involved here and the other partition on the La Cie which backed up another MacBook Pro), although no prior attempt to restore.
New MBPro arrives (this morning), is connected to the local network (ethernet) and during initial setup I try to transfer from the TM backup of the drowned predecessor. The partition appears as a TM backup disk, I click on Connect, am prompted for and give the partition password (set up through Airport Utility on a network Mac Pro), and the display screen indicates "Connecting". After 40 minutes w/o visible progress (LaCie hard drive display light shows no R/W activity), I switch selection to have no initial transfer. Register machine using same user name, AppleID and password as on 'drowned' MBP, run software update, and then Disk Utiility (repair permissions).
I then open Migration Assistant and attempt to transfer from TM backup disk (partition) again. Again the partition is recognized as a TM disk, again I am prompted for partition password, again the password is given and apparent accepted, again the display indicates "Connecting", and again after 45 minutes there is no status change.
I disconnect the MBP from the network (ethernet), disconnect the LaCie hard drive from the Airport Extreme and plug the LaCie directly into the USB port on the new MBP, open Migration Assistant, and while the Finder shows (both) partitions as hard drives, Migration Assistant does not recognize (either of) them as TM backup disks.
If it makes any difference TM on the new MBP is prompting me to select a backup disk and I have been clicking on Decide Later for fear I would overwrite the backup I need to restore from.
HELP! (and thanks in advance)

It sounds like the backups are corrupted. Try reparing the, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting.
If that fixes them, and they're recognized by your Mac, your best bet is to start over, and use Setup Assistant. See How do I set up a new Mac from my old Mac or its backups?, and note the green "Second Chance" box there.

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Migration Assistant won't connect to Time Capsule

I just got my MacBook Pro back from the Apple Store after repairs were done. The hard disk was wiped with Snow Leopard reinstalled. I had run backups to a Time Capsule, but did not reload all my data during the initial startup, thinking I would use Migration Assistant later.
Now I'm trying to use MA, but it won't connect to my Time Capsule. The first times I tried it over WIFI, but it seemed to hang when the percentages were being calculated for the various categories of data. Now I'm trying with an ethernet connection, and MA seems to hang when its connecting.
Does anyone have any ideas of how I can recover my data and install it again on my MBP?
Was thinking of updating to Mavericks while I was at it, but should I fix the backup problem first?
Thanks for any ideas,
Jon

I read somewhere else that I should not try to backup my new installation to TC because of the risk it will affect my previous store on it.
When I loaded Mountain Lion and later Mavericks, I continued to use the same backup with no problems.
TC does not appear in the list of drives. Is that a problem?
Ignore the Disk Utility idea. My brain wasn't working right. Network attached storage won't show up in Disk Utility.
Will the computer back up to the Time Capsule? If so, it could be Migration Assistant that isn't working correctly.
See A5.
Time Machine Troubleshooting

Migration Assistant won't recognize Time Machine Backup

I recenly got my old thunderbolt-less macbook pro back from a repair and I can't seem to resotre my data. My external drive it reconized in finder, but not in Migration Assistant. I have updated to the newest OS and still nothing. I was tunning mavrics before the repair so this should be working right? Thanks for any help you can offer.

A possible reason for backups not to be available in Migration Assistant is that the computer doesn't have a name, or the name is corrupt. Open the Sharing preference pane and check the name. If you can't do that, reset the PRAM. Credit to ASC member Csnote for this observation.
Most likely, some folders were excluded from your backups as the result of a failed or aborted software installation.
Starting from a clean installation of OS X, set up a new administrator account and log in. Enter Time Machine and press the key combination shift-command-C. The front window will show all mounted volumes. All snapshots should now be accessible.* Select the one you want and navigate to your home folder (in the Users folder at the top level of the old startup volume.)
You should now be able to restore your user data. I suggest you do this in two stages. Quit all applications except the Finder before you begin.
Restore all the visible items at the top level of your home folder.
Hold down the option key and select Go ▹ Library from the Finder menu bar. Enter Time Machine and restore all items in the Library folder. Log out and log back in as soon as the restore is complete.
Any other invisible folders or files at the top level of your home folder that you want to preserve will have to be restored separately. For most users, that isn't necessary.
You'll have to reinstall all third-party applications from scratch, or restore them from another kind of backup, if you have one.
You'll have another problem if this is a new computer, or if you erased the startup volume: The next time you back up, Time Machine won't recognize any files as being the same as they were before, and will make a full copy of all files. There might not be enough space on one or more of your backup volumes for that. There are different ways of dealing with that situation, depending on your needs. The easiest way is to set your backup drives aside, if possible, until you're sure you'll no longer need the data on them, then erase them and start over. Meanwhile start a new backup on one or more empty storage devices. If that solution isn't workable for you, ask for instructions.
*If you don't see any snapshots in Time Machine, exit the time-travel view and then hold down the option key while selecting
Browse Other Backup Disks...
from the Time Machine menu, which has an icon that looks like a clock running backwards. Select the backups of your computer by its previous name. If you don't have the Time Machine menu, open the Time Machine preference pane in System Preferences and check the box marked
Show Time Machine in menu bar

Migration assistant won't connect to pc?

Hi, i've just unpacked my new macbook air and i'm regretting it already. In the setup i'm told to connect to my pc. I've downloaded the migration assistant from apple and they can't find each other. there are no ports on the air to connect to the pc. Someone else has suggested buying a ethernet usb cable, is this the pnly way round it?
Frustrated Jan

connect both comptuers to your wifi network and follow all these instructions
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4796

Migration Assistant won't connect to other macbook!!!

I just purchased a new Macbook. I wanted to use the migration assistant to transfer info from my older macbook to the new one. I've been working on it for hours and I cannot get my new one to recognize the old one. I start the old one in Target Disk Mode, but the new one will not recognize it. I even bought a different firewire cable thinking that was the problem, but nothing. I'm so FRUSTRATED!!!
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-Caleb

I don't think that it's migration assistant. Because when I start the old computer in Target Disk mode, I can't even get the other cmputer to recognize it on the desktop. I've tried restarting and unplugging the cables and doing it again. I've even tried using the new computer in target disk mode but the old one won't recognize it. Also. both macs are running OS 10.4.9. they are the same computer, one just has the faster processor.

Migration Assistant Won't Connect - Firewire Symbol never appears

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Help?

Restart the G4 into OS X, System Preferences->Startup Disk->ensure that the OS X volume is selected, restart holding down the T key. If that doesn't do it, open up the G4, disconnect the OS 9 disk, and try again. If still no go, change the OS X disk's jumpers to master, and try again.

Windows migration assistant won't go passed the first screen. Connecting hp files to new Mac mini with Ethernet cable. Also tried USB

Windows migration assistant won't go passed the first screen. Connecting hp files to new Mac mini with Ethernet cable. Also tried USB

Are you following these instructions?
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4796
Have yo tired by connecting both to same network vice direct ethernet connection?
There is no direct USB connection

Migration assistant doesn't connect

We're trying to migrate from a G5 imac to a new 24" imac, and even though we can boot the old imac into target mode and get the firewire logo, the new imac never "sees" the disk and migration assistant won't start.
Tried 2 different cables.
Ideas?

Is this a first generation G5 with an ATA drive (not SATA) in which you've replaced the drive?
I did a search of Apple's knowledge base and was not able to find a tech article addressing this sort of problem except when using 10.2.x which would not apply to your problem since you are using Tiger and Leopard.
All I could suggest at this point is to try another method for transferring your data as opposed to migrating your entire home folder.
1. If you have a home network you could use Ethernet and file sharing to transfer your data.
2. Use TDM but instead boot the new computer into TDM and access it from the G5's Desktop. You can transfer files and folders manually rather than use Migration Assistant.
3. If you don't have a home network you can connect the two computers directly by Ethernet cable and use file sharing to transfer your data.
Select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "file sharing" to see what you need to do to enable it.
See the following re: manual transfer:
Folders You Can Move to Your new Mac
From the Home folder copy the contents of Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, and Sites.
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)
/Home /Library/Calendars (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
For FireFox:
/Home/Library/Applications Support/FireFox
/Home/Library/Preferences/org.mozilla.firefox.plist
Credit goes Macjack for this information.

Migration Assistant doesn't restore to latest backup

Hello,
I just initialised my internal HD. I then restored from my Time Machine backup. The fact is that it restored from an April backup while I actually performed a backup yesterday and browsing TM via the "Star Wars" interface shows files I added yesterday as expected.
Is there a way to restore my MBPro from where I left before initialization without having to manually seek for every file changed in the last month?
thanks
Stefano

grillotitubante wrote:
A full restoration from Time Machine is only possible from last completed backup,
Not so. You can do a full restore from any backup (as long as System files weren't excluded), per the sample in my previous post.
It's Setup Assistant and Migration Assistant that automatically use the most recent backup.
Now, my hypothesis is that Setup Assistant can't see my latest backup because it has a later version of OS X on it, is it correct?
No. While you can't go "backwards" from a newer "Major" version of OSX to an older one (such as Mountain Lion to Lion), you can use a 10.8.3 backup with Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant running on 10.8.2. (But you should upgrade to 10.8.3 ASAP.)
What do you mean by it "can't see" the backup? Where is it -- on a Time Capsule, or external HD? Is it encrypted? Does nothing appear, or does it look like your internal HD? (If it looks like your internal HD, but has a green or yellow icon, that's actually your backups). Post a screenshot if in doubt.
And Migration Assistant won't let me restore the users from a backup of the same machine it is on?
Yes, it will. But if a user account has exactly the same name as one already on the Mac, it will make you rename one.
I saw the image you posted but it showed complete backups only and I need a more recent one.
EVERY Time Machine backup is, in effect, a full one. "Complete" on that window means OSX was included. If you don't back up System files, you can't restore OSX.

HT3263 I am trying to transfer files from my MacBook Pro (using Mac OSX 10.6.8) to MacBook Air (Mac OSX 10.7.4) using Migration Assist via WiFi connection. The two macs cannot find each other. any suggestions

I am trying to transfer files from my MacBook Pro (using Mac OSX 10.6.8) to MacBook Air (Mac OSX 10.7.4) using Migration Assist via WiFi connection. The two macs cannot find each other. any suggestions

Try this article - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889.
If it doesn't help, post back in this thread.
Best of luck,
Clinton

Attempting to use Migration Assistant to restore a Time Capsule backup to a mounted partitioned drive?

Had a power surge and my Mac Pro did not fare well. Was able to boot from one of the drives in read only mode, so I did a Time Capsule backup of everything on the drive. Reinstalled Mountain Lion. Booted the computer up and am trying to use Migration Assistant to take the Time Capsule backup and restore it to the 1TB drive. When I use Migration Assistant, it says that there is not enough space on the drive to do the restore. I looked in Disk Utility and saw that the start up disk is another one of the 1TB drives with about 600GB used, therefore not enough space to do the restore. I want to restore to the original drive, but it says it is a "Mounted Partitioned Drive". Can I use Migration Assistant to restore a Time Capsule backup to this mounted partitioned drive?
Thanks in advance for any help - greatly appreciated.

I am not sure, never had to go there, I have multiple bootable clones of the system online and off, and a couple 1500VA/900W UPS units powering everything.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1427
http://www.recovermymac.co.uk/data-recovery/time-capsule-data-recovery/
This is a great article:
http://pondini.org/OSX/SetupLion.html
Most questions about TimeCapsule and TimeMachine are under Mac OS X forum as in -
https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/os_x_mountain_lion#/?tagSet=1468

I am trying to transfer files from MacBook Pro to new MacBook air using Migration assistant via WiFi connection - the two computers can't seem to find each other

I am trying to transfer files from MacBook Pro to new MacBook air using Migration assistant via WiFi connection - the two computers can't seem to find each other.
Any ideas?
Barry

Try this article - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889.
If it doesn't help, post back in this thread.
Best of luck,
Clinton

Migration Assistant won't see external hard drive

I have just done a clean install of Leopard onto my MacBook Pro, previously running Tiger. Now, I want to migrate my old user and programs from a backed up volume on an external firewire hard drive. The problem is that Migration Assistant won't recognize my external hard drive.
I have no other problem mounting or reading the external hard drive from leopard.
Could the problem be that the external drive has the Apple partition map instead of GUID as reported here? http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1329665
Any suggestion, solutions or work arounds are gratefully appreciated.

That isn't a valid link to your picture (it's a link to the file on your computer). You would need to post it to a serve (and remove the spaces in the name) and post that link here.
However it would appear that your short name is 'dalechristiansen' so presumably you originally created a user with that short name and your full name as.. the full name (unless it was just 'Dale'. Whatever you did before when you created your account is what you should do now. Then you can copy the equivalent folder's contents. (You might have problems replacing some of the root level folders, in which case you shuld copy their contents into the equivalent folders).

Migration assistant does not recognize time machine backup

Hi Guru,
I made a time machine backup today, 10.8.2, then made full reinstall of system in Apple store, in Berkeley, because my iMac experinced some unstability.
we installed new Mac OS, and now I face a problem: migration assistant does not recognize hard disk with buckup.
Finder sees this disk, it has Backups folder.
OS: 10.8.2
BackUp made: Time Machine 10.8.2
Hard Disk: Lacie 500MB
any ideas?
Thank you

I am conserned about restoring using setup assistant because I need to transfer personal files and applications only.
You can do that in Setup Assistant.
Migration Assistant doesn't accept Time Machine backups of the computer it's running on; it only accepts compatible backups of other computers. You can't migrate a system to itself. To restore files from the same computer, enter Time Machine in the usual way, or else boot into Recovery and either restore the whole startup volume or erase, reinstall OS X, and restore in Setup Assistant.

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I have an external fire wire drive with a TM sparse image but Migration Assistant can't seem to locate the disk. All I get is the spinning wheel.

That isn't a valid link to your picture (it's a link to the file on your computer). You would need to post it to a serve (and remove the spaces in the name) and post that link here.
However it would appear that your short name is 'dalechristiansen' so presumably you originally created a user with that short name and your full name as.. the full name (unless it was just 'Dale'. Whatever you did before when you created your account is what you should do now. Then you can copy the equivalent folder's contents. (You might have problems replacing some of the root level folders, in which case you shuld copy their contents into the equivalent folders).

Migration Assistant won't connect to TM backup disk

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