Transferring Mail from one computer to another

I have an iMac. I bought a MacBook and did the whole thing with the ethernet cable, copying my iMac to my MacBook, so that the two machines were pretty much identical.
Then I used the MacBook exclusively for 4 months (was traveling). Now I am going back to the iMac, and I want all the messages I received on the MacBook to be on the iMac.
Since they started out as identical, am I correct in thinking that I can replace the mail on the iMac with that of the MacBook? That way, it will contain all the emails and contacts from the last four months, in addition to what was already there.
I found this post:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=12010148&#12010148
is that the way to go about it?

Did you copy the entire /Home/Library/Mail/ folder and the /Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist file?
You must first quit Mail before the transfer. What type of mail account do you have - POP or IMAP? The latter may take some time to first fetch the server-based mailboxes then transfer message headers. Sometimes this takes opening Mail then see if it reconstructs everything then quitting and reopening so it connects properly with the server-based mailboxes.
Or you may find your Inbox is inside another set of mailboxes listed in the sidebar.

Similar Messages

Mail from one computer to another

Hi;
How do I move mail messages from one computer to another? Both are on 10.8.2? I thought I did it before by copying the Mail Folder (in the Libray Folder) from one machine to the other. But I can't seem to find the Mail Folder in that location.
What am I missing?
Thanks;
Chris

Actually, not all my old messages seemed to have been transfered. Even the ones that show up on the list pane cannot load in the reading pane.
Any ideas?
Chris

Problem moving mail from one computer to another...

Hello.
I'm trying to move a specific mailbox from one computer to another computer. I'm doing this to 2 pairs of machines and with the first pair I had no issues. But, then second pair I get errors.
On the first computer I just copied the .mbox folder (which contains the sub "Messages" folder & info.plist file) from the one computer to the other. Then, in mail.app I "import" the messages via the Import option (importing mail from Mac OS X). No problem and all messages are imported.
On the second pair of computers, I did the same thing, but when I try and Import the messages onto the second machine, it says it can't find any OS X mail messages to import.
I really need to get these messages from one machine to another. "Forwarding" or "Redirecting" all the messages from one machine to another isn't an option.
Can anyone suggest what might be wrong, or another way of migrating the single folder of messages (not the entire account) from one machine to another?
Thanks,
Kristin.

Hi Kristin,
I stay away from mbox files because it has never worked for me, but I may have a solution. This may not be THE award winning answer, but you could consider it when the other options don't work:
I assume you want to import a mailbox that is NOT part of an IMAP account, because otherwise you would not have this problem (right?) (otherwise just open that IMAP account on the computer you want the messages on).
But if you have an IMAP account, besides the POP account that contains the mailbox in question, you can use that account to fix your problem:
Go to the compu that has the desired mailbox, make a new folder in the IMAP account called 'backup' or whatever. Copy all messages from the desired mailbox to that new IMAP folder (depending on size this may take a while, because you are uploading via your internet connection). Now go to the other compu, make a new 'local folder' in mail.app. Open the IMAP account in mail.app and open the 'back up folder'. Now copy all messages to the new, local folder.
If you don't have an IMAP account, you can always open a free one with gmail.
I know, it's not very elegant, but this will work guaranteed.
Good luck,
Feddeg

Transfering songs from one computer onto another...

My Brother has an ipod mini (as I used to) but our computer is so old that it can only hold one ipod (Therefore, I returned my ipod so he could use his). However, several months after I returned mine we bought two new computers, but still kept the old computer. After this I bought an ipod nano and have been using it on my new computer. Although we are glad that we can both use our ipods efficiently (on seperate computers) he is afraid that the old computer might crash soon. I tried putting his ipod into disk mode and tried transferring it to his [new] computer over a month ago, but it was too confusing and did not work correctly. Is there any possible way to transfer it without the directions being so confusing? Or could someone kind of "Translate" the directions for us?
<center>Thank you so much,
<center>pnkpolo92

How to Copy and Move (Clone) your Music Files from One Computer to Another – or Archive Prior to a PC Re-Image or Reformat
This is the conceptual framework with related and important links. Apply and adapt it to your specific situation and equipment resources.
The safest, quickest, and most optimal method to move your Library to a new computer is to actually clone the entire ‘iTunes’ folder (directory) structure, rather than just copying just the song files. By copying the entire ‘iTunes’ folder and all sub-folders, you capture not only the music files, but the all-important ‘iTunes Library.itl’ database file (usually located in the ‘iTunes’ folder), which contains all the data about your songs (Playlists, Ratings, Play Counts, Last Played, Date Added, etc). See: What are the iTunes Library files?
Install iTunes on the new computer. Then go back to your old computer and move (copy) the "iTunes" folder which usually resides inside your "…\My Documents\My Music" folder from the old computer to the exact same place (both Drive Letter and complete Path) on the new computer. When you open iTunes on the new computer it will look and behave exactly the same way it did on the old, Play Counts, Ratings, Comments and all!
NOTE: It is usually safer moving files between computers with the same version of iTunes!!
iTunes Files to Copy and Move to your New PC
1) All music files in their current folder structure (usually located in and under the ‘iTunes Music’ folder)
2) The Library database file: ‘iTunes Library.itl’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
3) The Library XML file: ‘iTunes Music Library.xml’ located in the ‘iTunes’ folder
4) Any XML playlist files you created for Playlist retention
5) The two iTunes.pref files (optional)
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Application Data\Apple Computer\iTunes\iTunes.pref
-- C:\Documents and Settings\<your username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Apple Computer Inc\iTunes.pref
6) The XML file of Ratings, Play Counts and Last Played attributes saved from the main Library and created by Otto’s SaveRatings script (also optional, but recommended):
“Download this: http://ottodestruct.com/itunes/SaveRatings.zip . It's a program, just run it like any other program. Run it on the machine where you're copying the info from BEFORE you move the files to the new machine. Click the "Save Ratings" button and it'll create a ratings.xml file. Now when you move the files, move the program and this file as well. Then after you make your new iTunes library, run it again and click the "Restore Ratings" button. Voila, all your information is back in the Library. Well, most of it anyway, it's not perfect. It'll tell you what songs it couldn't figure out though, and there's usually not very many.”
Here's a list of methods to copy and move your music files from one computer to another:
1) Use an External Hard Drive (ExHD) to move the complete files and Folder structures from one computer to another (my preferred option). You can clone’ the entire ‘iTunes’ folder structure in one very easy step. Also great to have available for complete backups of your Library. External hard drives now run less than $100 for 200-250GBs of storage. See This Link
2) Directly connect the two computers....
- 2a) Connect them through a Router &/or Network
- 2b) Directly connect using an Ethernet cable: Straight for using at least one Mac; or Crossover for PC/PC Instructions here.
- 2c) Connect them via a USB-to-USB Network Bridge. Example here. There are various types out there (use Google).
....Then copy the files from one computer to the other.
3) Use the iPod as a transfer device, as this extensive Apple link explains. It will be a bit easier if your iPod has a larger capacity than your music collection, otherwise you will need to perform multiple copy/move transfers. This well written process also works fine while using any other data transfer medium (ExHD, Flash Drive, DVD, CD, Zipp, Jazz, etc.).
4) Burn several DVDs (at 4.7GBs each) with your music data files and folder structure, and load them onto the new computer. Re-writable DVDs are more cost effective (if your DVD drive can manage these types).
5) Burn 6x more on CDs (at 700MB each) than in #4 above and load the files and folders on the new computer. Re-writable CDs are more cost effective (if your CD drive can manage these types).
6) Use a larger USB Flash drive (1GB - 4GB) to move the files and folders. Best if the flash drive is larger than your Library, otherwise you will need multiple copy/move transfers.
These are links to various additional instructions on performing the transfer (read them all, but some listed steps may not be required depending on your specific situation):
Switch from PC to Mac Using the iPod
hudgie: Migrating iTunes for Windows to a new PC
How to copy music between authorized computers
Also, remember to Deauthorize your PC before reformatting or disposing of it. Or, if you no longer will use it for iTMS use.

Transferring iPod from one computer to another

I just got a new laptop and it will only let me transfer my purchases to it. How do I move my entire iTunes library from one computer to another, easily?

Click here and follow the instructions if possible.
(52033)

Transferring EVERYTHING from one computer to another w/ same source

I want to transfer all my iTunes files (playlists, music, play counts, everything) from one computer to another, on account of the logic board of my old one is messed up and I want to get everything on my Mac Book Pro.
HOWEVER.
When I was using my old computer, I had my iTunes folder on an external hard drive, which would then be the source of all the music and where the new music would automatically go. So I have the external hard drive, and I can't save the playlists from my old computer because I can't use it.
So how do I transfer all the information? I've tried doing the whole "delete iTunes Data, import XML file" thing and it says it doesn't detect certain music and therefore doesn't place everything where it needs to be.
Any help?

Well the way to work around it I think would be to remove the hard drive from your broken computer, assuming of course that your broken computer is broken because of something else besides the hard drive.
Put that drive into an external enclosure. Hook up to the new computer. Copy the iTunes stuff from the old drive into the new computer overwriting the existing database files on the internal.
Now with the other external hooked up, start iTunes and see if it then sees everything properly.
Patrick

Transferring music from one computer to another

I'm transferring my music off of one computer to another using my new 30G ipod - and have followed instructions online - my ipod has been doign something and is saying do not disconnect for about over an hour - does anyone know if that is normal when making your ipod a hard drive? Thanks.

Your iPod has disk use enabled, so you must eject it otherwise that message will continue to appear.
You can do this by clicking on the little eject icon next to the iPod listing in the source window of iTunes, or right click on it and select “eject”. There is also an iPod 'eject' icon in the lower right hand corner of iTunes. Another way would be to use the “safely remove hardware” icon in the system tray next to the clock (looks like a grey rectangle with a green arrow above it). Click on this then select your iPod. Or through Windows, select start/my computer, right click on the iPod, select eject.

Transferring mail from one account to another

I have a mobileme account and I did use that for mail, I then switched to a personal domain and copied my mail over using the mail app, just dragged and dropped from one mail box to another.
Now I want to put the mail back in mobile me, (storage issues), but for some reason certain emails give me this message The IMAP command “APPEND” (to INBOX) failed with server error: Message contains invalid header. This stop me form just selecting all and dragging back to mobile me
They are both IMAP accounts and there is heaps of space on the mobile me account
Any clues?

Another option is to sign up for Verizon Your Domain via www.keepmyemail.com - This service is ~20/year and should allow you to keep your email addresses as long as you link them to it before cancelling your account.
If a forum member gives an answer you like, give them the Kudos they deserve. If a member gives you the answer to your question, mark the answer as Accepted Solution so others can see the solution to the problem.
"All knowledge is worth having."

Transferring songs from one computer to another without erasing anything

I've read everything here that pertains and don't see my exact problem. I did not realize when I got this iPod the problems involved in using more than one computer, and as a result, I have songs on three computers that I'd like to get into my iPod without erasing what's already there, and without erasing what is in my iTunes library on each computer.
Last night I tried copying the folders/songs I wanted onto an external drive, then copying them to the second computer. I did this in Windows Explorer on both ends, by finding the correct My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music file in each computer. I wasn't sure how to move those songs into the second Library, so I chose "add folder" or "add file" from the File menu. It seemed to work beautifully, the songs played, so I plugged the iPod in and it showed that it updated fine. Problem? The songs are not showing up on the iPod itself. Obviously I'm missing a step or two or have done it incorrectly.
If someone could please point me to a step-by-step process for this, I would greatly appreciate it. The only step-by-step explanations I've found here are the ones for putting files on a new computer that doesn't have any songs, by moving the whole My Documents\My Music\iTunes\iTunes Music file, and I believe that would erase what is already on the second computer, isn't that right?
Thanks in advance for any help.

What I meant was that after I get all the music on the iPod and one computer, then I'll use that computer for updating and purchasing new music, keeping it as "automatic,"
Ok, yes that would work.
Here's how to use your iPod to transfer music to another computer.
Once you have all your music on one iTunes library, then you can set it to Auto update.
and only use the other computers for listening without updating.
I'm not too sure on this part. You might be able to play music directly from your iPod when its connected to one of these machines. I've never tried this.
If you're expecting your iPod to sync music back to your iTunes library to play directly from iTunes... then no, that won't work.
Good luck!

Transferring Mail from one Mac to another via Screen Sharing

Hi,
I live in California. My Mother lives in Montreal. She has to computers. A Mac Mini and new MacBook.
What I want to do is transfer her Mail from the Mac Mini to the MacBook via Screen Sharing or Remote Management. In other words, I want to do this from my computer.
How does one go about this? What somewhere is needed to make it all work?
Thanks in advance.

you can't screen share between 3 computers. but you can between two. the easiest way is via ichat. users need to log into ichat on both computers and then you can send a request to share screen via ichat. it's also possible to do it without ichat but that might be more difficult that your mother can manage if she is not too computer savvy which I suspect is the case here. first she has to enable screen sharing in her system preferences->sharing. that's easy. but if she has a router (does she) then she need to port forward port public port 5900 on the router to the port 5900 on her computer so that you can get through the router when trying to screen share from outside. particular instructions on port forwarding depend on the router model. once the port is forwarded you can vnc to here computer from where you are by going to go menu-.connect to server in finder. then in the popup enter
vnc://ip.address
where the ip.address is the ip address of her router. she can find it out by going to this website for example
http://www.whatismyip.com/
but all in all, it's much easier with ichat as no port forwarding is required.

Help transferring data from one computer to another

My aunt uses Palm Desktop as her calendar but does not have a palm pda or phone.
Her computer at home recently died but she was able to get the palm installation folder from the old hard drive.
She has Palm Desktop installed at work but the information in it is totally different than what she had at home. She wants to import the data from her home installation into the installation she has at work.
It used to be really easy to transfer settings from one Palm installation to another. Side note: My wife has a Palm Treo 650 and I recently formatted her computer and tried to copy her old installation folder from a backup to the new install directory. Well, it didn't work like it used to. I don't know if the software has changed or what. But, she didn't get everything. It's been a while, I can't remember if she didn't get ANY of it, or just some. I remember at one point it only showed her contacts for A-M...N-Z were just plain gone. Really strange.
But, back on topic, I tried creating a new user in Palm Desktop and then copy the files under her old username folder to the new username folder in the Palm install directory. But, Palm Desktop doesn't show anything for the new username.
How should I go about doing this for her?
Thanks!
Post relates to: Treo 650 (Alltel)

The user on her home install was also Trisha. So, I created a new user on the work computer, "Trisha2". Then I closed Palm and copied the contents of her backed-up Trisha user folder from home into the new Trisha2 folder on the work install. Then I started Palm and flipped to the Trisha2 user. Nothing showed up. So, I've pretty much done the exact process from the link already. Which is exactly the way I thought it should work and have had it work in the past.
I'll try it again without using numbers in the username and see what happens.
Thanks!
Post relates to: Treo 650 (Alltel)

Transferring itunes from one computer to another - D drive to C drive

Is there an easy way to change the drive location in iTunes for stored music and videos? I am getting a new computer, and my current data resides on a "D:" drive. The new computer will just have a single "C:" drive partition. I don't want iTunes to reorganize my files from their current folders. The only thing I want to change is the drive letter designation. Thanks!

backup from old computer and restore to new either to icloud or an external drive also check out turingtest2's excellent article on backup using synctoy

Change some mail from one computer to anothe

I hope that some one can help this old man (81) I am trying to send some mail (inbox) from my G4 QuickSilver 2002 (OS X 4..1 to my lap top G4 PowerBook 17" OS X 4.1.1 and still keep what mail I have on the PowerBook, than send what I am missing from the PowerBook to the QuickSilver 2002.
I have gone into the ~/Library/mail on both computers but am unable to find any that mach up with what I have on either computers, have also looked in Root/library/mail and no luck there.
The reason I need this is that I will be bedridden soon and I have a hook up from the QuickSilver to my PowerBook
I hope that I haven't confuse any one wirh the above information.
Thank for you for all your time and trouble and have a good day, Any day I wake up and see the sun is a good day for me.

Hi Norbert, sorry to hear about the "bedridden", I hope it's temporary!
Make a copy of this folder on each computer, then transfer to the other one...
~/Library/Mail
Ten in Mail>File>Import>from Mail for OSX, click continue, then select that whole Mail copy folder, click choose, give it a bit and it should show you all your Mailboxes to choose which you want to import.

Transferring iTunes from One Computer to Another

I have a laptop (Thinkpad, Windows 2000) issued through work that has my iTunes program and all my songs loaded onto it. I'm leaving this current job and have to turn in my laptop. I understand how to transfer all my songs to removable media, I've already done that. My main question is: how do I load the iTunes program itself onto the new computer? Do I have to re-download the iTunes CD I received with the iPod purchase 2 years ago; or, do I have to go the Apple website and download the iTunes program from there? I assume once I do that I can then re-load the music onto my new computer. Please advise. Thanks! AK

Alison,
Download the iTunes program from the Apple site and install it on the new PC. Then copy the music files to the same exact spot they were in the old PC. If you have also made a copy of the 'iTunes Library.itl' file (found in the 'iTunes' folder), copy that file in place of the one just created by the new iTunes.
You complete Library will be 'cloned' from on PC to the other: playlists, ratings, and other attributes.
If you have not made a copy of the original ITL file on your current PC, do so now.

Transfering Files from one computer to another over the internet using ftp

I am not sure if this is the right section to post this question but i wanted to know if it was possible to use the mac ftp file sharing to transfer a file from a friends computer to mine. He is not on my network we were hoping to transfer the file over the internet the file is quite larger about 2gb. Can any one help me in telling me a way that i could do this thanks.

Enable FTP in Preferences on the target machine.
You will need the IP address...
You can find it by going here
http://whatismyip.com/
This may be a problem if the target machine is behind a router.
If all goes well... Go to Connect to Server.. and enter
ftp://ipaddress
OR
If you want to send a large file then you can check this out...
www.yousendit.com/

Transferring Mail from one computer to another

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