HT3231: Migration Assistant tips and tricks

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OntarioKaren

Q: I ended up having to create a new user name because the migration assistant wouldn't let me put the data back onto my original user name.  I now have to log into the new user name to see all my data, apps, photographs etc. What went wrong?

I have a Mac that was part of the recall involved with the faulty Seagate hard drives.  The folks at the Apple Store near me changed the hard drive early December, 2012. I had my data, etc. all backed up on a portable hard drive.  When the Mac was returned with the new hard drive, I used the Migration Assistant to bring everything back over. Trouble was, it wouldn't let me bring it over to my original user name.  I was forced to create a new user name that became the place where everything was restored.  I can't see any data on my old user name, just the basics.  Everything is on the new user name but I wish I didn't have it (just want everything back the way it was originally).  Any suggestions?

iMac (21.5-inch Late 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Dec 29, 2012 10:11 AM

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Q: I ended up having to create a new user name because the migration assistant wouldn't let me put the data back onto my original use ... more

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  • by steve626,

    steve626 steve626 Dec 29, 2012 12:40 PM in response to OntarioKaren
    Level 4 (1,551 points)
    Dec 29, 2012 12:40 PM in response to OntarioKaren

    Probably the cleanest thing to do is to erase and freshly install the operating system on the new drive. Then, on the first boot up, don't create a new user, instead select the option in Setup Assistant to immediately bring things over from your backup, which you must connect via USB or firewire. Setup Assistant will then recretae your old user to look just like it used to.

     

    Before doing this, make sure you realize you will lose everything on the new drive by erasing it, and make sure your backup is still viable.

  • by baltwo,

    baltwo baltwo Dec 29, 2012 1:51 PM in response to steve626
    Level 9 (62,256 points)
    Dec 29, 2012 1:51 PM in response to steve626

    Sound advice. Details in Pondini's Setup New Mac guide. An alternative is to boot with the ext HD backup/clone and restore it to the HD.