Q: Connecting 2 computers thru Time Capsule without Internet?
I had started a question in another area (Mountain Lion) because I am trying desperately to migrate a Windows PC running Windows 7 to a new iMac. The Migration assistant on both computers does not find any computers. The Apple Care people say I am doing everything right, but now some people online are saying that I can't do this wirelessly thru Time Capsule (which we have and is the router for our office which the PC is connected to wirelessly).
The new Mac is in set up beginning mode (meaning it has not been set up wirelessly or anything yet), because on launch it offers to move the data from the PC to set up the new Mac. It is stuck "looking for a computer"
Here is the whole discussion:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/23377824#23377824
Today I went by an Apple store to ask their opinion and the guy told me that I can't connect the 2 computers via ethernet (even though that is what the Migration insturctions say to do), but he said that I shoud be able to connect each computer via ethernet to the Time Capsule and have them recognize each other.
Does this sound right to any of you???
The PC is clear across the room and no where near the internet line, so I would either have to buy a REALLY long ethernet cable to drag over to it, or take the whole computer apart to try and get it near the TC. The mac of course is no problem to move.
I just don't want to do all this if this will not really act as a network (I guess as a server of sorts).
I am confused as the TC manual says that it can be used without internet, but I don't seehow (I've tried rebooting it without a connection). I do not know why the internet is involved at all since what we need is the TC to act as a wireless router (which it is) and do not need to involve the internet at all to link the 2 computers.
I am just totally frustrated that these computers should just communicate wirelessly and/or with each other somehow and do not seem to, as Apple says they should. I know this will turn out to be something really simple and dumb and I'm just not seeing it.
Is it not possible to take the TC and reboot it with the 2 computers connected to it and create a network using the TC as a server or router without needing any internet just so I can get this stuff from the PC migrated (and then never have to deal with it again!!!!)
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)
Posted on Oct 12, 2013 3:48 PM
From what I can see online, people are saying you cannot change a User Name.
That's not entirely correct, in that the "Full name" that appears in the Login screen is easily changed in System Preferences.
What you may have read is that changing an account's "short name" - the name of your Home folder - is less easily changed, but can be done. I believe that is what you intend.
You have a couple of options; one of which is to simply migrate one of your existing User accounts on the source Mac a second time. Since an account already exists with that name, Migration Assistant will propose renaming it. You can change the name to whatever you choose, such as "Office". After MA finishes, the existing account with the identical name already migrated can be deleted at your convenience.
The other, probably faster and more attractive option is to simply change the User Name according to the following.
Apple Support Communities contributor Pondini found an astonishingly simple way to accomplish what you seek. etresoft distilled that information into the following User Tip:
Changing user account short name
It is a far better method than Apple's support article on the subject, which I will not bother linking here because it's outdated and cumbersome.
Posted on Oct 19, 2013 4:18 PM