HT204350: Move your content to a new Mac

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sophie81000
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Q: How do I access my files on my new computer I transferred over from my old one?

I used Set Up Assistant to transfer my Time Machine backup from my old computer to my new Macbook Air. I made sure the new user account and computer name on my new Mac was different than my old Mac so there were no complications (learned the hard way). Once the transfer was complete, I went to my desktop but none of my files appear. I have to go into time machine, click my old user file from my old Mac to see my documents and files. How do I get those files onto my new computer - besides copying them over manually?? 

MacBook Air (13-inch Mid 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 20, 2014 2:07 PM

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sophie81000

Q: How do I access my files on my new computer I transferred over from my old one?

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  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 20, 2014 3:59 PM in response to sophie81000
    Level 9 (50,094 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2014 3:59 PM in response to sophie81000

    Did you log in as your old user name? That's where the info from Time Machine was restored to.

  • by sophie81000,

    sophie81000 sophie81000 Apr 21, 2014 10:38 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2014 10:38 AM in response to Barney-15E

    When I was transferring over, a box popped up stating my old mac user name was going to replace the one created on my new mac. But when the transferred finished, the user account on my new mac appeared and is the only one that shows up in Users and Groups. Do I need to create another admin account with my old user name and info? I feel like I'm missing a very simple step that I am not getting. =/

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 21, 2014 2:53 PM in response to sophie81000
    Level 9 (50,094 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 21, 2014 2:53 PM in response to sophie81000

    Your two pats are conflicting. In your first you stated you had a different user name from the one you were transferring, but in the second, you indicate otherwise since it asked to replace your account. Now, I haven't used it in a while and they may have changed how it works.

    Open Macintosh HD, then open Users. See if there is a folder in there with your old user name.

  • by sophie81000,

    sophie81000 sophie81000 Apr 21, 2014 7:57 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2014 7:57 PM in response to Barney-15E

    I opened the Users folder and my old user is not listed. I even added the old user info as a new admin account and when I logged in it did not pull my stuff over. I watched a youtube video of someone transferring data over to a new mac and it worked fine for them. I'm not sure what happened. I think I'm going to have to tak a trip to the store. Thanks for your help!

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 21, 2014 8:00 PM in response to sophie81000
    Level 9 (50,094 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 21, 2014 8:00 PM in response to sophie81000

    If your username on the new Mac is not what was on your old one, run migration assistant and don't merge the accounts. You'll have to delete the new user you made that has the same name as the old Mac.

     

    However, if it is close, I'd just make an appointment with the Genius Bar.