Q: Did Migration Assistant delete my files?

Question

Chocolateprophet

Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Did Migration Assistant delete my files?

Hi there,

I just got a new hard drive installed on my MacBook Pro (late 2011 model) because the last drive was damaged. I just used Migration Assistant to restore my data. Unfortunately, for some reason everything but my "Documents" folder transferred AND the Documents folder is now empty on my external backup drive. Should I be panicking? I don't remember it asking me if I wanted to delete any files at all.

iBook, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Oct 13, 2015 6:22 PM

I have this question too

Solved

Kappy

Level 10 (270,334 points)

Desktops

A:

Nothing to do with MA. Your Documents folder was empty on the backup.

Posted on Oct 15, 2015 7:25 AM

Q: Did Migration Assistant delete my files?

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by Grant Bennet-Alder,

Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 13, 2015 6:47 PM in response to Chocolateprophet
Level 9 (60,719 points)

Desktops

Oct 13, 2015 6:47 PM in response to Chocolateprophet

The Mac is inherently a Multi-User system. System files are kept in completely different directories from User files. User files are kept separated by User, and protected from Users other than the owner. You can not just dump files onto a Mac and expect they will be accessible once you log on.

If you set up a new account, then added files, the files may have been added to a different account, and be protected from you.

Are there multiple Accounts now? do you know, for sure, what each account has for files?
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by Chocolateprophet,

Chocolateprophet Oct 15, 2015 7:25 AM in response to Kappy
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Oct 15, 2015 7:25 AM in response to Kappy

Sadly as it turns out you are correct. I sent to my preferences in Time Machine and saw that I'd had a massive brain cramp and excluded my documents folder. Fantastic.
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by Chocolateprophet,

Chocolateprophet Oct 15, 2015 7:26 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
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Oct 15, 2015 7:26 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thanks for replying but as it turns out Kappy was right. I had the worst brain cramp anyone could have when backing up data and actually excluded my documents folder in Time Machine preferences.
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by Grant Bennet-Alder,

Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 15, 2015 8:48 AM in response to Chocolateprophet
Level 9 (60,719 points)

Desktops

Oct 15, 2015 8:48 AM in response to Chocolateprophet

Did you literally exclude only the "documents" folder?

Mail messages are stored in the ~/Library/Mail folder (where ~ is an active abbreviation for "this user".
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by Chocolateprophet,

Chocolateprophet Oct 15, 2015 10:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder
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Oct 15, 2015 10:44 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I did and I honestly have no idea what I was thinking. I started using Time Machine because I'd lost a few months worth of data and wanted to prevent it ever happening again. Ironic.
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Accepted Answer · Oct 15, 2015 7:25 AM

Kappy

Level 10 (270,334 points)

Desktops

Oct 15, 2015 7:25 AM in response to Chocolateprophet

Nothing to do with MA. Your Documents folder was empty on the backup.

HT204350: Move your content to a new Mac

Q: Did Migration Assistant delete my files?

All replies

Helpful answers

by Kappy,Solvedanswer

by Grant Bennet-Alder,

by Chocolateprophet,

by Chocolateprophet,

by Grant Bennet-Alder,

by Chocolateprophet,

HT204350: Move your content to a new Mac

Q: Did Migration Assistant delete my files?

All replies Helpful answers

by Kappy,Solvedanswer

by Grant Bennet-Alder,

by Chocolateprophet,

by Chocolateprophet,

by Grant Bennet-Alder,

by Chocolateprophet,

All replies

Helpful answers