Anmabo

Q: How to migrate data with setup assistant from Mavericks (MacBook) to El capitan (MacBookPro)

Hi,

A few days ago I purchased a refurbished MacBook Pro (El Capitan) and intended to migrate the data from my old MacBook (Mavericks) via Time Machine backup. Annoyingly, the migration assistant does not recognise the HD. It searches and searches, the wheel rotates and rotates..

Searching the web it seems to be a common problem. I also read that alternatively you can use the setup assistant to migrate all programmes and data? Can anybody help me with that and tell me how to do it? Thanks in advance!

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on May 15, 2016 9:45 AM

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Q: How to migrate data with setup assistant from Mavericks (MacBook) to El capitan (MacBookPro)

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  • Helpful answers

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack May 15, 2016 9:53 AM in response to Anmabo
    Level 9 (55,694 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 15, 2016 9:53 AM in response to Anmabo

    Yes, Setup Assistant is the way to go. But you have to use it the first time you boot your new Mac. So, if you haven't done too much on the new one, just re-format the hard drive and use Migration Assistant when you are prompted.

    Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

  • by Anmabo,Solvedanswer

    Anmabo Anmabo May 15, 2016 10:16 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    May 15, 2016 10:16 PM in response to macjack

    Thank you. I booted the new one already but haven't done or setup anything on the new one yet. Okay, I wasn't sure about re-formatting the hard drive. So by re-formatting it while connected to the new mac book pro I do not ruin the backup made with the old one?

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack May 16, 2016 7:38 AM in response to Anmabo
    Level 9 (55,694 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 16, 2016 7:38 AM in response to Anmabo

    If you booted it up but did not "do anything" then you should still be in Setup Assistant. If you are then there's no need to reformat. Just continue with Setup Assistant until you are prompted to migrate.

  • by Courcoul,Helpful

    Courcoul Jun 2, 2016 12:51 AM in response to Anmabo
    Level 6 (14,193 points)
    Jun 2, 2016 12:51 AM in response to Anmabo

    The quickest way to move the stuff across, if you have both Macs handy, is by interconnecting them and putting the old one in Target Disk Mode. Best is with a Thunderbolt cable, second best would be with a FireWire cable and I think you can do it via Ethernet. Just be sure to do a Repair Disk and Repair Disk Permissions via Disk Utility on the old one beforehand so there are no issues.

     

    Advantage is that the new Mac will recognize the old drive as a valid OS X volume and you can move over Applications (with their licensing if applicable), documents, settings and user accounts very fast.  Been there, done that, 7 times already.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack May 16, 2016 9:35 AM in response to Courcoul
    Level 9 (55,694 points)
    Mac OS X
    May 16, 2016 9:35 AM in response to Courcoul

    I believe those steps are outlined within Setup Assistant?

  • by Courcoul,

    Courcoul May 16, 2016 9:40 AM in response to macjack
    Level 6 (14,193 points)
    May 16, 2016 9:40 AM in response to macjack

    Not to such detail, remember the Mac is still being brought up and doesn't have full functionality. Plus, do you always remember to bring you TB or FW cable along whenever you meet a new Mac?

     

    Important to highlight that Target disk Mode gets you the raw original working system, not the TM digested backup. You're moving the original unmolested bits.

  • by Anmabo,

    Anmabo Anmabo Jun 2, 2016 12:55 AM in response to Courcoul
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Notebooks
    Jun 2, 2016 12:55 AM in response to Courcoul

    Thanks to all.. Yes, I used an Ethernet cable and it FINALLY just transferred all data. Still struggling with Microsoft Office. I did not know that I would have to register the package with the product key again which I do not have anymore.

    Anyway, managed to copy at least all my emails. Struggling with the calender and contacts but hope to manage that soon.. Really annoying.. it could be so easy..but if the data is not in a correct format.. :-(

    Anyway, thanks for your help!