After migration, I can't access my files, no permission

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Level 1

10 points

After migration, I can't access my files, no permission

The Migration Assistant made me rename the account from my old computer, MacBook Pro, because it was the same as the one on my new computer, new unibody Macbook. It was my name! So I changed the old account to a variation of my name and then Migration Assistant worked fine. All of my documents, files, pictures, music, etc. is now there but in a folder named (the other name) and it says I don't have permission to open the folder!! If I log out and then back in as that other name, all of my files are there and accessible, but I want them all in one place! Under one login, not two. Please is there an easy way to fix this, because I never would have used this Migration Assistant if I knew it was going to clutter up my new computer with two accounts and cause login issues. Thanks in advance....

MacBookPro, iMac G4, iMac Intel Core Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Mar 18, 2009 11:16 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 19, 2009 12:35 AM in response to koo22

Does the migrated account have admin permissions? If not you can make it so. Log into the original account of the new computer, go to System Prefs->Accounts, click the padlock and give the admin password. Select the migrated account and click the box to allow the user to administer this computer. Log out, and then log in to the migrated account. Open System Prefs->Accounts again, unlock to make changes, and click on the Login Options at the bottom of the accounts list. At the top select the account to automatically login.

If I were you I would then just use that account, and leave the one the computer came with in place. It does no harm, and it may be useful in the future. If something odd starts to happen in your migrated account, you can log into the Apple installed one and see if everything is normal there. This can help greatly troubleshooting odd little problems that crop up.
Francine

Francine
Schwieder

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Answer 2

koo22 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2009 7:03 PM in response to baltwo

Hi, thanks for the reply but I don't think that would be the easiest thing to do. You see, this computer was purchased already configured with Windows on a partition, preinstalled with Boot Camp. I imagine that they had to do that by creating an account, called "user", which was already there. "Setup Assistant" never started up as a result so I can't go back to that. Anyone else have any other ideas?

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Answer 3

koo22 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2009 8:05 PM in response to baltwo

I followed the exact instructions for Migration Assistant! And it worked, except during the process it said the account had the same name and I must rename it, so I did. I added my middle initial......The files are all there and the program worked as it should. I simply need to know how to get the files into the correct user folder. I will look at all those links you posted, but in the meantime I need to get this corrected and working. Thanks........

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Answer 4

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Mar 18, 2009 8:01 PM in response to koo22

That's my suggestion. That way, no muss or fuss.

Since you're new to Macs, see these:

Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
Mac 101: Mac Essentials,
Anatomy of a Mac,
MacFixIt Tutorials,
MacTips, and
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition.

Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:

Quick Assist.
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides,
Take Control E-books, and
A guide for switching to a Mac.

For migration stuff, see http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3322 and http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1963 for starters.

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,386 points

Mar 18, 2009 6:16 PM in response to koo22

Easiest thing to do is restore the computer to the factory specs, hook up the old machine to it using target disk mode, and when you first start up the newly restored new computer, immediately use the Setup Assistant to do the migration. Your problem resulted from creating a new account on the new machine before migrating.

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Answer 6

koo22 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2009 7:52 PM in response to baltwo

I'm not very Mac-proficient, having just switched not too long ago....I guess I was hoping for an easy way to consolidate the accounts without having to wipe the entire drive. So you're saying there is none? If I did start completely over, I should migrate all the files and THEN install windows on a partition (I'm not sure how much space they used, etc so was happy to have them do it). Is there any other way?

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Answer 7

koo22 Author

Level 1

10 points

Mar 18, 2009 9:43 PM in response to baltwo

I do appreciate the help...one last question though. It seems to me it would be far easier to just delete the "new" account, since all of my files, programs, settings etc. have transferred to the renamed account. When I log in with the renamed account everything is there and working fine. So is there a way to just delete the first account I created so I don't have to have a multiple login? Since this was the first thing I did after taking delivery of the computer, there's really nothing else on the "new" account.

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