Migration Assistant - Computers can't find each other on network

Question

Migration Assistant - Computers can't find each other on network

Two computers, iMac and MacBook. Wish to mirror as much as possible the iMac onto the MacBook.

Using Firewire and Migration Assistant (MA), could not get two computers to recognize each other.

Checked integrity of Firewire cable and MacBook Firewire connector at Apple store; both work fine. Tech suggested bad iMac Firewire connector, and to use an Ethernet cable.

Got Ethernet cable, setup MA on both computers, was able to connect and begin transfer. After 2 hours 49 minutes, all that was transferred was Applications ---no other files. No docs, no Keychain info, no settings, no documents, no iTunes music folder, etc etc etc.

Got new Ethernet cable, started over. Now neither computer will recognize the other. MA opened on both, but search for each other proves Fail.

Note: Laptop recently formatted, Snow Leopard installed, all OS X updated; machine runs fine.

Any ideas? I'd like to get this all straightened out by Thursday when I buy my first iPhone. Want to do all my iPhone setup(s) on the laptop since I'll soon be selling the iMac.

Thanks for your help. Sorry if I rambled, but I'm no techie. Please explain slowly. Thanks.

Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Jun 21, 2010 11:14 AM

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Answer 1

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jun 21, 2010 11:35 AM in response to Community User

Start over, reinstall the OS and on first boot use the setup assistant to do the migration, hooked up with a FireWire cable. See Best Practices for details.

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Answer 2

AJ

Level 5

7,075 points

Jun 21, 2010 12:59 PM in response to Community User

on both machines,

file sharing must be on.
Firewall must be off
stealth mode must be off.

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Answer 3

Mar 31, 2015 1:11 PM in response to AJ

AJ wrote:
on both machines,

file sharing must be on.
Firewall must be off
stealth mode must be off.

Sounds reasonable. Could you please explain how to make sure all that's taken care of for this non-techie? And, do I assume this means that I'm good to go from this point, or must I go back and do a reinstall of OS X first? Thanks.

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Answer 4

Mar 31, 2015 1:11 PM in response to AJ

AJ wrote:
on both machines,

file sharing must be on.
Firewall must be off
stealth mode must be off.

Sorry, but this did nothing. It appears that the imac and the macBook just aren't hooking up. They have in the past --in fact, did so yesterday-- but regardless if it's Firewire or Ethernet, they just won't find each other today.

It's frustrating.

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Answer 5

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jun 21, 2010 4:30 PM in response to Community User

Then, follow the steps I posted.

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Answer 6

AJ

Level 5

7,075 points

Jun 22, 2010 5:17 AM in response to Community User

Firewall etc are in the sharing control pane.

Also, both computers have to be configured for the same subnet.
check the network control pane for the settings.

If one machine is IP 192.168.1.2,
subnet 255.255.255.0, and
gateway (router) 192.168.1.1

Then the second machine needs to be
IP 192.168.1.3,
subnet 255.255.255.0, and
gateway 192.168.1.1

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Answer 7

Mar 31, 2015 1:11 PM in response to Community User

Thanks everyone. Tips proved helpful. All is well again.

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Answer 8

baltwo

Level 9

62,362 points

Jun 22, 2010 12:13 PM in response to Community User

And, the remedy was what? Details will help others.

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