Home folder

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Level 1

18 points

Home folder

Last year I had a problem with the app ‘numbers’. I had to call support to help fix the problem. Its a long story but, to solve the problem a new home folder was created by support for me, this new folder has a new name. The old folders from the original home folder are still in the new home folder tagged as deleted files. Can these files be removed from the home folder? Also I would like to change the name of my home folder back to its original name. Can this be done and how? The reason I am asking this is if I buy a new imac and on setting up the name of the account holder (my name) is different from the one on the old imac, will I still be able to migrate all the files from the old mac to the new one? Sorry its so long-winded but your help will be appreciated, thanks

iMac 21.5", macOS 10.14

Posted on May 22, 2019 11:38 AM

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Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,204 points

May 22, 2019 11:52 AM in response to Roger24

Roger24 wrote:

a new home folder was created by support for me, this new folder has a new name. The old folders from the original home folder are still in the new home folder tagged as deleted files. Can these files be removed from the home folder?

Yes.

Also I would like to change the name of my home folder back to its original name. Can this be done and how? The reason I am asking this is if I buy a new imac and on setting up the name of the account holder (my name) is different from the one on the old imac, will I still be able to migrate all the files from the old mac to the new one?

The easiest and fastest way to Migrate is from your TIme Machine backup. If you use that method the first time you boot your new Mac, you shouldn't have a problem with the name. If you attempt to change the name now your old Mac may not allow it as it will see it is the name of a previous account.

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Answer 2

rkaufmann87

Level 10

143,850 points

May 22, 2019 12:10 PM in response to Roger24

As mentioned, yes your data will migrate over and yes using Setup Assistant or Migration Assisant is your best option. I will explain the difference between Setup Assistant migration and Migration Assistant migration.

Setup Assistant launches when you turn on any new Mac. It will eventually get to a point where it asks if you are migrating from another Mac, select yes. Then simply connect the Time Machine (or bootable clone EHD) from your old Mac via a USB cable and then follow the on-screen prompts. This works every time and is the easiest method. What SA Assistant migration does is it migrates and does not create a new user account. Using Migration Assistant will work the same however it will create a new user account.

You would use Migration Assistant if you did not migrate when you turned on the new Mac for the first time. You will simply launch the Migration Assistant App (Applications - Utilities - Migration Assistant) and connect the old Mac Time Machine or bootable clone EHD via USB cable and follow the on-screen prompts.

Two pieces of advice, NEVER EVER use Wi-Fi when using either SA or MA, it will takes weeks (this is not an error) and will fail. WiFI was never designed to transmit that much data. Next, do not connect the two Macs together via Ethernet cable, sometimes this works and sometimes not. If you want it to work and work the first time use your Time Machine or bootable clone from the old Mac and connect via a USB cable!

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