migration assistant time machine slow

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migration assistant time machine slow

tried to install latest macos catalina update. the install hung because I did not have enough disk space. After backing out, my mini would not boot. erased hard drive and reinstalled catalina. so far so good. now trying to use migration assistant to restore my files from my Time Capsule. migration assistant has been running an hour trying to identify the backups on the Time Capsule. I do have a lot of backups from four different machines. So I have a two part questions:

1) is it usual for migration assistant to take forever just to identify the backups on the Time Capsule?

2) how do I delete Time Machine backups for a computer that I no longer own?

Thanks.

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Nov 8, 2019 11:47 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 8, 2019 12:02 PM in response to kickns

1) is it usual for migration assistant to take forever just to identify the backups on the Time Capsule?

No.. it is just Catalina.. welcome to the wonderful new Mac OS.

To get decent speed you should really use ethernet to the TC. Even if it means moving the TC to a position more appropiate to the mini or visa versa. Wireless is much slower.

2) how do I delete Time Machine backups for a computer that I no longer own?

To delete Time Machine backups you can select them in Finder and just trash them.. it can be a fairly long process though as you can guess.. Apple seem to have messed that one up too.. as it was much faster.

The alternative is to use archive function in the Airport Utility. That will store all the files on the TC onto a USB drive that you can plug directly to the Mini and will work a lot faster without the issues.

We strongly recommend to consider a replacement like Carbon Copy Cloner in place of Time Machine. It is too unreliable now.

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Answer 2

kickns Author

Level 1

6 points

Nov 8, 2019 1:16 PM in response to LaPastenague

Thanks for the info. I am using Ethernet but got frustrated and impatient. I am using tmutil to restore the most important stuff. As I find other stuff that I need, I will just use tmutil to recover it. will help me figure out what I really used and what I didn't.

I took a chance and upgraded to Catalina. Wish that I hadn't. I am NOT going to upgrade my wife's iMac. I will check into Carbon Copy Cloner. Thanks again for the advice.

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migration assistant time machine slow

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