A Deleted User Folder & a User folder with the same name and password

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A Deleted User Folder & a User folder with the same name and password

I don't know where to start with this! Please bear with me as I'm not that technical.

I transferred all the files from an IMacAir laptop yesterday to an IMac using Migration Assistant. I stupidly made an error and deleted the existing user account on the IMac with the same name as the one that was transferring. I did however tick 'keep the data from the deleted user in the users folder'.

I realised my error pretty much straight away.

The IMac now has two accounts with the same name, one User and one deleted user. I desperately need to restore the deleted user.

I've tried to follow the Apple instructions for 'Restore the home folder from a saved folder' but when I get to "Rename the deleted user’s home folder by removing (Deleted), so that the folder name exactly matches the account name of the deleted user." it wont let me do it.

I can see data and photos in the deleted account. But the main worry is I-Tunes as there are thousands of music downloads on there.

I still have a copy of the transferred files on the Mac Air so I now have two copies but the IMac deleted folder if the important one.

Can anyone help? Thanks

Posted on Dec 22, 2022 10:11 AM

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Answer 1

den.thed

Level 10

94,840 points

Dec 22, 2022 11:32 AM in response to E_J_B

Do you have a backup of the iMac before Migrating from the MacBook Air?

If so, set it aside for safe keeping in case you need to blow-out everything and start over.

Next carefully review the following links.

1) Merging User Accounts - Apple Community

2) Combine two+ Users Accounts on the same m… - Apple Community

3) https://appletoolbox.com/how-to-transfer-files-between-two-user-accounts-on-your-mac/

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Answer 2

E_J_B Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 22, 2022 1:06 PM in response to den.thed

No backup, we kept everything on the Mac drive (1Tb). The exception was that about 90% of our I Tunes are backup'd on an external drive but quite a while ago!

Thank you. I'll read through the links you've attached.

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Answer 3

den.thed

Level 10

94,840 points

Dec 22, 2022 2:14 PM in response to E_J_B

You’re welcome.

It is always a good idea to have some type of a backup on an external drive using Time Machine, Cloning software or Drag & Drop. You mention having 90% of your music backed up. What about you.r photos and documents just in case you ever have a User Account or Hardware issue?

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Answer 4

E_J_B Author

Level 1

5 points

Dec 23, 2022 9:49 AM in response to den.thed

Dear den.thed, I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that due to the conflict issues, Apple support in Europe allocated a senior tech engineer to the problem despite my iMac being way over 5 years old! They’ve been fantastic. It’s all sorted and the deleted user file is back in its rightful position. Phew!

You’re absolutely right about backup. It’s prompted my partner to backup his iTunes library (10,720 downloads!) a bit more frequently. One of my photos libraries was on iCloud, the other wasn’t but I have quite a few on usb sticks and on free Google photos space. However, I still would have lost some if the problem couldn’t be rectified. Thank goodness it’s resolved.

Thank you for your assistance.

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Answer 5

den.thed

Level 10

94,840 points

Dec 23, 2022 12:32 PM in response to E_J_B

You're welcome.

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A Deleted User Folder & a User folder with the same name and password

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