migration asistant stuck on updating system settings

Someone else asked this a few days ago and found a solution in matching up iOS versions. I've done that so that solution isn't work.

I have tried installing the backup (that disk is working fine and I've run first aid on it already...it has all my time machine backups on it) through the bootup option screens and migration assistant. Bootup won't let me use the time machine backups and Migration Assistant gets to what looks like a last step of "Updating System Settings" and then gets locked up.

On reboot to free me of the lockup, the new user from the migration exists but none of the apps or files have come over (though the hard drive says it's 50% full, which can only be as a result of migrated data since it's a brand new machine).

Apple tech support has had me run the disk utility on the external drive and MacBook Pro HD. Also update the iOS to the same version. Nothing working.

I see all these questions come with the 3-2-1 best practices reminder. I don't need that tip. I have multiple data backups. What I want is to set up my new laptop with all my applications, settings, and documents using my time machine backup drive like I've done on every mac before this one.