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Is there a difference in results between Migration Assistant app and 'Transfer Information' option during OS installation?

Is there a difference in results between Migration Assistant app and 'Transfer Information' option during OS installation?


I'm running High Sierra, and I would be moving to a new copy of High Sierra. (long story). I'm just trying to figure out which method is better, or if they are both the same result.


thanks

MacBook Pro 17″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Oct 23, 2023 8:27 PM

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5 replies

Nov 11, 2023 5:31 PM in response to Scott Bernard

Well, I've had time to do a couple migrations now, and while I don't have the technical answer, I definitely have a recommendation, and a few tips.


Migration Assistant:

I did two migrations, between two drives on the same computer. 

For both migrations, I selected all available transfer options ("Applications, Accounts, Other files and folders, Computer and Network Settings").


The Migrations:

-'existing High Sierra system to NEW High Sierra system', using Migration Assistant (v10.13).

-'existing High Sierra system to NEW Mojave system', using Migration Assistant (v10.14).


tip 1: disconnect all volumes not needed for the migration (I.e. external drives, thumb drives, etc.)


In order to run the Migration Assistant app you need to log in to the destination system. Create a new user account for this if you haven't already. 


tip 2: make sure your destination system user account DOES NOT have the same name as any user account you intend to migrate. If it does, rename it.


Results:

Everything I selected was migrated perfectly, for BOTH migrations.  I was very happy.


The Bad News:

After the 'existing High Sierra system to NEW High Sierra system' migration, I discovered that random folders' permissions had been seriously altered, across ALL my connected drives.  The user account I had JUST created, and only used for the migration, was now the ONLY user with read & write on all of these altered folders.  Everyone else was set to "no access".  I can't explain how or why it happened; but it my opinion it was clearly a result of the migration. That's when it occurred, and that's the only time the new user account was in use. So far it looks like there are ways to fix it by changing them all again, but no ways to undo it back to the way it was. Since my backups were attached, they were changed as well. If you google the topic, you will see many other posts that seem to have migration permission errors as well, and some are on much more current systems.


Conclusion:

I'm working with High Sierra and Mojave aged systems and apps, so please consider my opinion with that in mind.

I WOULD NOT use Migration Assistant again, if given the choice.

I WOULD rather try the Transfer Information option from installation/setup. Transfer Information can be run without having a new account on the new system yet, so it's impossible for that account to be involved in unwanted permission changes.



I would love to hear other experiences, especially with Transfer Information, so feel free to reply.

Nov 12, 2023 11:11 AM in response to Scott Bernard

When you are migrating from a Time Machine backup, the "Transfer information" directly during the setup will allow you to inherit the Time Machine volume for the future Time Machine backups. It all make it easier to continue backing up to the same Time Machine volume from your new Mac. I found it a lot more convenient to use the setup Assistent directly when setting up the new computer, rather than later with the Migration Assistant. when you use the Migration Assistant later, you will already have created a new admin account, that is different from the account you want to migrate and encounter lots of problems with conflicts between user accounts.+

Nov 14, 2023 9:10 PM in response to Scott Bernard

Well, I've been schooled on why I had problems, and offered another solution, which I have now done:



tip 1: disconnect all external and internal volumes not needed for the migration (i.e. external drives, thumb drives, etc.). You can physically detach external items, and you can use Disk Utility to unmount internal items. If you don't understand how to use Disk Utility, then skip that part.


tip 2: make sure your destination system is a Clean Install and DOES NOT have any user accounts yet.



1) "Transfer Information" option is called "Setup Assistant".


2) If you have multiple user accounts, and you are working with a Clean Install, it's best to import the user accounts one-at-a-time, in order of User ID (it's a number), and only the first account through "Setup Assistant". The rest go through "Migration Assistant" later. To find User IDs, log into your current system, go to SystemPreferences>Users&Groups, unlock the padlock, and Control-Click on each user's name in the left of the window, to get "Advanced Options". DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES, but write down each user's "User ID". 


3) During your Clean Installation/Setup, use "Setup Assistant" to import ONLY the user account that has User ID "501" (or next lowest if no 501), plus "Applications", "Other Files & Folders", and "Computer and Network Settings" (I did all 3 options). Again, don't do any other users yet. It's best to do those later with "Migration Assistant". Click to start migration.


4) After "Setup Assistant" finishes and your new system finishes starting up, if you want to import additional user accounts, go to Applications>Utilities>MigrationAssistant and run it. Select the next user account in order of User ID again, likely "502" (or next lowest if no 502), and migrate that account only. DO NOT select the "Applications", "Other Files & Folders", and "Computer and Network Settings", as you ALREADY did these. DO NOT select any other users yet. Click to start migration.


5) After "Migration Assistant" finishes, repeat #4 above as needed for additional accounts, still one at a time, and still in order of User ID (503, 504, 505.. etc.).



Conclusion:

I'm working with High Sierra and Mojave aged systems and apps, so please consider my opinion with that in mind.

Using both "Setup Assistant" and "Migration Assistant" as described prevents permissions problems, rather than using one or the other, which could create problems.

Is there a difference in results between Migration Assistant app and 'Transfer Information' option during OS installation?

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