migration assistant problems

Connect the two with firewire cables.

Also see:

Transferring files between two computers using FireWire

Yes. MA only works over Firewire or Ethernet/wireless network. This latter method is very slow by comparison.

User FW800 if both computers support it as this is the faster FireWire protocol. If you would rather use the network method than see this article.

I too cannot transfer via Migration Assistant (MA).Computers never connected. I read all of the archived discussions and this onetoo and none helped. Here are the facts.

Older Source Mac is G-4 with MA 1.0.6 and OSX 10.4.11

New Receiving Mac is Intel with MA 3.0 and OSX 10.6.5

Connected computers directly with Ethernet cable, andmanually set TCP/IP to different IP for each and Subnet Mask to 255.255.255.0and both networks can see the other computer. New Receiving Mac only has oneaccount.

Per instructions received from APPLE: Started MA on NewReceiving computer clicked “from Another Mac” and the “Migrate from anotherMac” screen did NOT appear, instead got screen that gave 6 digit number atbottom with instructions to open MA on Older Source Mac. Followed instructionsand opened MA on Source Computer, and it found the New Receiving Mac and askedfor the 6 digit number in the 6 boxes. Put number in boxes. Both computers said“Processing Information.” Then Source Mac asked for number again, which I hadto type in boxes again, then it said “Looking for computers.” After 5 minutes New Receiving Macscreen came up saying Connection Failed, and Neither computer connected withthe other. Tried this 5 times.

What can I do to get MA to connect the computers?

You need to connect them via Firewire cable. Follow instructions in a previous link for starting the old computer in Target Disk Mode.

Kappy,

Thanks for the quick response.

Followed your firewire instructions to the T and the Source Computer showed the roaming symbol that was a circle with 3 protrusions, but the source computer did NOT show up on the Hard Disk of the New Receiving computer. So I could not transfer the fles.

I understand the concept, but cannot get it to connect.

What next?

Are there multiple partitions on the source computer? And, to confirm, you are using MA from the new computer? And, after starting the old computer in TDM then booting the new computer normally the old computer's disk drive does not appear on the new computer's Desktop? Sorry if this is redundant but I want to be sure I have a clear picture in my mind.

Kappy,

The Source computer has 2 accounts. Yes I rebooted the New (Receiving) computer and opened MA where it went into the "Looking for other computers" mode. I watched this for 10 minutes and returned to contact you. It is still looking for other computers. I am writing from a third independent computer. The Source Computer in TDM mode just shows the funny symbol bouncing around the screen. I cannot access anything else on the source computer.

Does this help?

Not sure what's going on. I would try repairing the hard drive and permissions on the source computer. Maybe there's a glitch and the new computer is not recognizing a valid startup system on the source. The following may also help:

How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

Intel-based Mac may become unresponsive in target disk mode

Kappy,

Thanks again. Mystery to a number of people. I will review the articles and apply where possible. Hope it works.

Bill

OK Mystery solved why New (Host) computer would not recognize the Firwire connection to the Source (Target) computer. The Host computer Firewire slot did not have an installed Firewire Port.

So I will have to use the Ethernet connection route, using the MA program or possibly copying onto an external Hard Drive using the USB port and then copying to the new (Host) computer via USB, since it appears that MA does not work.

Thank you for your help.

I was under the impression that MBPs had Firewire ports.

I tried to use migration assistant to transfer data from my old MBP (Oct 2007) to my new MBP. Both are running Lion and I connected them with an ethernet cable (hard to find a firewire 800 cable for some reason). The first couple of times I received an error message. When it finally worked, it created a new user account and transferred the apps and settings, but no data or documents. Mail, OmniFocus, VMWare Fusion, and all other apps had no information when the apps were opened.

I've read a lot of posts that recommend restoring the new MBP to factory (Lion), then trying to transfer with a Time Machine backup. I was thinking about doing this in the beginning, but I didn't want to transfer any "junk" that might have gathered on my old MBP hard drive.

Does anyone know how to restore a MBP running Lion - no media disks? Does anyone know if you can restore from Time Machine without transferring junk from the old system? Junk meaning all of the stuff that causes the prolonged spinning beach ball to happen after using your Mac for a couple of years.

Thanks

A whole lot about Time Machine for help with TM problems. Also you can select Mac Help from the Finder's Help menu and search for "time machine" to locate articles on how to use TM. See also Mac 101- Time Machine.