Migration assistant isn't working for me. I am using belkin firewire 800/400 9-pin to 6-pin cable to transfer files from imac 10.5.6 to macbook 10.6.7. The screen says, "looking for other computers," and then nothing. What am I going wrong?
MacBook, Mac OS X (10.6.7)
Following the instructions at the OS X 10.5 "looking for other computers" link doesn't do anything for me on Lion. I am specifically on a new Mac Mini - Lion Server.
Are you using Migration Assistant from the Mini? What model are you migrating from and what OS version is it running?
Source computer:
- Mac OS X Snow Leopard (latest)
Destination computer:
- Brand new Mac Mini server with Mac OS X Lion Server
I've tried usingcomputer-to-computer network migration, source-computer time machine backup to destination, and direct destination attached Time Machine backup. All of them essentially sit at "Looking for other computers".
I've also turned off the firewall altogether on the Mac Mini destination computer.
You cannot transfer from a Leopard Mac via network, only FireWire, but they don't tell you to select "From Time Machine or other disk," not "From another Mac".
Or, if you have Time Machine or "clone" backups on an external HD, you can use them.
And for Snow Leopard you apparently need this: Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard 1.0.
Yup, for network migration.
On my Source computer I have Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard 1.0 -- but that shouldn't matter anymore as I have the Time Machine backup from the Source computer directly attached to the Destination Mac Mini.
I have reviewed the Lion Server Setup PDF and the only instructions are for Server Setup Assistant on Lion Server. These instructions describes what one does during intial setup. I am now currently past that original setup ... which is why I am trying to run Migration Assistant.
Server Assistant is not an app that is available to me anymore... or more specifically, I don't know how to trigger the "start from scratch" mode of my Lion Server instance which would bring up the Server Assistant again. So, the only thing I have available is the Migration Assistant which of course just states "Looking..." all the time.
I'm sort of at at loss since I don't even use the Server. A link I provided earlier explains how to disable Server so you are running plain Lion. I don't know if that helps or not. On the other hand the last link I found recommended not migrating accounts until after installing Server.
I've only installed Lion and have not had any migration problems from Snow Leopard systems.
Well I think I am in a Catch-22.
I just tried OS X Lion Recovery and that software at least sees the Time Machine backups. Of course it tries to recover from the backup and states that "You can't recover from these backups as they are from an older computer. Either recover to another startup disk or use Migration Assistant (in Applications > Utilities folder after you install).
Fun.
I'm going to try another path... that at least initially ignores the Migration Assistant (since it does squat anyway). I am going to see about making a Bootable Image of my old computer on the same drive that my Time Machine backup is on. Then maybe I can just migrate from that.
I guess I'm really just trying to get all my old docs and apps without having to use wifi.
Copy them to an external drive from one computer to the other.
Yep, the modern version of sneaker-net. 🙂
Don't you just love all this!!! A Powerbok G4 running 10.5.8 and a new MacBook Air. Cannot migrate. The "Assistant" needs to be upgraded. Snow Leopard will not install on a G4 so the update is impossible. So I must brute force the devices together, fake a user account, replace contents, and then BatCMOD files until the **** thing works.
I love Apple, in general, but this carelessness on their part, is not acceptable. Starting to remind me of another software firm...
Choosing Time Machine option was exactly what I needed to do. Thank you so much for posting this. I never would've have guessed. By the way, I've sat here now for three hours trying to figure this out. Thank you so much again.
Migration assistant
