How to migrate from Leopard to Lion?

You must purchase Snow Leopard - $29.00 - in order to upgrade to Lion.

Why are you installing Lion on a machine you are selling? Install the original OS X version that came with the computer and for which you have the software discs. If you have a Leopard retail disc for the computer then include it with the sale. The new owner will need to purchase Snow Leopard and Lion on their own unless you are willing to part with your Snow Leopard DVD.

Prepare Your Mac for Sale

Boot from the OS X Installer Disc One that came with the computer. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select the startup volume from the left side list then click on the Erase tab. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled) then click on the Options button. Select the one pass Zero Data option and click on the OK button. Then click on the Erase button.

Note: You can skip the Zero Data option if you are not concerned about removing sensitive personal data from the hard drive. If you choose to skip this part of the process then it is possible for others to recover data from the hard drive. The Zero Data procedure will prevent others from getting access to your personal information.

This process will take 30 minutes to several hours depending upon the size of the hard drive. After formatting has completed quit DU and return to the installer. Now complete the OS X installation. At the completion of the installation do not restart the computer. Instead just shut it off. The next user will be presented with the Setup Assistant when they turn on the computer just as it would if new out of the box.

Have you tried Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard 1.0?

What are you trying to migrate, exactly? Have you read:

A Basic Guide for Migrating to Intel-Macs

The Knowledgebase article Intel-based Mac: Some migrated applications may need to be updated refers to methods of dealing with migrating from PowerPC chips to Intel with the Migration Assistant safely. The authors of this tip have not had a chance to verify this works in all instances, or that it avoids the 10.6.1 and earlier Guest Account bug that caused account information to get deleted upon use of the Migration/Setup Assistant. However, a well backed up source that includes at least two backups of all the data that are not connected to your machine will help you avoid potential issues, should they arise. In event it does not work, follow the steps below.

If you are migrating a PowerPC system (G3, G4, or G5) to an Intel-Mac be careful what you migrate. Keep in mind that some items that may get transferred will not work on Intel machines and may end up causing your computer's operating system to malfunction.

Rosetta supports "software that runs on the PowerPC G3, G4, or G5 processor that are built for Mac OS X". This excludes the items that are not universal binaries or simply will not work in Rosetta:

• Classic Environment, and subsequently any Mac OS 9 or earlier applications
• Screensavers written for the PowerPC System Preference add-ons
• All Unsanity Haxies Browser and other plug-ins
• Contextual Menu Items
• Applications which specifically require the PowerPC G5 Kernel extensions
• Java applications with JNI (PowerPC) libraries

See also What Can Be Translated by Rosetta.

In addition to the above you could also have problems with migrated cache files and/or cache files containing code that is incompatible.

If you migrate a user folder that contains any of these items, you may find that your Intel-Mac is malfunctioning. It would be wise to take care when migrating your systems from a PowerPC platform to an Intel-Mac platform to assure that you do not migrate these incompatible items.

If you have problems with applications not working, then completely uninstall said application and reinstall it from scratch. Take great care with Java applications and Java-based Peer-to-Peer applications. Many Java apps will not work on Intel-Macs as they are currently compiled. As of this time Limewire, Cabos, and Acquisition are available as universal binaries. Do not install browser plug-ins such as Flash or Shockwave from downloaded installers unless they are universal binaries. The version of OS X installed on your Intel-Mac comes with special compatible versions of Flash and Shockwave plug-ins for use with your browser.

The same problem will exist for any hardware drivers such as mouse software unless the drivers have been compiled as universal binaries. For third-party mice the current choices are USB Overdrive or SteerMouse. Contact the developer or manufacturer of your third-party mouse software to find out when a universal binary version will be available.

Also be careful with some backup utilities and third-party disk repair utilities. Disk Warrior, TechTool Pro , SuperDuper , and Drive Genius work properly on Intel-Macs with Leopard. The same caution may apply to the many "maintenance" utilities that have not yet been converted to universal binaries. Leopard Cache Cleaner, Onyx, TinkerTool System, and Cocktail are now compatible with Leopard.

Before migrating or installing software on your Intel-Mac check MacFixit's Rosetta Compatibility Index.

Additional links that will be helpful to new Intel-Mac users:

• Intel In Macs
• Apple Guide to Universal Applications
• MacInTouch List of Compatible Universal Binaries
• MacInTouch List of Rosetta Compatible Applications
• MacUpdate List of Intel-Compatible Software
• Transferring data with Setup Assistant - Migration Assistant FAQ

Because Migration Assistant isn't the ideal way to migrate from PowerPC to Intel Macs, using Target Disk Mode, copying the critical contents to CD and DVD, an external hard drive, or networking will work better when moving from PowerPC to Intel Macs. The initial section below discusses Target Disk Mode. It is then followed by a section which discusses networking with Macs that lack Firewire.

If both computers support the use of Firewire then you can use the following instructions:

1. Repair the hard drive and permissions using Disk Utility.

2. Backup your data. This is vitally important in case you make a mistake or there's some other problem.

3. Connect a Firewire cable between your old Mac and your new Intel Mac.

4. Startup your old Mac in Transferring files between two computers using FireWire.

5. Startup your new Mac for the first time, go through the setup and registration screens, but do NOT migrate data over. Get to your desktop on the new Mac without migrating any new data over.

If you are not able to use a Firewire connection (for example you have a Late 2008 MacBook that only supports USB:)

1. Set up a local home network: Creating a small Ethernet Network.

2. If you have a MacBook Air or Late 2008 MacBook see the following:

• MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) and MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)- What to do if migration is unsuccessful;
• MacBook Air- Migration Tips and Tricks;
• MacBook Air- Remote Disc, Migration, or Remote Install Mac OS X and wireless 802.11n networks.

Copy the following items from your old Mac to the new Mac:

In your /Home/ folder: Documents, Movies, Music, Pictures, and Sites folders.

In your /Home/Library/ folder:

/Home/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder) /Home/Library/Application Support/iCal (copy the whole folder)

Also in /Home/Library/Application Support (copy whatever else you need including folders for any third-party applications)

/Home/Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder) /Home/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder) /Home/Library/Preferences/ (copy the whole folder) /Home /Library/Calendars (copy the whole folder) /Home /Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder) /Home /Library/Safari (copy the whole folder)

If you want cookies:

/Home/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist /Home/Library/Application Support/WebFoundation/HTTPCookies.plist

For Entourage users:

Entourage is in /Home/Documents/Microsoft User Data Also in /Home/Library/Preferences/Microsoft.

Credit goes to Macjack for this information.

If you need to transfer data for other applications please ask the vendor or ask in the Discussions where specific applications store their data.

5. Once you have transferred what you need restart the new Mac and test to make sure the contents are there for each of the applications.

Written by Kappy with additional contributions from a brody.Revised 5/21/2011

I understand what you're saying, because I'm having the same problem. Got my old MacBook with Leopard, my new Air with Lion. I want to migrate all my crap from the old Leopard machine to the new Lion machine. Start up Migration Assistant on both, using wireless, and the Lion Migration Assistant says the Migration Assistant on my other machine (the old Leopard machine) needs to be upgraded. I go to Software Updates on my old Leopard machine, and it says my machine is up to date. If anyone has a solution for this, please share it!

You cannot transfer from Leopard via a network, but you can via FireWire.

If you have Time Machine or "clone" backups on an external HD, you can transfer from them.

See Using Setup Assistant on Lion

John, I have a similar problem. I am changing iMacs - currently using Leopard but am about to get a new one - that will naturally be Lion. I want the same set-up on the new one, so wanted to check that this work around you mention will work!

Why do you say that this solution is 'less than optimal?' Aside from being a pain to run the backup onto an external HD (that I've already done), plugging that into the new machine, and hitting 'restore from Time Machine backup' in Setup Assistant, are there any issues? Was your new restored system on Lion exactly the same as it was on Leopard? ie all your applications, accounts, settings, etc? Were there any problems?

Thanks

This is a nightmare. First I had the same problems as above. So I used my Time Machine BU and hoped for the best. It did not happen. None of my personal stuff got transferred: no mailboxes, no Safari crap, no passwords, no documents. I am about ready to shoot myself. I have been working for ten hours manually moving stuff over on thumb drives. First of all I had to find the system folder on Lion which is almost impossible. I am about ready to reformat and start over. HELP

Michael Sanford1 wrote:

This is a nightmare. First I had the same problems as above.

What do you mean exactly?

So I used my Time Machine BU and hoped for the best.

Did you use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant?

What happened (or didn't happen)?

If you used Migration Assistant, you have an extra user account; log on to the one(s) you transferred, and you'll probably find your data.

First of all I had to find the system folder on Lion which is almost impossible.

Why did you need to find that?

I got so frustrated that i started over, re-loaded Lion overnight and here I am facing the problems anew. I have decided to clean install everything. looking back to the MBAir system folder, I had three "me's" two had all my music, pictures and apps. Consequently the drive was just about full so I had no choice than to start over. MigrationAss is NOT a great program for those who want to minimize what is transferred. For onw thing I had to use my old Time Machine since my old Mac did not load up MigAss. For some reason, my time machine drive has TWO systems folders on it one called "Library" the other called "system." Both have essentially the same stuff in the follders but the system folder hasn't been used for a while (dates were three to four months old on the folder dates). I will migrate my folders from Time Machine but not using MigrationAss since i don't want duplication of system folders on my drive. Once you have started your new MB Air with a name and password, migration is much more messy-er since that is the reason whay I had Three Me's on my new drive. Migration Assistant should offer more options for moving information e.g., asking you whether or not to move EACH APPLICATION instead of moving ALL applications. MA still moved the applications that won't work in Lion, e.g., Quicken, Solitaire till dawn and Microcrap Office which is odd. So finally I plan to move only what I need once I can find the data files that prove that paid for the applications, if not I'll start over again.

Finding the LIbrary in Lion is easy once you know how. In the Finder: Go/Go To Folder/~/library/

The best way to transfer to a new system is Setup Assistant, when your new Mac first starts up, not Migration Assistant later on. That way, you don't get an extra user account and all the other problems. With either, you can omit some broad categories, but you can't "pick and choose" individual items. The best solution usually is to use Setup Assistant, omit what you can, then delete anything else you don't want.

You can also do it via Migration Assistant, but you end up with an extra account. If you run Migration Assistant again, you either have yet another account, or you must delete the previous one.

Neither Assistant will copy anything from the System or top-level Library folders, except some system-wide settings and preferences.

And it's not really possible to transfer only selected applications. See Transferring Applications.

You best bet now is probably to start over. Create yet another user account and log on to it. Delete all the others, then use Migration Assistant to bring over all your apps and some or all of your user accounts. Omit any broad categories that you can, then delete what you don't want. See Using Migration Assistant on Lion.

If you do it by copying individual items, you shouldn't copy anything at all from the /System folder, and little or nothing from the top-level /Library folder.

And for the <home folder>/Library problem, and some other things you may stumble over, see: Changes in Lion from Snow Leopard.

I have started the process of moving User information from my Time Machine drive using "Import FIles" where appropriate in my MB Air applications. I am still having problems with finding my 1Password folder than allows me to use the program and my Rapidweaver authorization information that has my Publishing information and helper apps. I'll get there.

Thanks.