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Leopard to Lion - Migration Assistant Doesn't Work?

Hello there.


Wondered if you could possibly assist?


New iMac with Lion installed (I've upgraded to the latest version). When attempting to migrate from an older machine running Leopard (again, the latest version) - the computers do see each other but refuse to communicate the information across. The G5 says 'looking for computers' and the iMac sees the G5 but then it says 'make sure this code appears on the G5' and nothing appears.


Tried via F/W and Ethernet with no luck.


This should be simple ... but not at the moment.


Any ideas?

Posted on Jan 27, 2012 1:56 AM

Reply
15 replies

Jan 27, 2012 4:32 PM in response to N H H

Your best bet is to use Setup Assistant when your new Mac first started up. If you've already created a user account, you may want to start over using one of the options in the green box of Problems after using Migration Assistant


But whether you use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant, if you can transfer via FireWire or from the old Mac's Time Machine or "clone" backups, you don't necessarily have to update the old Mac.


If you want to transfer via your network (use Ethernet if at all possible -- it's much faster and more reliable), you need to download and install the Migration Assistant Update for Mac OS X Leopard on the old Mac.

Jan 30, 2012 2:15 AM in response to Pondini

Thanks for the suggestions.


Actually, using a fully updated Migration Assistant, nothing worked.


Ended up transferring info. to an external HD using Time Machine (on the G5) - THEN,

Lion was happy enough to transfer from the ext. HD using Migration Assistant.


Must have wasted many hours on this one.

Mar 23, 2012 1:06 PM in response to N H H

I have waster more hours that you know. When I ran set-p assistant it didn't give me an option to transfer files because I was using an external harddrive (unformatted). Migration assistant nor time machine works. They don't seem to read my BRAND NEW Glyph back up drive. I have spoken to so many people at Applecare and just don't seem to get any answers that make sense to me and I was surprised by how little knowledge they seemed to have. My operating system on the old mac is much older-- Tiger but from I've read it can be done, though Applecare insists that I can't transfer without firewire or ethernet. I'm going to run out and purchase a usb to ethernet adapter but not sure if that will work. It's incredibly frustrating. Many hours trying to do this and I think it's ridiculous to have to create a new user using migration assistant and then what go back and forth between users? I also want to keep the user that I created initially. Ive done nothing on the air yet except run set-up assistant. ANY FEEDBACK would be appreciated

Mar 23, 2012 1:33 PM in response to TommyGun26

Hi there. The problem is that I'm using a much older operaating system and applecare says I can not use migration assistant without fireware or ethernet, which the Air doesn't have. I was thinking of doing the transfer with a USB Ethernet Adapter, computer to computer, which I found through my own research. I external drive I was instructed to buy to transfer my docs isn't being read on Time Machine or Migraation assistant and I don't want to drag and drop files because I'll lose various important folders in Apple Mail, itunes, iphoto, etc.

Mar 23, 2012 1:43 PM in response to tiarraxshawn

tiarraxshawn wrote:

. . .

When I ran set-p assistant it didn't give me an option to transfer files because I was using an external harddrive (unformatted). Migration assistant nor time machine works.

That's correct; you must format a drive for it to work (nearly all come formatted, most for Windoze).


Format it yourself, per #1 in Using Disk Utility.


But your post is a bit confusing -- if the drive was unformatted, then it didn't have anything on it to be transferred.


My operating system on the old mac is much older-- Tiger but from I've read it can be done, though Applecare insists that I can't transfer without firewire or ethernet.

You can only transfer from Tiger via FireWire, or via a "clone" backup of it on an external HD (USB or FireWire).


I think it's ridiculous to have to create a new user using migration assistant and then what go back and forth between users? I also want to keep the user that I created initially. Ive done nothing on the air yet except run set-up assistant.

Neither Setup Assistant nor Migration Assistant can "merge" accounts (ie, from your old Mac into an existing account on your new one. But, if you've "done nothing" with the user account you created initially, then you won't mind deleting it.


Your best bet, by far, is to use one of the workarounds in the green box of Problems after using Migration Assistant. That will set up your new Mac just like the old one, if you follow the directions carefully.

Mar 23, 2012 2:12 PM in response to Pondini

Thank you, My New external drive (Glyph) I just plugged in and it showed up on my desktop so I dragged my files in. I didn't see an option to reformat it, plus I was instructed not to format anything but keep it as is so I could begin using Time Machine. My files are on the hard-drive but they are not readable on the new computer. The icon doesn't come up, but when I click in in the finder window the files appear. The problem is that I don't want to drage and drop into the current applications on the Air for fear that I'll lose folders on sail, mail, iphoto, itunes etc that are very important to me, which is why I wanted to migrate from my very old operating system on the old computer itself to the Air, which I apparently can't do unless I have Firewire and Ethernet ports on both--Which I do on the Tiger but not the Air w/ Lion. I did some further research on my own because Applecare has been incredibly unhelpful and they don't seem to uderstand the issue and are contradicting each other. I thought I may e able transfer the files via a USB Ethernet adapter from computer to computer with Migration assistant so my apps and documents will appear exactly as they were on Tiger. Dragging adn dropp from the External Hardrive might make me lose important folders and information that will take me forever to find or that I might lose altogether. What do you think?

Mar 23, 2012 3:14 PM in response to tiarraxshawn

tiarraxshawn wrote:


Thank you, My New external drive (Glyph) I just plugged in and it showed up on my desktop so I dragged my files in.

Then it was formatted (most likely for Windoze, not a Mac).


I was instructed not to format anything but keep it as is so I could begin using Time Machine.

Time Machine cannot back up to a drive formatted for Windoze.


My files are on the hard-drive but they are not readable on the new computer. The icon doesn't come up, but when I click in in the finder window the files appear.

Again, it's most likely formatted for a PC, and since the data isn't a "clone" of a Mac, it's not usable by either Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant.


I thought I may e able transfer the files via a USB Ethernet adapter from computer to computer with Migration assistant

No, you cannot transfer from Tiger via network.


Your best bet is simple, assuming your external HD has a USB connection; format the external HD for a Mac, per #1 in Using Disk Utility. Use the APM partition map scheme. Then use the Restore tab of Disk Utility, or one of the 3rd-party "cloning" apps CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper, to copy the old Mac's internal HD.


Then plug the drive into your new Mac and use one of the workarounds in the green box of Problems after using Migration Assistant. That will set up your new Mac just like the old one, if you follow the directions carefully (you should probably not let it transfer apps, as the 3rd-party apps that worked on Tiger are unlikely to work on Lion). Then install any optional Apple Apps that will work on Lion, such as iLife and iWork, and any 3rd-party apps that will work on Lion.


Once you're sure everything has been transferred correctly, reformat the external HD again, with the GUID partition map scheme, to use for Time Machine backups

Mar 24, 2012 3:56 AM in response to N H H

Note: For OS X Lion information, see this article instead.

To use Migration Assistant you have four options for connecting the computers:

Before you begin the migration:

  • If you're using a portable Mac, make sure the power cable is connected.
  • Run Software Update on the source Mac to confirm that the latest updates are installed.
  • On the source Mac, make sure that you have the latest version of any third-party software.
  • On the source Mac, open System Preferences, click Sharing, and make sure there is a name in the Computer Name field.
  • Do not let either computer go to sleep while you are attempting to migrate. To disable sleep on both computers:
  • Choose System Preferences from the Apple () menu.
  • Choose Energy Saver from the View menu.
  • Select Custom in Optimization.
  • Adjust the slider to Never for "Put the computer asleep when it is inactive for..."
  • To use Ethernet for migration, connect the two computers with a single ethernet cable; you don't need to connect the computers to a hub, switch, or router. This should be faster than using a wireless connection. For the best experience, be sure to attach your source and target computers to the wired network before you start.
  • If you choose a wireless migration, make sure you are on the best wireless connection available. Use the Signal Strength meter in the upper right corner of your screen to find a location that provides the best signal to your source computer before you start. You may also want to eliminate potential sources of interference as well. The best wireless migration experience will be on an 802.11n network.

FireWire Migration Assistant

  1. Make sure both computers are connected via FireWire.
  2. Restart the source (original) Mac while pressing and holding the "T" key.
  3. On your target (new) Mac, open Migration Assistant (located in /Applications/Utilities/), then click Continue.
    User uploaded file
  4. Type in your Admin Password when prompted, and click OK.
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  5. When the target Mac asks you for a migration method, select "From another Mac", and click Continue.
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  6. Select "Use FireWire".
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  7. On your target Mac, close all other applications, then click Continue to start the migration options.
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  8. Your target Mac will ask you to select items to migrate.
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  9. You can customize your selection by clicking to open the disclosure triangles.
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  10. After you click Continue, the Migration Assistant will begin to transfer files to your new Mac. The amount of time that it takes for migration to complete depends on the amount of data being transferred.
    User uploaded file
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Wireless or Ethernet Migration Assistant

  1. If you are migrating from a Mac with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard, first update it to Mac OS X v10.5.8 or later.
  2. If you are migrating from a Mac with Mac OS X v10.4 or later, update it to Mac OS X v10.4.11, then installMigration and DVD and CD Sharing Update.
  3. Make sure that the source Mac and target Macs are connected to the same network, either wirelessly or via Ethernet. (You can directly connect the two Macs via an Ethernet cable if both are Ethernet capable. To make MacBook Air Ethernet capable, connect using the Apple USB Ethernet Adapter.)
  4. On the target Mac open Migration Assistant (located in /Applications/Utilities/), then click Continue.
    User uploaded file
  5. Type in your Admin Password when prompted and click OK.User uploaded file
  6. When the target Mac asks you for a migration method, select "From another Mac", then click Continue.
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  7. Select "Use Network" if necessary.
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  8. On the source Mac, open Migration Assistant (located in /Applications/Utilities/), then click Continue.
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  9. Type in your Admin password when prompted and click OK.
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  10. When the source Mac asks you for a migration method, select "To another Mac", and click Continue.
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  11. A passcode should appear on the target Mac in the Connect Your Computers screen, as shown below.
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  12. On the source Mac, type in the passcode that appeared on the target Mac.
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  13. On the source Mac, close all other applications, then click Continue to start the migration options.
    User uploaded file
  14. The target Mac will ask you to Select Items to Migrate.
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  15. You can customize your selection by clicking to open the disclosure triangles.
    User uploaded file
  16. After you click Continue, the Migration Assistant will begin to transfer files to the target Mac. The amount of time that it takes for migration to complete depends on the amount of data being transferred and the speed of the network.
    User uploaded file
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Time Machine or other disk:

  1. On the target Mac, open Migration Assistant (located in /Applications/Utilities/), then click Continue.
  2. Connect your external hard drive if necessary.
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  3. Type in your Admin Password when prompted and click OK.User uploaded file
  4. When the target Mac asks you for a migration method, select "From a Time Machine backup or other disk", then click Continue.
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  5. Select the Drive, Time Machine backup, or Time Capsule. If you select Time Capsule you will be prompted to enter the Time Capsule password. After entering the password, select the Time Machine backup.
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  6. Close all other applications on the source Mac, then click Continue to start the migration options.
    User uploaded file
  7. The source Mac will ask you to select items to migrate.
    User uploaded file
  8. You can customize your selection by clicking to open the disclosure triangles.
    User uploaded file
  9. After you click Continue, the Migration Assistant will begin to transfer files to the target Mac. The amount of time that it takes for migration to complete depends on the amount of data being transferred and the speed of the network.
    User uploaded file
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Additional Information

The instructions above use the term "Migration Assistant" but they also apply to migrations performed using the Setup Assistant. Setup Assistant starts the first time you start up your new Mac and helps you enter your Internet information and set up a user account on your computer. If you don't use Setup Assistant to transfer information when you first setup your new Mac, you can do it later using Migration Assistant. Learn what to do if a migrated Application does not open or function correctly.When you install Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard or migrate to Snow Leopard, known-incompatible software is moved to a folder named Incompatible Software. Learn more about incompatible software.If you are having issues migrating using your Ethernet or wireless network, try migration using Internet Sharing from your source computer.

  1. Set up a home connection from your source computer.
  2. Choose System Preferences from the Apple () menu, then Sharing from the View menu.
  3. Select Internet Sharing.
  4. Select a network service from the “Share your connection from” menu. Do not choose AirPort for this step.
    Note: You can use built-in FireWire for example. You do not need to be connected to the Internet to transmit data for data migration.
  5. Select AirPort to share your Internet connection from the “To computers using” list.
  6. Click AirPort Options and give your network a name and password.
  7. On your target computer, connect to the AirPort network you created

Mar 25, 2012 12:53 PM in response to TommyGun26

TommyGun26,


THanks so much for such a detailed and helpful reply. I have been to the Genuis bar, spoken to 4 Apple Care reps, and three tecnicians at an Apple Retailer/Repair place locally, did a ton of research on my own, and went on several forums. and everyone seems to say a different thing. I'm going from Tiger to Lion and one person said the the USB Ethernet adapter can work bu it creates all kinds of xtraneous files that go everywhere and it will take a very long time to clean that mess up. Another tech said I should just import manually off of the external harddrive, but the I'll lose specific folder in my Apple Mail that are very important to me. Not sure which is worth it. I'm going from a Powerbook G4 Tiger to a Macbook Air Lion. You seem to really know your stuff, but at this point 've been told to skip migration assistant alotgether. Which would have been helpful but since my G4 is acting crazy the mail program seems to have changed anyway so I'll likely just drag and drop from my external. Do you think that's best?? Again, thanks for helping me.

Mar 25, 2012 1:25 PM in response to tiarraxshawn

tiarraxshawn wrote:

. . .

I'm going from a Powerbook G4 Tiger to a Macbook Air Lion.

That means that the copied Apple articles do not apply to you -- they're for transferring to Snow Leopard. See Mac OS X v10.6: How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac. It's word-for-word the same as TommyGun26's post, except for the very first line.


That first line is the link to OS X Lion: How to use Migration Assistant to transfer files from another Mac.

You'll see this in the Migration using FireWire or Thunderbolt section: "Note: If migrating from Mac OS X v10.4 to OS X Lion, see the Additional Information section below," which says "Migration from Mac OS X v10.4 computers to OS X Lion over your Wi-Fi or a wired network is not supported. However, if both Macs are equipped with a FireWire port, you can use Target Disk Mode to transfer your data:"


And, the Time Machine or other disk migration section has detailed instructions for migrating from either Time Machine backups or an "other disk" containing a "clone" of your old Mac, if it's running well enough to make one.

at this point 've been told to skip migration assistant alotgether.

There are differing opinions, but it's certainly possible to migrate from Tiger; you just can't do it via network.


There are advantages and disadvantages, but mostly related to whether you migrate 3rd-party apps. If you only migrate user accounts and data, then they'll be exactly the same as before, and you can reinstall any 3rd-party apps that will work on Lion, and new versions of the ones that don't. Yes, you may get some unnecessary files in the user accounts, but you can just delete them -- they won't cause any trouble other than taking up some space.


Which would have been helpful but since my G4 is acting crazy the mail program seems to have changed anyway so I'll likely just drag and drop from my external.

That's unlikely to work. The structure of Mail's folders and files has changed. If you use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant, the conversion will be done automatically. If you drag the Tiger folders onto your Lion system, it may not. Other Apple apps may have changed, too. I believe Address Book is another.


You can try to copy what you want manually, but that's likely to be tedious and error-prone at best.


If you can make a "clone" of the G4 on a USB drive, then connect it to the new Mac and use Setup Assistant or Migration Assistant (probably skipping Applications), that's likely the easiest and safest way to go.


See Using Migration Assistant on Snow Leopard or Leopard for even more detailed instructions, but start with one of the workarounds in Problems after using Migration Assistant.

Leopard to Lion - Migration Assistant Doesn't Work?

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