Migration assistant created a new user when transferring files from a PC to mac

Thanks for this suggestion! Best one I came across to move my files under the original user...and it's 2017 and Apple has still not fixed this issue with MA!!

Now I need to figure out how to delete the extra users?????

This is why I do not like MA, among others: it does not transfer data to the existing logged-in user. There are other backup/restore utilitites, I prefer iBackup by grapefruit.ch, but you may also check others. Testing takes some time, so, if you dislike Apple’s offer, go to macupdate.com, type something like backup and you will be offered a quite long list. Time Machine may be a better option for you.

Otherwise, you may turn the new account into an admin account, and transfer all your data into this account, then delete the initial admin account.

Take care: before working with you sensitive data, do backup anything you consider essential. Creating admin privileges is a powerful action in Mac OS X, so use it with care.

That's the downside to creating a user account, then using Migration Assistant later on.

If you'd used Setup Assistant when your Mac first started up, you'd have only the single account.

If the music in question was purchased from the App store, you should be able to re-download it.

Otherwise, you should be able to copy the data from one user to the other, but that's not quick or easy. See Transferring files from one User Account to another.

On the other hand, this behavior of MA is logical. Ultimately, it is not so difficult, not does it take much time to turn MA user into admin user, then move files from the initial user to the MA-created user, then delete the initial user to not have duplicate file.

Cattus Thraex wrote:

On the other hand, this behavior of MA is logical.

Yes; that's why it's best to use Setup Assistant instead.

Ultimately, it is not so difficult, not does it take much time to turn MA user into admin user, then move files from the initial user to the MA-created user, then delete the initial user to not have duplicate file.

It depends on what kind of data is involved.

For example if it's documents, such as TextEdit, Pages, Numbers, etc., where the data is contained in separate files, yes, you can copy or move them and fix the permissions fairly easily.

But if you have things like photos in iPhoto, Apple Mail, Address Book contacts, or music in iTunes in both places, it's not so simple to combine them. With some of those, you can log on to the destination account and Import directly from the other account; but with others, you must log on to the source account, export to an intermediate location, then log on to the destination account and import.

‘But if you have things like photos in iPhoto, Apple Mail, Address Book contacts, or music in iTunes in both places, it's not so simple to combine them.’

Well, this is ‘merging data’ from different accounts. Of couse this takes more time, but will take anyway, disregarding which app is used.

No, not if you use Setup Assistant first.

That's the problem; folks are eager to start using their shiny new Mac, so they skip that, create a user account, download some apps and data, etc. Then they want to transfer the rest of their stuff, so fire up Migration Assistant, and run into trouble.

If they use Setup Assistant when the new Mac first starts up, there will only be the single account. No need for all the other gyrations.

See How do I set up a new Mac from an old one, its backups, or a PC?

Message was edited by: Pondini

‘No, not if you use Setup Assistant first.’

This is also true, and true that people are eager to begin using first. 🙂

Many people do that,but this is no tragedy in itself. Just note that, when used in this phase, MA will create a new user. If you give that user administrative privileges, that may be the main/default user.

I have the same problem. All the discussions on this topic I'm finding around the forum all seem to end up in the same place: "Well, you should've used Setup Assistant...". Well, I didn't, and obviously that was a mistake. I'm combing the forum now looking how to fix this mess I made. I just wanted to move my wife's music and pics from her old PC to her new Lion Mac. I can't erase the original account, not an option. What to do? Can I move the music and pics from the account that MA created, and then trash the account? Or am I better off trashing the account, music, pics, and all, and starting over with Setup Assistant? Or is there a 3rd mystery choice someone can recommend?

chrisfromlenox wrote:

. . .

Can I move the music and pics from the account that MA created, and then trash the account?

You might be able to copy it between accounts on the Mac, per Transferring files from one User Account to another.

Or am I better off trashing the account, music, pics, and all, and starting over with Setup Assistant? Or is there a 3rd mystery choice someone can recommend?

Try one of the options in the green box of Problems after using Migration Assistant

Initially, I also thought that creating a new account if using MA is a bug. At a deeper though, I found the architecture logical:

- if used during the last phase of the instalation process, it does not create a new user

- if used later, it creates a new user.

If Pondini’s solution is not acceptable for you, you may simple give the new user admin privileges, transfer all data, if need be, from the old admin user, and then delete the old admin user.

I agree with the idea of an enhancement request, MA should have some more options if used later, normaly users a curious to log into the fresh system, and transfer data and settings at a later date.

Cattus Thraex wrote:

. . .

I agree with the idea of an enhancement request, MA should have some more options if used later, normaly users a curious to log into the fresh system, and transfer data and settings at a later date.

Unfortunately, a "merge" option, where it would add things to an existing user account, isn't realistic. That would work fairly well for such things as documents, where everything is in separate files (although settings and preferences would get a bit tricky).

But not for things like iCal, AddressBook, or Mail, where there are complex structures. Trying to merge those in any automated way would be very complex. Even worse would be 3rd-party apps that Apple can't possibly know how to handle.

One thing that might help would be rewording the "You can transfer information later using Migration Assistant" line at the bottom of the Setup Assistant window:

A number of us have asked for that to be worded differently -- warning that it's much better to do it first, or not to install stuff you're going to need, or something. All to no avail, of course.

Tell Apple what you think here: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

No, not merge users, but several options after installing system, any time later, like ‘shall I transfer files to existing user or create a new user?’ and some other refinements would be useful. Perhaps it is high time to suggest something for next generation Mac OS X.