HT3231: Migration Assistant tips and tricks

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Javashak

Q: I am migrating about 450GB from my MacBook White to my MacBook Pro, wirelessly and it will take over three days, having spent 18 hours on the first 15%. Is it possible to interrupt this migation without damaging either source or target?

I am migrating about 450GB from my MacBook White to my MacBook Pro, wirelessly and it will take over three days, having spent 18 hours on the first 15%. Is it possible to interrupt this migation without damaging either source or target?

 

On reflection I should have used a wired connection or migrated at a later time but is it possible to interrupt the process now and rerun with a wired solution without damaging either laptop?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8), Source is a dual core duo MacBook

Posted on Sep 19, 2012 6:56 AM

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Q: I am migrating about 450GB from my MacBook White to my MacBook Pro, wirelessly and it will take over three days, having spent 18 h ... more

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  • by Javashak,

    Javashak Javashak Sep 20, 2012 1:47 AM in response to Javashak
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2012 1:47 AM in response to Javashak

    This could be acedemic as it has been sitting at 58 hours 51 minutes for the last hour or two but if anyone can advise, please do.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,Solvedanswer

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Sep 20, 2012 1:50 AM in response to Javashak
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2012 1:50 AM in response to Javashak

    Just go ahead and cancel. Then plug both computers into the same router using Ethernet or connect them via Firewire. Things should either begin anew or pick up where they left off. Either way, you won't lose any data and your migration will go much, much faster.

     

    Clinton

  • by wjosten,

    wjosten wjosten Sep 20, 2012 2:06 AM in response to Javashak
    Level 10 (94,603 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 20, 2012 2:06 AM in response to Javashak

    This should never be done wirelessly, not only is it painfully slow, but can be prone to errors. Yes, stop the migration: Command + Q, on both machines. Then use either Ethernet or Firewire.

  • by Javashak,

    Javashak Javashak Sep 20, 2012 2:42 AM in response to Javashak
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2012 2:42 AM in response to Javashak

    Thanks Clinton. I don't like doing this sort of thing without knowing the impact but as suggested I aborted the migration (had to reset the new Pro), connected up wired to the router and it has started off afresh with no ill affects. I have decided to migrate my iTunes at a later date as it is 350+GB on it's own.

  • by clintonfrombirmingham,Helpful

    clintonfrombirmingham clintonfrombirmingham Sep 20, 2012 2:50 AM in response to Javashak
    Level 7 (30,009 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 20, 2012 2:50 AM in response to Javashak

    I have two iTunes libraries - about 172GB that I keep on my MacBook Pro and 500GB+ that I keep on an external drive. If you wanted to do something similar - keeping that precious internal space to a minimum - you can just create two libraries and hold down the option key when opening iTunes: this allows you to select which library you want to open.

     

    Just a thought...

     

    Clinton

  • by Javashak,

    Javashak Javashak Sep 20, 2012 3:31 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 20, 2012 3:31 AM in response to clintonfrombirmingham

    Cool tip, thanks, I'll do that and it'll also probably save me 10+ hours of migration.