Migration Assistant: files and folders missing.

Question

Migration Assistant: files and folders missing.

I have just used Migration Assistant, having declined the option to use it at set up. I wanted to transfer some folders from my old MacBook Pro to a new one, which I have had for just over a week. It has Mountain Lion.

Not being familiar with the operation, I had hoped to be able to just select which folders I wanted to move.

However, I ended up selecting ‘other files and folders’.

When I wasn’t able to find them on my new mac, I searched the forum and came across an article describing the possibility of ending up with 2 users accounts.

I have been to ‘users and groups’ > advanced options and the user ID is shown as 501.

Does this mean I have still only one account? How do I check for a second, ‘502’ account?

How do find all the files and folders supposedly transferred?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 11, 2012 12:09 PM

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Answer 1

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Nov 11, 2012 12:16 PM in response to john charnley

Go to Mac HD /Users and see what yo've got.

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Answer 2

Nov 11, 2012 12:28 PM in response to macjack

Where do I find Mac HD/users on Mountain Lion?

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Answer 3

Nov 11, 2012 2:12 PM in response to john charnley

By using spotlight, I have found users.

In there are 2 folders: a) My own named folder and b) the other one named 'shared' .

This shared folder contains items I do not want to transfer.

Can I drag the whole folder into the trash and then try another method of transferring the files i need?

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Answer 4

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Nov 11, 2012 2:57 PM in response to john charnley

No, the Shared account belongs there.

(You can find it in Finder on your "Go"menu by go to > Computer > Machintosh HD > Users)

You haven't created 2 users accounts. Other files and folders relates to items outside of your Home folder.

I don't think you've done any harm. If you want to move documents from one Mac to another you can just drag and drop into your Documents folder. If the other Mac isn't connected then use a pocket ddrive to do the transfer.

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Answer 5

Nov 11, 2012 3:03 PM in response to macjack

Do you mean I cannot revert to the state I was in before I used Migration?

Why do i need a shared account?

If at all possible I would much prefer to start again and just use drag and drop .

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Answer 6

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Nov 11, 2012 5:37 PM in response to john charnley

Sure you can revert using a Time Machine backup.

The Shared account allows sharing between accounts on the same Mac. It comes in very handy if you need to transfer filesfrom one account to another. You can log into one account and put the items in Shared and then pick them up in the other. It's there by default and there's no reason to delete it.

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