Transfer Mailboxes to new IMac

Question

Transfer Mailboxes to new IMac

I just bought new iMac. I am transferring data from the old one. I have linked the two with a Firewire. I transferred the iPhoto Library, the iTunes Library and all documents. But I cannot transfer the contents of the old Mailboxes. I found the mailboxes on the old computer OS X > Users > username > Library > Mail > Mailboxes > Messages
However, when trying to copy to the new computer, I am stopped after >username. "Library" has a minus sign on it. So do Desktop, Documents, Movies, Music and Pictures. If I click on "Library" I get the message "could not be opened because you do not have sufficient access privileges." I am the administrator and sole user of this computer. When I bought it this morning, I entered just one password.

new (April 06) iMac 20-inch 2GHz Intel dual processor, 1GB RAM, 250GB disk space, Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Posted on Apr 22, 2006 10:37 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Allan Sampson

Level 10

123,677 points

Apr 22, 2006 11:42 AM in response to robertwoodrow

You can use the Migration Assistant.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25773

Or if the old Mac is running Tiger, quit the Mail.app on the old Mac and using the Finder, go to Home > Library > Mail.

Copy the Mail folder and with the Mail.app quit on the new Mac, place the copy of the Mail folder at Home > Library on your new Mac. If there is an existing Mail folder, this will replace it.

On the old Mac, go to Home > Library > Preferences > com.apple.mail.plist. The com.apple.mail.plist file stores all account information and general Mail.app preferences. Copy the com.apple.mail.plist file and place the copy at Home > Library > Preferences on your new Mac. If there is an existing com.apple.mail.plist file on your new Mac, this will replace it.

Launch Mail on your new Mac and it should be identical to the Mail.app on your old Mac.

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Answer 2

Apr 23, 2006 4:49 AM in response to Allan Sampson

Worked like a dream. Many thanks.

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