Migration Assistant in OSX 10.8.2

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Migration Assistant in OSX 10.8.2

I have an ailing MBP 13" 2.26 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo w/ 8 gig of RAM, that depsite reinstalls of OSX 10.8.2, using Repair Permissions, etc in Disk Utilities from the installer disk, the Mac is still running irraticaly.

As a prior Apple Solutions Expert I find the best way to troubleshoot this is to wipe the drive clean and reinstall the software, etc. prior to replacing the HD altogether.

Can the Migration Assistant be used to successfully reinstall the User's Account data, such as for Mail data, etc., from a typical FW backup? And if so, are there any precautions, tips or techniques I should be aware of before starting, etc.?

MacBook Pro (13-inch Mid 2009), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2), 8 GIG RAM

Posted on Jan 29, 2013 10:18 AM

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Answer 1

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Csound1

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Jan 29, 2013 10:24 AM in response to Merkaba22

Yes, but don't use Migration Assistant, use Setup Assistant, it's cleaner.

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Answer 2

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 29, 2013 11:44 AM in response to Csound1

Hey thanks, that's seems like great news.

To be sure, since I am about to whipe this baby clean, haha, Setup Assistant, unlike prior versions, now has the capacity to access a backup to fully configure a clean install from FW rather than another Mac, etc.?

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Answer 3

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 29, 2013 4:15 PM in response to Csound1

Well, I bit the bullet, whiped the drive and did a clean install off a USB Drive -- unfortuately, the Setup Assistant does not see the FW drive and I had no other choice but to skip ahead and establish a temp account -- the install appears fine, did upgrades for Safari and iTunes and the FW drives are visible on the desktop.

However, Migration Assistant, as well as Setup Assistant, fail to recognize the FW drives as well. Kinda prblematic as it stands -- ideas?

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Answer 4

Csound1

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Jan 29, 2013 4:51 PM in response to Merkaba22

Well that is a problem, can you connect via USB (does your external have a USB)?

Of course it does, you already said that, can you use the backup drive over USB?

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Answer 5

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 29, 2013 5:49 PM in response to Csound1

The backup is on a FW drive and can be seen in the desktop -- not sue how mounting it via USB will help -- this presents huge problem -- I need a protocol or workaround, etc ASAP as its my main computer ...

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Answer 6

Csound1

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Jan 29, 2013 5:52 PM in response to Merkaba22

Merkaba22 wrote:

The backup is on a FW drive and can be seen in the desktop -- not sue how mounting it via USB will help

Because TM can't access it over Firewire. And you need access to it. I offer advice, what you do with it is up to you.

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Answer 7

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 29, 2013 6:43 PM in response to Csound1

Thanks for the clarification -- I will copy all the files I can to the USB drive I have and see how it goes ....

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Answer 8

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 29, 2013 8:38 PM in response to Csound1

Time Machine does not see the USB drive either ... Jeez, no what?

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Answer 9

Csound1

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Jan 29, 2013 8:49 PM in response to Merkaba22

Haven't seen this before, manually copying what you need over seems the only option now, long tedious job unfortunately.

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Answer 10

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 29, 2013 9:57 PM in response to Csound1

Yea, yea -- that's what I was trying to avoid -- sooo, can you provide the protocol for all the data and support files for Mail, iTunes, iPhoto, and Safari, so that, I can, at least, do this process efficiently ... please?

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Answer 11

Csound1

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Jan 29, 2013 10:04 PM in response to Merkaba22

Not sure from a TM backup, the file/folder structure is different, I think that getting TM to use the backup is safer.

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Answer 12

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 29, 2013 11:24 PM in response to Csound1

I don't get it ... None-the-less, I am backing up the data (that neither Migrations Assistant or Setup Assistant would recognize) that's on the USB drive to a second FW disk via Time Machine -- how will that format help me sort this out, what's the protocol for the above apps and settings?

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Answer 13

Lanny

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Jan 29, 2013 11:31 PM in response to Merkaba22

You are selecting Other Discs in lieu of Other Computers?

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Answer 14

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 30, 2013 9:00 AM in response to Lanny

Yes, absolutely -- I actually try both options since it seems so odd that I can't get these disks to appear in these two programs while they appear and are usable from the desktop, etc ...

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Answer 15

Merkaba22 Author

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Jan 30, 2013 10:50 AM in response to Lanny

I also backed up the backup disk to TM -- is there a way I could restore from that?

Otherwise, now that the Library folder is no longer in the Users folder -- from where do you import Mail?

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