Cannot get Migration Assistant to work 10.8.5

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Cannot get Migration Assistant to work 10.8.5

Nearly frustrated to tears. Spent all day trying to get my brand new iMac going. Thought it was going to be easy... and it should be. Here are the details...

Going from an iMac from mid 2010 with 10.8.5 to the new iMac just released this week with 10.8.5. Using ethernet cable. Tried the old mac as a computer, and also tried in target mode. The differences are...

In target mode, the new computer never sees the old one. When NOT in target mode, the new computer DOES see the old one, but the old one never connects with the new one. The new computer gives me the confirmation number, but then says the other computer is not responding and I have no option but the cancel the transfer.

I turn the WiFi off while trying the transfer. No change.

Tried the Disk Utility on both computers. Both fine. No change.

The Engergy Saver is set to "Never" on both computers.

I'm traveling, so I do not have the disks for the old computer. Reinstalling is not an option. I do not have an external disk. Since I can't get the new mac to see the old one in target mode, I don't have any faith that an external disk would make a difference anyway.

That's about all I can think of right now. Thank you in advance for your help.

iMac (21.5-inch Mid 2010), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Sep 27, 2013 9:26 PM

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Answer 1

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 27, 2013 9:37 PM in response to MicahFloyd

Target mode is for use with Firewire cable connections, not Ethernet. New iMacs don't have Firewire ports. But you could purchase a Thunderbolt to firewire adapter.

If you use an Ethernet connection, then both computers need to be running Migration Assistant at the same time, and configured accordingly.

Then there are the instructions: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889

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Answer 2

MicahFloyd Author

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Sep 27, 2013 9:43 PM in response to Lanny

Yes, those are the instructions I followed. They fail for me at step 14 under Migrating with WiFi or Ethernet connection. The source mac never gets the confirmation code from the new mac. The new mac sees the source mac and displays the confirmation code, but says (correctly) that the source mac isn't responding.

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Answer 3

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 27, 2013 9:57 PM in response to MicahFloyd

And you're running Migration Assistant on both the old and new Macs?

And don't you mean steps 10 & 11 instead of 14?

Is Sharing turned on? "On the source Mac, open System Preferences, click Sharing, and make sure there is a name in the Computer Name field."

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Answer 4

MicahFloyd Author

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Sep 27, 2013 9:55 PM in response to Lanny

Yeah.

Yes, 10 and 11. The source continues to search for the new mac, but never sees it and never gets the confirmation number from the new mac.

Sharing is on, but could be part of the problem. There are a lot of options in the sharing menu. I turned on internet sharing and selected the ethernet connection as the method of sharing. Did that for both computers but didn't see a difference. I'll double check, though.

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Answer 5

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 27, 2013 9:58 PM in response to MicahFloyd

Check File sharing, you're not using the Internet for this process.

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Answer 6

MicahFloyd Author

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Sep 27, 2013 9:58 PM in response to Lanny

I'll give that a shot now. Thanks.

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Answer 7

MicahFloyd Author

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Sep 27, 2013 10:07 PM in response to Lanny

Well that seems to be a step back. I turned off internet sharing and turned on File Sharing, but had no luck. Made sure the my user profile from my old computer was selected and still no luck. Now the new computer doesn't even see the old computer.

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Answer 8

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 27, 2013 10:16 PM in response to MicahFloyd

This is File sharing on the old computer, right?

Also, try restarting both Macs.

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Answer 9

MicahFloyd Author

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Sep 27, 2013 10:16 PM in response to Lanny

Yeah, on the old computer. Now both of them just search for each other.

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Answer 10

Lanny

Level 6

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Sep 27, 2013 10:19 PM in response to MicahFloyd

Sharing only needs to be on for the old/source Mac.

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Answer 11

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 27, 2013 10:31 PM in response to MicahFloyd

Try it with both Internet and File sharing checked.

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Answer 12

MicahFloyd Author

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Sep 27, 2013 10:32 PM in response to Lanny

I think the restart finally kicked it into gear. Had to create a temporary user so I could move my old one across, but it seems to be working now. Just about 45 minutes to go!

Thank you. Sorry if I seemed frustrated earlier.

Any advice on getting the old Mac sale-ready without the original disks?

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Answer 13

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 27, 2013 10:44 PM in response to MicahFloyd

The trick is to set this up prior to creating a user on the new Mac. It would be Setup Assistant on the new one and Migration Assistant on the old one.

Technically, the old Mac should be configured to the OSX version that shipped with the Mac. If you upgraded the the old Mac to Lion or Mountain Lion, that license is attached to your Apple ID, not the Mac, and can't be transferred to another owner. This logic also applies to any 3rd party software that is on your old Mac. The software is registered to you, not the machine.

You can however, purchase replacement discs for your old Mac from Apple for a nominal fee. You'll need to provide them with your old Mac's serial number.

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Answer 14

MicahFloyd Author

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Sep 27, 2013 10:51 PM in response to Lanny

Yeah I knew the set up was going to be tricky. The main issue is I'm using the hotel internet, which requires a log in through a browser. Caused some issues when I first fired up the new machine.

So all the third party software should transfer with the migration, correct? I'm hoping I can get startup disks from the apple store. I want to sell this week before I leave the area.

Oh, currently in the Boston area, btw.

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Answer 15

Lanny

Level 6

13,183 points

Sep 27, 2013 11:00 PM in response to MicahFloyd

So all the third party software should transfer with the migration, correct? I'm hoping I can get startup disks from the apple store. I want to sell this week before I leave the area.

Yes, the 3rd party software should transfer, providing that you checked off that option. However, some 3rd party software may require rentering serial numbers depending on the way they handle activation/deactivation.

I doubt that an brick and mortar Apple Store would stock startup disks, but you could try, I'd call first. There are just too many specific models out there. But, if you call 1-800-My-Apple, they should be able to ship them to you quickly.

By the way, I live in Winthrop, MA.

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