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lilskye Author

Level 1

76 points

Migration Assistant will not recognize my PC - PLEASE HELP

I hope someone who knows something about Windows PCs can help. I am a longtime Mac user and have never migrated a PC to a Mac before. I am doing this for my work computer, which I just got a new iMac and really need to transfer my PC files (Outlook mail folders, calendar and contacts) into my new iMac.

I have followed ALL the directions repeatedly (so please do not give me the link on "how to"), I have called Apple Care who do not have the answer.

I am at initial start-up, with the "Select the Source" window and a whirling apple thing "looking for other computers".... I have downloaded and launched Windows Migration Assistant and it is also "Waiting for your Mac to connect..."

These are directly connected via ethernet cable hard drive to iMac. All virus and security settings that I can find have been disabled. The PC is a 2012 Dell XPS 8300 running Windows 7.

If you go to the Windows Control Panel and look at Security, everything is disabled - EXCEPT "Internet Security Settings are set to their recommended levels" I have no ieda how to make that go away. I have tried disabling it in IE and it only let's you go from High to Medium.

Can someone please help me figure out why these 2 computers cannot recognize each other so I can migrate?

Any help is truly appreciated with much gratitude.

Thanks!!!!!!

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 11, 2013 7:26 PM

24 replies

Dec 20, 2013 6:29 PM in response to waltb79

Howdy,

Had the same issue today.

Direct etheret cable connection should work, and is ideal generally.

I think the main issues can be either security/AV/Firewall settings, or, in my case (as these have now all been turned off), the network settings we're not probably working correctly.

Had first turned on the brand new Mac, and during the first few steps, setup the Wifi.

Connecting to ethernet didn't work. Disconnecting and reconnecting ethernet didn't work.

Disconnected the Wifi, still didn't work.

Finally, found it worked, after powering off the Mac (which was brand new and had begun the 'setup assistant' once, then just pressed and held power button for 10 seconds to manually power down, not ideal, but worked, and can then run Disk Utility to make sure no obvious disk corruption happened), and power off the Windows PC, direct connected ethernet, power them both on, made sure all AV software disabled in Windows, and then they see each other just fine, transfered all data, even pushed them into various appslications all correctly, very smooth at that point.

I'm pretty sure it was an issue where the two network computers connections were not 'letting go' of some previous setting, and thus didn't see each other, but when booted fresh, already connected via ethernet, no problem.

Cheers,

Daniel Feldman

=======================================================

MacMind

Certified Member of the Apple Consultants Network

Apple Certified (ACHDS)

Jan 9, 2014 1:33 PM in response to lilskye

I had a problem like this, but not sure if it's as complex. I connected the PC to the Mac with the ethernet cable and asked the Mac to find the PC. It found the PC, but then kept searching for other devices. That never stopped - just the little wheel whirring round for literally hours. I tried clicking on the PC icon it showed - amazing. It immediately connected. I think the problem for me was that I thought it would stop looking for other devices on its own, but it didnt

den.thed

Level 10

83,158 points

Oct 12, 2013 9:51 AM in response to lilskye

If nothing at > Switch Basics: Migrate your Windows files or system to your Mac helps, you can always use a FAT-32 formatted USB External Hard Drive to move files between PC's and Mac's.

Eric Root

Level 10

684,669 points

Nov 9, 2013 12:07 PM in response to lilskye

Migration Assistant - Windows

den.thed

Level 10

83,158 points

Oct 12, 2013 10:34 AM in response to C F McBlob

I don't have a PC and never have. 😉

Thanks though, I'll keep FileDrop in mind the next time my daughter is here with her pc and were sharing photos and music.

lilskye Author

Level 1

76 points

Nov 9, 2013 4:35 PM in response to Eric Root

No idea why you posted this link. If you read this thread, we did all this to begin with and the computers do not recognize each other...

lilskye Author

Level 1

76 points

Nov 10, 2013 5:15 AM in response to iW00

I agree with iW00. Ethernet Mac to Mac or Mac to PC is the preferred choice. The issues arise (as he states) from the PC's complicated Security & Firewall layers.

waltb79

Level 1

0 points

Dec 19, 2013 4:24 PM in response to lilskye

Having same problem - did you ever get it solved?

ecrb

Level 1

4 points

Jan 2, 2014 8:33 AM in response to lilskye

I was having the same issue. I installed an updated copy of iTunes on the Windows PC and it worked.

Migration Assistant will not recognize my PC - PLEASE HELP