Huck

Q: Migration Assistant

I recently bought a new Mini with mountain lion installed.  My old Mini is running Snow Leopard (10.6.8).  I cannot make migration assistant move my files from the old Mini to the new Mini.  I get to where I am given a code to copy but the other Mini does not accept it.  At that point, I am stuck.  I have been through the process several times but it just isn't going to work.  Is there an alternative method to transfer my files where I won't be losing a lot?

Mac mini, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Feb 20, 2014 9:48 PM

Close

Q: Migration Assistant

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Malocolm,

    Malocolm Malocolm Feb 20, 2014 9:51 PM in response to Huck
    Level 1 (40 points)
    Feb 20, 2014 9:51 PM in response to Huck

    Programs made or installed, on a mac are optimized for that software, you will need to make a backup on your older Mac and update. Well if you can for that point. But it won't allow you becuase the app used to create it, was made for that version of OS.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Feb 20, 2014 9:56 PM in response to Huck
    Level 6 (14,274 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 20, 2014 9:56 PM in response to Huck

    There is a sub-menu in TimeMachine where you can locate and move files from another Mac or external hard disk drive, as you'd do from a backup. This has several practical purposes. The information on how to do this should be in Help in the Mac; that is searchable. Also in Support site online.

     

    Limitations of older Applications, utilities, and third party applications will be evident when older items won't run in the later OS X. Be careful to seek upgraded and updates from reliable sources and not some other site loaded with adware. Copies of your created works in applications likely won't open if something isn't available or suitable to do so. This is the kinds of items you'd be moving over, not applications themselves w/o installers.

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by Huck,

    Huck Huck Feb 20, 2014 9:56 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 20, 2014 9:56 PM in response to K Shaffer

    Unfortunately, my time machine stopped functioning when I upgraded to Snow Leopard.  Thanks though.

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Feb 20, 2014 10:04 PM in response to Huck
    Level 6 (14,274 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 20, 2014 10:04 PM in response to Huck

    TimeMachine:

     

    The software is in the OS X, from Leopard 10.5 to Present...

    It is not a device, it an integrated part of the operating system.

     

    You can use this software and in its sub-menu options, choose

    to use it as a method to move files from an external HDD or

    from another Mac into another. A migration assistant alternative.

     

    {And to attempt a repair in something such as TimeMachine in

    10.6.8, reinstall the Snow Leopard Combo update v1.1.}

     

    http://www.apple.com/support/timemachine/

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by K Shaffer,

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Feb 20, 2014 10:34 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 6 (14,274 points)
    Desktops
    Feb 20, 2014 10:34 PM in response to K Shaffer

    a ps to the above:

     

    • OS X: How to migrate data from another Mac using Mountain Lion & earlier...

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4889

     

    •Mac OS X 10.6: how to use migration assistant to transfer files from another mac

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4413

     

    You still may be able to use disk migration in association with an external HDD;

    and with Macs that share FireWire hardware, the Target Disk Mode can help

    in that an older computer could be started in TDM and accessed by Migration

    Assistant, so no code -- just an admin password should be needed.

     

    However, I have not researched the port configuration in later models of Mini.

    Mine has both FireWire, and USB.

     

    Another item that may be of interest (or not)...

     

    • Intel-based Mac: Some migrated PPC applications may need to be updated

    (items that ran OK in Snow Leopard due to Rosetta, won't work in later OS X)

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1963

     

    Good luck & happy computing!

  • by Huck,Solvedanswer

    Huck Huck Feb 21, 2014 10:24 PM in response to K Shaffer
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Mac OS X
    Feb 21, 2014 10:24 PM in response to K Shaffer

    I used time machine to do a clean back-up on an external drive and used that to feed the new mini.  Went well but I see I have a lot of stuff incompatible with the new OS.  Many thanks for the help.