belso

Q: Is it possible to use Data Migration the following way?

I'm giving my MBA to my girlfriend. I'm the only user of my MBA now and then I'd like my  girlfriend to be the only user of the MBA with administrative rights.

 

In order to avoid setting up my MBA all over again (delete everything and go back to Mountain Lion and so forth), the idea would be to create an account for my girlfriend and then delete my own account.

 

Problem is we need to migrate my girlfriend's data from another older MBA. Can I use Data Migration for this purpose and if so how to?

 

Thanks.

 

Note: if somebody comes up with a simpler way, your suggestions are very welcome too.

MacBook Air, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), september 2013, SSD 256

Posted on Jun 29, 2015 5:32 AM

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Q: Is it possible to use Data Migration the following way?

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  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Jun 29, 2015 12:58 PM in response to belso
    Level 9 (70,061 points)
    iTunes
    Jun 29, 2015 12:58 PM in response to belso

    You should follow these steps.

     

    Selling old Mac (4)          Apple support


    Once she gets the computer, she can boot and use Setup Assistant to migrate the data. Usually works better than Migration Assistant.


    When you use Migration Assistant, it normally sets up a new account. Go to System Preferences/Users & Groups to see if a new account was setup. If so, log out and then log in using the new account. Check for what you are missing. If you find it, copy it to either the users Public folder or the hard drive/Users/Shared folder. While there, see if there is anything else. When complete, log out and log in the other user account and copy the data to your normal account. You can then delete the new account if desired.

     

    Migration Assistant

     

    Migration Assistant (2)

     

    Migration Assistant – Tips and Tricks


    If the 2 computers have the correct cable connections, try the Target Disk Mode.

     

     

    Target Disk Mode - Mavericks

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Target Disc Mode


  • by belso,

    belso belso Jun 29, 2015 2:28 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 29, 2015 2:28 PM in response to Eric Root

      @Eric

    Thanks Eric for your help.

     

    However, I'm not quite clear about several points.

     

    1. should i create her account on my MBA i'm planning to give her BEFORE migrating her data and apps?

     

    2. you wrote: "When you use Migration Assistant, it normally sets up a new account."

    do you mean I'm gonna be prompted to create a new account?

    if so, I better create her account at that point (with the same credentials she has on her present MBA), right?

     

    but right below, you wrote: "You can then delete the new account if desired".

    it's the opposite i'd like to do: i'd like to delete my account so that she has only her account on the MBA i'm giving her.

     

    3. Target Disk Mode

    unfortunately her 2010 MBA has no Thunderbolt connection, we'll need to use a USB2 cable.

    i read your Target Disk Mode link and Apple don't mention/recommend using a USB2 cable.

    so I better not use Target Disk Mode and migrate via USB2, right?

  • by Barney-15E,Solvedanswer

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jun 29, 2015 5:58 PM in response to belso
    Level 8 (49,762 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 29, 2015 5:58 PM in response to belso

    First, you are not legally allowed to give, sell, transfer, convey, will, etc. the license for Yosemite. You must use Internet Recovery to partition the disk and reinstall the shipping OS. During the startup Assistant, she can choose to Migrate from her Mac. That will create the same account she has with all of her Apps.

    She can then upgrade to Yosemite.

     

    It is much better to let Migration Assistant create the account, not create the account and then try to migrate into it.

     

    You can use any cable at your disposal that will work between the two Macs. There are thunderbolt to FW800 cables available.

  • by belso,

    belso belso Jun 29, 2015 6:09 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 29, 2015 6:09 PM in response to Barney-15E

    Thanks Barney.

     

    Oh yes, I had completely forgotten about legal requirements. That said we can be regarded as a "family" as far as Apple is concerned...

     

    Anyway, thanks also for recommending Migration Assistant and to proceed the "traditional" way (which we have always done, but this time I wanted to make the transfer faster...).

    Yes MA is certainly the most secure way and that's set, we'll use it.

     

    Note: the 2010 MBA does not have a Thunderbolt port.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jun 29, 2015 6:31 PM in response to belso
    Level 8 (49,762 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 29, 2015 6:31 PM in response to belso

    Note: the 2010 MBA does not have a Thunderbolt port.

    Depending on the amount of data, you can use Ethernet (I'm not sure about USB), but as I mentioned, you can purchase a Thunderbolt to FW800 cable that will connect them both and allow you to use Target Disk Mode.

    But, perhaps it is not worth the cost/time to acquire over just using USB or Ethernet.  Oops, you mentioned Macbook Air. Maybe that's out of the question, too. WiFi??

  • by belso,

    belso belso Jun 29, 2015 6:41 PM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 29, 2015 6:41 PM in response to Barney-15E

    But how do you plug a Thunderbolt to FW800 cable to a 2010 MBA ????

     

    Thanks for the advice anyway. We'll use a clone. And if not we have several Time Capsules around... so wifi yes, but hopefully not.

     

    Cheers.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Jun 29, 2015 6:44 PM in response to belso
    Level 8 (49,762 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jun 29, 2015 6:44 PM in response to belso

    One end is Thunderbolt and the other is FW800. Does the Air not have either connection? Sorry, I'm not too familiar with the Air line.

  • by belso,

    belso belso Jun 30, 2015 8:38 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 30, 2015 8:38 AM in response to Barney-15E

    No it doesn't.

    But that's not a problem, Barney.

     

    Thanks for trying to help.

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jun 30, 2015 8:41 AM in response to belso
    Level 9 (50,245 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 30, 2015 8:41 AM in response to belso

    belso wrote:

     

      @Eric

    Thanks Eric for your help.

     

    However, I'm not quite clear about several points.

     

    1. should i create her account on my MBA i'm planning to give her BEFORE migrating her data and apps?

     

    2. you wrote: "When you use Migration Assistant, it normally sets up a new account."

    do you mean I'm gonna be prompted to create a new account?

    if so, I better create her account at that point (with the same credentials she has on her present MBA), right?

     

    but right below, you wrote: "You can then delete the new account if desired".

    it's the opposite i'd like to do: i'd like to delete my account so that she has only her account on the MBA i'm giving her.

     

    3. Target Disk Mode

    unfortunately her 2010 MBA has no Thunderbolt connection, we'll need to use a USB2 cable.

    i read your Target Disk Mode link and Apple don't mention/recommend using a USB2 cable.

    so I better not use Target Disk Mode and migrate via USB2, right?

    1. No

    2. Don't use Migration Assistant, use Setup assistant

    3. Don't use Target Disk mode, just use Setup assistant, USB2 will work but will require some time

  • by belso,

    belso belso Jun 30, 2015 3:07 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 1 (1 points)
    Jun 30, 2015 3:07 PM in response to Csound1

    Thanks Csound1

     

    the traditional way, as mentioned before I've been doing it for ages, works perfectly with USB2, no choice anyway.