Migration Assistant: Thunderbolt to USB-C slow?

I am having the exact same problem, on the same machines. I am using a TB3 to TB2 adapter and a TB2 cable (all from Apple). It starts at near 100 Mbps then steadily drops to about 10 Mbp. Tried 2 different cables and adapters. Tried TDM and straight migration assistant. Once migration was complete (10-12 hours), the user account was unusable. Constant beach balls, won't authenticate to web services like iCloud. Spent days on it and hours online with Apple support. Still no solution. Did Apple just become Microsoft? So far I hate the late 2016, I hate USB-C and I am contemplating next moves. This is my second $4500 late 2016, my first one failed the power test at the Genius Bar and was sent back. After another 6 week wait, I am now once again in migration ****.

I am having the same issue using TDM on a Late 2013, Retina, 15" MacBook Pro copying data to a new USB-C MBP. BoukeH, as Luis said, your setup is perfectly valid and anyone you suggests otherwise is wrong. I'm starting to think the issue is with the source machine's TDM as my speeds when putting the new machine in TDM and transferring from the old machine (MBP late 2013) are extremely fast. I'm going to find another late 2013 MBP and test this theory.

I'll let you know what I find.

Kanefire wrote:

Seagate Goflex Pro with thunderbolt... was quick for my 2012. Also got the apple USB-C to TB 1 adapter. Guessing this is where the bottleneck is. It's pretty frustrating that they come out with proprietary ports and discontinue them after a single generation. Could have added at least once TB port...

I have to clarify a few things:

- Thunderbolt is a standard. It was created by Intel, just like USB.

- The first TWO generations used the same port.

The third generation uses a different port, but that again is as standard as it gets. TB3 uses the same port as USB-C.

That of course does not explain or justify the problem you are having.

Your setup should work at least as fast as it did with the previous system; probably not much faster, because the drive is almost certainly the limiting factor.

Do you still have the older mac? Can you test to see if it still performs as fast as before with this drive?

Or perhaps test the speed while connecting the older mac in target mode?

I am wondering if it is the adapter, the drive, or a software/firmware issue.

I remember there were similar issues with 2016 macs, but they were supposed to have been solved with either firmware updates or OS upgrades.

FWIW, on the page you linked, no where does it mention using a Thunderbolt cable with TDM.

Perhaps you need to re-read the info.

I should add from a Time Machine backup might be faster as well.

FWIW, it's not Apple's fault you don't have the correct adapters or a Time Machine backup.

The only difference is now you can transfer USB-C to USB-C which you also don't have. Also not Apple's fault.

If Luis says he has connected a 2016 MacBook or MacBook Pro with USB-C ports via TDM and a Thunderbolt cable utilizing Setup Assistant to an older MacBook I have no reason to doubt him.

Happy Birthday. 🙂

FWIW, I did a full backup of my Late-2015 5K iMac earlier today. It took 1hr55mins to back up 340GBs to a USB3.0 drive. I would say 16hrs is more than a little excessive.

I just tried another MBP Late-2013 and it ran fine in TDM. So back to the drawing board, I guess.

This is much better now with the 10.12.3 update which includes Boot ROM Version MBP112.0138.B21.

cosmicpictures wrote:

This is much better now with the 10.12.3 update which includes Boot ROM Version MBP112.0138.B21.

This is great news!