[artlewis]

I've seen some posts (MikeStevens) but not exactly covering my question.

My son has a mini (10.4.11) with a busted firewire port and I want to transfer his home folder to another computer (iMac running 10.5.2). He has too much data (about 45GB) for easy cd or dvd transfer.

Can I file copy his home folder via ethernet and file sharing to the iMac?

Thanks.

[Sherman Homan]

Short answer is Yes.
It is easy enough to set up, but in my experience it will take a very long time and you will have really annoying permissions issues. An other option would be to get a USB drive and transfer things that way, you do have a backup system, right?!

[artlewis]

Yes, thanks.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan 

Short answer is Yes.
It is easy enough to set up, but in my experience it will take a very long time and you will have really annoying permissions issues. An other option would be to get a USB drive and transfer things that way, you do have a backup system, right?!

The permissions issue should not be so bad, depending on the following factor:
Are you transferring the data from one account (e.g. use johndoe) to the same user accounton a differen machine (also johndoe) ?

Use CarbonCopyCloner and select only the user's directory /User/johndoe/ to be cloned. You shouldn't have any permission issues. Bear in mind that you will also be copying user preferences and other stuff in /User/johndoe/Library.

If you intend to copy it from one user to another user (johndoe to anniesmith), I would recommend a regular copying of all folders inside of /User/johndoe/, but NOT the /User/johndoe/Library/ folder.
A drag and drop copying in the Finder via Ethernet would work, although it will take a moment. As long as you don't try to copy /User/johndoe/Library/, you should not get any permission issues.

-t