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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Mac Desktops > Migration Frustration...

Migration Frustration...
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tpicco
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Mar 2, 2011, 05:49 PM
 
I bought a new iMac with OSX 10.6.6... I am trying to transfer the files from my old old iMac with 10.3.9... but when I follow the Migration Assistant's instructions and reboot the old Mac in Target Disk Mode, the new Mac does not seem to recognize it... like it is allegedly supposed to... Any ideas?

I can always transfer files from the old to a back up drive then to the new, but why use three steps if I can use one?

Don't have a network. I have the firewire connected. The old computer even has the firewire symbol acting like a screen saver, blipping around the screen. New one ignores old one, so far...

Tried hot plugging it. Still no recognition...

Grrrrr...
     
Waragainstsleep
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Mar 2, 2011, 07:41 PM
 
Pretty sure 10.3.X is too old to migrate straight into Snow Leopard.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
tpicco  (op)
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Mar 2, 2011, 08:22 PM
 
yeeeeaaaaah i'm beginning to think so...
     
ibook_steve
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Mar 2, 2011, 10:09 PM
 
When not using MA, does the old machine mount to your new machine's desktop over Firewire? If not, I'd check the Firewire cable. If the old machine is truly in TDM, as you do mention the Firewire "screensaver" would indicate, it should work.

The OS version shouldn't matter. As long as MA finds a valid user folder, it should be able to copy stuff over.

Steve
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tpicco  (op)
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Mar 2, 2011, 10:19 PM
 
hmmmm... cable issues? ok... good point...
     
PhilCat
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Mar 3, 2011, 07:15 AM
 
I just finished transfer between MBP & MP using FW800, and it worked slick.
But 800 cables are fairly short at 1 meter, if that's an issue.
130 GB image/video files moved in about 20 minutes.
     
Doc HM
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Mar 20, 2011, 04:33 PM
 
Originally Posted by ibook_steve View Post
When not using MA, does the old machine mount to your new machine's desktop over Firewire? If not, I'd check the Firewire cable. If the old machine is truly in TDM, as you do mention the Firewire "screensaver" would indicate, it should work.

The OS version shouldn't matter. As long as MA finds a valid user folder, it should be able to copy stuff over.

Steve
MA can't work with 10.2 or earlier. 10.3 should be fine.
This space for Hire! Reasonable rates. Reach an audience of literally dozens!
     
Thorzdad
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Mar 20, 2011, 05:02 PM
 
Originally Posted by Waragainstsleep View Post
Pretty sure 10.3.X is too old to migrate straight into Snow Leopard.
I migrated my 10.3.9 G5 over to my 10.6.x iMac using MA with no problems
     
Waragainstsleep
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Mar 20, 2011, 07:45 PM
 
My mistake. Couldn't find an official word on it.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
tpicco  (op)
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Mar 20, 2011, 08:51 PM
 
ok well... i got fed up, backed up the 10.3.9 and uploaded it to the new machine... grumble grumble...

to be honest, over the past 8 months, bit by bit, most of my Apple software apps began to fail... couldn't plug in my iPod to iTunes... couldn't get the Mail app to fetch my mail anymore... couldn't use the Disk Utility... so it could simply be MY 10.3.9 all messed up
     
Eug
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Apr 4, 2011, 01:59 PM
 
You shouldn't try to run older OSes on newer machines. Even if it works (and often it doesn't), you'll have problems.

Anyways, I've sworn off Migration Assistant too. It's not foolproof IMO. I just manually back up everything and transfer it over the hard way.
     
ibook_steve
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Apr 4, 2011, 03:15 PM
 
Migration...frustration...so bad it makes him cry.

So sorry. Sitting in the airport and I couldn't help myself.

Steve
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Spheric Harlot
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Apr 4, 2011, 03:37 PM
 
Originally Posted by PhilCat View Post
I just finished transfer between MBP & MP using FW800, and it worked slick.
But 800 cables are fairly short at 1 meter, if that's an issue.
130 GB image/video files moved in about 20 minutes.
You can get 10m FW 800 cables.

Even FW400 has a maximum of 4.5 m.
     
tomacsh
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Apr 5, 2011, 06:02 PM
 
If all else fails, start up both computers, attach them via an Ethernet cable and set the network addresses manually.
new iMac
IP Address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Router: 192.168.0.1

old iMac
IP Address: 192.168.0.2
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Router: 192.168.0.1

Set Filesharing on in System Preferences:Sharing
you can connect via Connect to Server... under Go menu option in Finder. just enter IP Address of old iMac and make sure to select Macintosh HD or whatever your hard drive name is. You can then copy the files from the old iMac. Don't bother with MA.
     
azrich
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Apr 5, 2011, 06:08 PM
 
Sounds like you figured a way around your issue.

I wanted to point out that MA will move everything for you, and in my case that caused a white screen lock up during startup. The folder /library/startupitems had a folder that caused me problems. I believe it was BRESINKx86Monitoring which is part of a CPU temp monitoring program I tried out. It also could have been the Cocktail app's items there, I don't use either anymore so I left them both out. Without those folders everything worked fine.

Hope this helps someone in the future, thank god for safe boot

Enjoy your new iMac, I'm loving mine!

Rich
     
SierraDragon
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Apr 5, 2011, 07:01 PM
 
IMO migrating apps is a bad idea. Kind of like moving to a new house and instead of starting fresh you move all the junk, dirt, dust bunnies, etc. along with the furniture.

It is a PITA but I believe in clean new installations of every app on a new box, and also repairing Permissions immediately _before_ and immediately _after_ every install of any kind.

Some folks consider it a waste of time but after years of listening to others have problems while I have had problem-free usage of heavy graphics apps (Aperture, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Painter, etc.) on multiple Macs I am fully convinced that although repairing Permissions is not a "fix" it is very useful maintenance.

-Allen Wicks
     
Jasoco
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Apr 6, 2011, 03:59 AM
 
I migrate everything when I upgrade including apps like PhotoShop and never have problems. Your experience is not typical.
     
SierraDragon
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Apr 6, 2011, 11:36 PM
 
Originally Posted by Jasoco View Post
I migrate everything when I upgrade including apps like PhotoShop and never have problems. Your experience is not typical.
I would not try to define "typical" but - for whatever reasons - quite a number of folks long-experienced with heavy graphics have evolved some behaviors that work. And then we spend time responding to others' "issues." Not every user has such issues, and Photoshop no longer qualifies as one of the super-demanding apps, but after more than a decade of heavy graphics every day I am confident as to certain useful behaviors.

I am happy that migrating apps has worked well for you so far and hope it continues to do so. Me, I will do fresh installs.

-Allen
     
Jasoco
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Apr 7, 2011, 12:36 AM
 
Well I only have PhotoShop CS3, but I went to town on it. Removing the PPC binary, moving and deleting folders and application parts of it I will never use and have upgraded and updated my OS a few times and it somehow still works. Don't ask me how. It's the one app I never would think would.
     
Waragainstsleep
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Apr 7, 2011, 04:15 AM
 
Worst app for any kind of migrate or even hardware change is Quark. Big part of why no-one uses it any more.

I find a lot of the old habits of doing things a certain way do not apply as much as they used to. Many people refuse to do decimal OS updates via Software Update and insist on using the combo updaters instead. This used to be very sound advice but it rarely makes much difference any more.
I have plenty of more important things to do, if only I could bring myself to do them....
     
   
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