Problems after using Migration Assistant

[Raven]

I set up my wife's new Mac Mini, OSX10.7.4
Then I transferred files from her G4, OSX10.4.11, to her Mac Mini using Migration Assistant. I read the previous posts by TS folks hoping to get it right. But I didn't. Aargh!

MA wouldn't let me transfer Mac to Mac (because of the G4?), so I had to use the option of transferring from a disk to a Mac ( I think that's the option it gave me).
When it gave me the choices I checked and transferred -
USERS/my name,
SETTINGS - Yes for "Computer".
SETTINGS - No for "Network" because I already had the Mini set up and working for wifi.
OTHER FILES & FOLDERS ON "UNNAMED MAC"
I did not transfer any apps.

The G4 had 3 partitions from years ago:
Partition OSX which has OSX10.4.11 on it.
Partition OS9 -  empty.
Partition WORK - work files including iPhoto Library. (The OSX partition was almost full)

After MA was complete, about 6 gb of files were transferred which is about what those 3 partitions added up to be. Yet...
- None of her previous G4 bookmarks show in the new Safari browser Menu or Menu Bar
- Her emails were transferred but not her Address Book, or Mail folders such as Sent, Draft, etc.
- Her iPhoto photos do not show up in the new iPhoto
- none of her iTunes songs are listed.

I think this MAY be the problem...
There are 3 "Devices" showing in the Finder side bar -  "OSX", "OS9", "WORK".
These were the partitions.
Do we have an OS within an OS?
How to get the files from those partitions into the right place on the Mac Mini?

Sorry, if this is not described properly. It's got me confused! :-)

[tacit]

Migration Assistant only copies what's on the OS X partition. If you have multiple partitions, it won't transfer (or even look at) anything that is not on the OS X partition.

To copy iPhoto and iTunes, you can hand-copy the iPhoto and iTunes libraries manually from the old drive to the new, as long as you put them where they belong in the Music and Pictures folders.

Also, they might actually be there, but not where you expect. If you got the new computer, created a new user, then did the transfer, it will have transferred the OLD username and password and then put the photos and music in the OLD user account. Try logging out and then logging back in with the username and password you used to use on the old computer. Do you see the music and pictures there?

[Raven]

You were right on, Tacit!
Everything is on the Mac Mini but shows up as 3 separate "Devices" which were the partitions on the G4...

OSX - includes Apps, Developer, Library, System and Users Folders (in here are my wife's iTunes).

OS9 - empty.

WORK - all active working files including iPhoto Library.

See screen shot.

QUESTIONS:
1. Can I just drag the WORK files to the Documents folder on the Mini?
2. Do I just drag/move the iTunes and iPhotos FOLDERS to the Mini?
3. How do I find and move the Mail folders and Address Book? It should be in the OSX Device, I think.
4. And same for Safari Bookmarks?

5. When I'm done, can I just delete the 3 Devices?

Gees, toooo many questions! ;-)

[tacit]

QUOTE(Raven @ Sep 3 2012, 04:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

QUESTIONS:
1. Can I just drag the WORK files to the Documents folder on the Mini?
2. Do I just drag/move the iTunes and iPhotos FOLDERS to the Mini?
3. How do I find and move the Mail folders and Address Book? It should be in the OSX Device, I think.
4. And same for Safari Bookmarks?

5. When I'm done, can I just delete the 3 Devices?

Gees, toooo many questions! ;-)

Yep, you can open the Work partition and then drag everything to the Documents folder on the new computer. Same for iTunes and iPhoto; click on the folders and drag them to the correct places on the new computer.

The Mail information is all on the old OS X drive. It's located in the Library folder in your home folder. To find it on the old computer, open the OS X partition, open the folder called Users, open the folder with your username, and look inside it for a folder called Library. Open that and find the folders called Mail and Mail Downloads.

You are going to copy them to the new computer. Unfortunately, on some new computers, the folder they need to go to is invisible. So click on the Go menu, choose Go to Folder, and type

~/Library

When the Library folder opens, copy the Mail and Mail Downloads folders into it.

You might also need to copy the file called com.apple.mail.plist from the old OS X (it's in the folder called Preferences in the Library folder) to the Preferences folder in the Library folder of the new computer.

Safari works the same way. Copy the Safari folder from the old Library folder to the new Library folder.

When that is done, hit the Eject button next to all three old partitions and disconnect the old hard drive.

[Xairbusdriver]

FYI: Hiding the users Library folder/directory is one of the least intelligent things Apple has done in some time. Especially when they leave the System Library wide open! There are simply too many times when you need access to your Library, IMHO. So, to make it available without the silly "Go..." menu rigamarole, first perform the steps tacit mentioned. Once the Library is visible, simply drag it into the Side Bar of your Finder Window. Your Library is now available from any Finder Window (assuming the Side Bar is showing).

That was the last thing I used the "Go..." menu for about 12 months ago. I can't remember when or what I used it for several years before that time.

[Raven]

I think I screwed this up some more. I hate this! ;-)

 It's taken me a while to determine I have TWO accounts on my wife's Mac Mini when I transferred her old files from the G4. I have to log out and log in to access either one. Don't ask how I did that. :-(

Now, I have the 3 partitions (WORK, OS10.4, EMPTY) from the G4 on a "G4" account and all the OSX10.7.4 files on a "NEW" account.

How do I get Mail, Safari, etc files from one account to the other? I'm not in Target Disk Mode anymore to access the G4, if need be.

Please suggest how I can fix this?

[Xairbusdriver]

I'm not using 10.4 any more but I think the following explanation will still apply:

1. Log into the account you want to move stuff FROM.
2. Open two Finder windows.

A. Under the Devices section of the Side Bar, find the Main drive, probably has "HD" tacked onto it's name. The "Devices" section may have been called "Volumes" back then, also.
B. Assuming you are using column view, scroll down in the column next to the Side Bar until you see a folder called "Users." Select that folder. You should now see a list of every account you have set up. One will probably have a "House" icon which designates the account you are logged into (see step 1). Select that account/folder.
C. You should now see everything that 'belongs' to that account.

3. In the other Finder window, repeat steps A and B, select the account you want to move stuff TO.
4. There should appear a fairly short list of folders/directories one of which is labeled "Public."
5. You can now go back to the first Finder window, select a few items and drag them into the Public folder of the second Finder window.  You will probably get a dialog telling you "The item “Xyz.extension” can’t be moved because “Public” can’t be modified". However, that dialog will also have two buttons; "OK" and "Authenticate." Click the latter button and enter your admin password for the account you are logged into.
6. Repeat step 5. until all items have been moved or until it's time for dinner.

[Raven]

Thanks for all your help, XABD! I will owe you a case of beer or 10!    I tried to do what you explained.  Still may have some things screwed up. See the screen shot from the Mac Mini.

I think the USERS/VOLKERBECKMANN folder came from the G4 transfer. I can't open the folders inside...
"The folder “Downloads” (etc) can’t be opened because you don’t have permission to see its contents."
Shall I dump it?

The files you told me to place in a PUBLIC folder are in the VOLKERBECKMANN/PUBLIC folder.

The WORK folder in the side bar is my wife's working files from the G4.

I have no idea what the REMOTE DISC is.

Am I getting close to this working properly? My wife is losing her patience with me after a week of this!! :-)

[Xairbusdriver]

You can't open the folders inside "volkerbeckmann" because you are logged in to "marshbeckmann". If you want to move items from "volkerbeckmann" you will have to log in to that account. You can only move items from an account you are logged IN to.

I like having two separate windows in Column View. That way I don't have almost identical info/folder names in one window. However, the red minus parts help to indicate what are not your own/logged IN files/folders. The 'minus' sign is saying, "You can't get stuff out or put stuff into these folders." That's why we have to use the "Public" folder. You will have to log IN to the "volkerbeckmann" account to then put stuff in there where you want it.

[chriskleeman]

Hi Raven,

Explanation of Remote Disc Here:

HTH,

Chris