Apple Users

enough

(13,454 posts) Wed Aug 5, 2015, 04:55 PM Aug 2015

New MacBook Pro, old one on last legs. Migration Assistant will not recognize the old MacBook

to do the transfer from the old to the new.

Old MacBook is 10.6.8, which theoretically should be able to use Migration Assistant.

I have connected the two with a direct ethernet connection using Apple's Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter. I also tried doing the connection wirelessly. Neither works at all. Migration Assistant just does not see the old computer, the grey wheel just spins forever, looking for "other sources."

Does anybody have any experience with this? Looking at the net, it appears to be a rather common problem.

7 replies

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New MacBook Pro, old one on last legs. Migration Assistant will not recognize the old MacBook (Original Post) enough Aug 2015 OP

I've never been able to use migration assistant NV Whino Aug 2015 #1

Last time I first backed up the old computer using Time Machine Lydia Leftcoast Aug 2015 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Aug 2015 #3

Hey thanks for these thoughts! enough Aug 2015 #4

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Aug 2015 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author guyton Aug 2015 #6

To update, finally got on the phone with Apple support, who told me I had to enough Aug 2015 #7

NV Whino

(20,886 posts)

1. I've never been able to use migration assistant

Reply to enough (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2015, 05:06 PM

Aug 2015

I jostled stuff on thumb drives and transfer that way. Reinstall programs.

Lydia Leftcoast

(48,217 posts)

2. Last time I first backed up the old computer using Time Machine

Reply to enough (Original post)

Wed Aug 5, 2015, 06:43 PM

Aug 2015

and then used the backup disk to transfer programs and documents to the new computer.

Response to enough (Original post)

guyton This message was self-deleted by its author.

enough

(13,454 posts)

4. Hey thanks for these thoughts!

Reply to guyton (Reply #3)

Sat Aug 8, 2015, 06:11 AM

Aug 2015

Actually, I haven't been using Time Machine, so that might be a good option to try.

I'll experiment with that Target Disk Mode method also. I wonder if it would work with the ethernet cable instead of firewire?

Response to enough (Reply #4)

guyton This message was self-deleted by its author.

Response to enough (Reply #4)

guyton This message was self-deleted by its author.

enough

(13,454 posts)

7. To update, finally got on the phone with Apple support, who told me I had to

Reply to enough (Original post)

Wed Aug 19, 2015, 07:04 PM

Aug 2015

update the old computer to Yosemite in order to do the migration. Was about to do that (no cost) when I got alerts telling me that several apps I value will not be able to run on Yosemite.

So I decided to keep the old OS intact on the old MacBook and do a piecemeal transfer of things from the old to the new. That wasn't too difficult, and everything seems to be running well.

Only one pesky problem, having to do with a particular font we use in our business website, email, etc. That beloved font does not show up on the fancy new MacBook. OTOH, the new one has many beautiful fonts in all kinds of languages from all over the world, none of which I will ever use, but I do like the idea of it. Eventually, I will figure out how to download the particular font, and all will be solved. In the meantime, I can still use the old MacBook for those great old applications, should I ever need to.

Thanks to all.

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