New iMac arrived, but setting up problems

[thelastgizmo]

Well my new base model 27" 512 SSD iMac arrived yesterday (ordered 10th July arrived 31st but due 11th August!). I went through the setup process and created an account but then tried using Migration Assistant to get stuff off my PC. The connection failed after a short while so not much data was transferred but there was enough to have set up another user on the iMac with the name of the original PC user (who was my daughter!). So I now have a choice of two users at switch on (me and daughter Kate). I now want to remove the PC users account (my daughter Kate) and anything related to it. Is it safest to do a reset back to factory settings? If so how is this done? Or do I remove the account? Will this remove all of the data transferred during the Migration activity (a hundred or so MB)? I have done nothing else to the machine and will not lose anything by a reset so will be quite content to have a "just out of the box" machine. I have decided to manually transfer my user data and not use Migration Asistant so I have a bit of control over what is transferred.

 

[tgara]

I would wipe the whole thing and start over. Don't use migration assistant -- all that does is transfer the years of cruff from your old machine that will do nothing but constipate your new machine. Instead, take the time to do a clean install on your programs and selectively transfer your data. Yeah, it takes some time, maybe a day or two. Yeah, it's a hassle. Yeah, it can be frustrating. But it's so worth it to have a clean OS and data running.

You can wipe your machine by following this article.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-reset-mac-factory-settings-3494564/

 

[Fishrrman]

I wouldn't do "a wipe".
Instead, just delete the user accounts you don't want, and start again from there.

Did you get everything from the PC for -YOUR- account?
Is that one good to go?

Or, is there more stuff to be brought over?

I would not use a network connection for this.
Instead, use either an external hard drive or a USB flash drive of sufficient capacity.
Format it on the PC, the Mac -should- recognize it (if it doesn't, tell us).

Put the stuff you want to move on the external drive and connect it to the Mac.
Use the finder to place it where it should go.

Manual migrations can be more involved than using Migration Assistant.
It helps to keep notes as to what's been moved, and what hasn't.

 

[thelastgizmo]

I would wipe the whole thing and start over. Don't use migration assistant -- all that does is transfer the years of cruff that will do nothing but constipate your nice new machine. Instead, take the time to do a clean install on your programs and selectively transfer your data. Yeah, it takes some time, maybe a day or two. Yeah, it's a hassle. Yeah, it can be frustrating. But it's so worth it to have a clean OS and data running.

You can wipe your machine by following this article.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-reset-mac-factory-settings-3494564/

Thanks. That's what I'd prefer. I didn't find out about the problems associated with Migration Assist until I watched a Youtube video. By then it was too late. This is my first apple product of any discription (I' m a PC user) so wiping the hard drive and reinstalling the OS (I assume that is what is required) is a big deal. I assume the reinstalled OS would know about my SSD.
[doublepost=1501599404][/doublepost]

I wouldn't do "a wipe".
Instead, just delete the user accounts you don't want, and start again from there.

Did you get everything from the PC for -YOUR- account?
Is that one good to go?

Or, is there more stuff to be brought over?

I would not use a network connection for this.
Instead, use either an external hard drive or a USB flash drive of sufficient capacity.
Format it on the PC, the Mac -should- recognize it (if it doesn't, tell us).

Put the stuff you want to move on the external drive and connect it to the Mac.
Use the finder to place it where it should go.

Manual migrations can be more involved than using Migration Assistant.
It helps to keep notes as to what's been moved, and what hasn't.

The PC I'm taking data from used to belong to my daughter at university (she needed a powerful PC for her graphics programs - that was 12 years ago!). When she graduated we took the PC back so it only had on account on it which was set up in her name. All the data on it now is mine but still under her account. I never had my own account! It kept things simple. What I'm trying to do is get my data off the PC but there has been a lot of dross collected over the years which I don't want transferred.

I have managed to delete Kates account from the iMac now and have asked for the data for that account to be wiped from the disc. I therefore assume that I am now back to the position I was in before I attempted the Migration. I have a backup of the data I need to retrieve from the PC on an external drive so will gradually copy any wanted files over from that. As I'm not familiar with iMacs I'm not sure where relevant files should go. I have music (mostly on iTunes but some other MP3s), photos, Word files and spreadsheets.

 

[tgara]

Thanks. That's what I'd prefer. I didn't find out about the problems associated with Migration Assist until I watched a Youtube video. By then it was too late. This is my first apple product of any discription (I' m a PC user) so wiping the hard drive and reinstalling the OS (I assume that is what is required) is a big deal. I assume the reinstalled OS would know about my SSD.
[doublepost=1501599404][/doublepost]

The PC I'm taking data from used to belong to my daughter at university (she needed a powerful PC for her graphics programs - that was 12 years ago!). When she graduated we took the PC back so it only had on account on it which was set up in her name. All the data on it now is mine but still under her account. I never had my own account! It kept things simple. What I'm trying to do is get my data off the PC but there has been a lot of dross collected over the years which I don't want transferred.

I have managed to delete Kates account from the iMac now and have asked for the data for that account to be wiped from the disc. I therefore assume that I am now back to the position I was in before I attempted the Migration. I have a backup of the data I need to retrieve from the PC on an external drive so will gradually copy any wanted files over from that. As I'm not familiar with iMacs I'm not sure where relevant files should go. I have music (mostly on iTunes but some other MP3s), photos, Word files and spreadsheets.

Did you have an iTunes account before you acquired this iMac? If so, and if you purchased music through the iTunes Store, it will be there on your new machine once you log into the iTunes store on your new machine. As for the other music that is not in any iTunes account, you can simply drag the files onto the iTunes icon on your new machine and they will be added locally. Same goes for photos.... just drag the photo files from your old gear onto the icon on the new machine and they will go into the right place.

As for the Office files, you can set up a folder for that.

One more thing. If you had an iTunes account before you got the new machine, you probably had an Apple ID also. Make sure you don't create a new account with another Apple ID, because things will get confused fast. Use ONE Apple ID.

 

[thelastgizmo]

Did you have an iTunes account before you acquired this iMac? If so, and if you purchased music through the iTunes Store, it will be there on your new machine once you log into the iTunes store on your new machine. As for the other music that is not in any iTunes account, you can simply drag the files onto the iTunes icon on your new machine and they will be added locally. Same goes for photos.... just drag the photo files from your old gear onto the icon on the new machine and they will go into the right place.

As for the Office files, you can set up a folder for that.

One more thing. If you had an iTunes account before you got the new machine, you probably had an Apple ID also. Make sure you don't create a new account with another Apple ID, because things will get confused fast. Use ONE Apple ID.

Hmm. Did I have an iTunes account? Well, I have iTunes on my PC which I used to import music from CDs and put on my tablet. But I never bought any music from it or used it online. If I had an Apple ID I've no idea what it is now or know how to find out. It must have been over ten years ago that I installed iTunes. I have not logged into iTunes or any of the online Apple locations on this iMac, apart from iBooks. So my new Apple ID and password are active. If it means the loss of what I have in my existing iTunes folder, no problems as these are only copies of my existing CDs. They have all been converted to MP3s anyway to play on my Android devices. I have no other Appple device that I have to worry about being permissioned.

 

[tgara]

Hmm. Did I have an iTunes account? Well, I have iTunes on my PC which I used to import music from CDs and put on my tablet. But I never bought any music from it or used it online. If I had an Apple ID I've no idea what it is now or know how to find out. It must have been over ten years ago that I installed iTunes. I have not logged into iTunes or any of the online Apple locations on this iMac, apart from iBooks. So my new Apple ID and password are active. If it means the loss of what I have in my existing iTunes folder, no problems as these are only copies of my existing CDs. They have all been converted to MP3s anyway to play on my Android devices. I have no other Appple device that I have to worry about being permissioned.

OK, I think you'll be fine. Importing music using iTunes probably was not enough to set up an account.

Just use your new Apple ID on everything Apple-related so that all your purchases and devices are kept together under one roof. That means iTunes Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store, etc.

Now you need to get an iPhone. And an Apple Watch. And AirPods. And an iPad. See what I did there?

 

[thelastgizmo]

I would wipe the whole thing and start over. Don't use migration assistant -- all that does is transfer the years of cruff that will do nothing but constipate your nice new machine. Instead, take the time to do a clean install on your programs and selectively transfer your data. Yeah, it takes some time, maybe a day or two. Yeah, it's a hassle. Yeah, it can be frustrating. But it's so worth it to have a clean OS and data running.

You can wipe your machine by following this article.

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac/how-reset-mac-factory-settings-3494564/

Thanks. That's what I'd prefer. I didn't find out about the problems associated with Migration Assist until I watched a Youtube video. By then it was too late. This is my first apple product of any discription (I' m a PC user) so wiping the hard drive and reinstalling the OS (I assume that is what is required) is a big deal

OK, I think you'll be fine. Importing music using iTunes probably was not enough to set up an account.

Just use your new Apple ID on everything Apple-related so that all your purchases and devices are kept together under one roof. That means iTunes Store, Mac App Store, iBooks Store, etc.

Now you need to get an iPhone. And an Apple Watch. And AirPods. And an iPad. See what I did there?

I was left looking at a lot of Apple product when I went to pick up the iMac at my local Apple store. I had to wait about 10 minutes for someone to see me and I'm sure it was a deliberate ploy to give me a taste!

I don't see me buying music from iTunes. I'm old fashioned (i.e. old) and like to have something solid in my hand for the money. I have however just been converted to a Kindle (ebook) so no doubt will be buying books as downloads. Change happens slowly at my age!

 

[Fishrrman]

OP:
How is your music (on the PC) currently organized?
Is it all "managed by iTunes" (on the PC)?
Or... are your files organized in a folder/file hierarchy of your own creation?

If the files reside in an iTunes "library" on the PC, it -might- be possible to just copy that library over to the Mac. I'll admit up front that I'm not sure about such things, because I'm one of the few Mac users who DOES NOT use iTunes for playing/organizing my music.

Regarding photos, again, how were they filed/managed on the PC?
You probably want to get them "somewhat organized and together" before you bring them over.

As I mentioned above, moving things cross-platform like this will probably take a little time, mostly to work out what you have on the PC and where to put it on the Mac.

There's no need to hurry.
I'd get one "project" done and tested first (like music), and then move to the next (photos), etc.

If you have any MS Office-related stuff on the PC, the docs you've created can get copied over. Give some thought about how to organize them before you move them.

On the Mac side, if you don't have the Mac version of MS Office, you can use the free "LibreOffice" to view and edit them. It opens files from many other programs, as well.

 

[thelastgizmo]

OP:
How is your music (on the PC) currently organized?
Is it all "managed by iTunes" (on the PC)?
Or... are your files organized in a folder/file hierarchy of your own creation?

If the files reside in an iTunes "library" on the PC, it -might- be possible to just copy that library over to the Mac. I'll admit up front that I'm not sure about such things, because I'm one of the few Mac users who DOES NOT use iTunes for playing/organizing my music.

Regarding photos, again, how were they filed/managed on the PC?
You probably want to get them "somewhat organized and together" before you bring them over.

As I mentioned above, moving things cross-platform like this will probably take a little time, mostly to work out what you have on the PC and where to put it on the Mac.

There's no need to hurry.
I'd get one "project" done and tested first (like music), and then move to the next (photos), etc.

If you have any MS Office-related stuff on the PC, the docs you've created can get copied over. Give some thought about how to organize them before you move them.

On the Mac side, if you don't have the Mac version of MS Office, you can use the free "LibreOffice" to view and edit them. It opens files from many other programs, as well.

My music files will be as iTunes dictate. I have mp3 variants of them within the iTunes library and they are accessible using file manager which is how I transfer them to my tablet.

My photos are managed manually. I just put them into My Pictures under a meaningful directory.

As far as Office is concerned I'll go with whatever the closest acting free software to Office is available. Is LibreOffice a look-a-like?

 

[b06tmm]

If you're using the same iTunes account on the new computer remember to deactivate the old computer iTunes account before you format the drives. I always forget this step.

 

[Fishrrman]

b06 had good comments above.

RE:
"My music files will be as iTunes dictate. I have mp3 variants of them within the iTunes library and they are accessible using file manager which is how I transfer them to my tablet."

It will take someone with more knowledge about iTunes than I have.
Is there an "iTunes library" icon/folder on the PC? That contains everything "within"?
If so, I'm wondering if you could just copy that into the "Music" folder inside the home folder on your Mac (replacing the one that is currently there), and have iTunes "pick right up" on it?

"My photos are managed manually. I just put them into My Pictures under a meaningful directory."

You could probably move them en masse into the "Pictures" folder in the home folder on the Mac.
Then, you set up your viewing/editing app on the Mac (be it Photos or anything else) so that the library is "referenced". That is to say, tell the app NOT to copy the originals into its own library folder. In Photos there's a little checkbox in the upper left when you first access the pics.

I do something similar. I keep all my original pics on a separate volume, in a folder/file hierarchy of my own creation.
This way I can use ANY photo editing app on the Mac, and NONE of them move my originals into their libraries. The originals always remain in my own library.

"As far as Office is concerned I'll go with whatever the closest acting free software to Office is available. Is LibreOffice a look-a-like?"

The "free options" to MS Office (such as LibreOffice) aren't going to look exactly like Office does. But try it anyway, you may like it. And the price is right.

 

[thelastgizmo]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I've decided to remove the account and all the data pertaining to it rather than wipe the drive. Now I'm reviewing all the data from the PC before I transfer it over.

I'm sure there will be more questions later, probably quite soon!