deleting/merging "Users"

[wombatlove]

I just bought a re-furbished imac with maverick. After I "migrated" my old data onto the new one, I ended up with two users who are both me. How do I merge users? or get of them altogether?

 

[harryb2448]

G'day and welcome to the forums.

Did you install Mavericks via your Apple ID? If not, you will not be able to update or use the App STore. If you do have an Apple ID, essential, download Yosemite, install and migrate your things over.

Very confusing this owenership of the operating system when it is tied to the Apple ID.

 

[chscag]

I just bought a re-furbished imac with maverick. After I "migrated" my old data onto the new one, I ended up with two users who are both me. How do I merge users? or get of them altogether?

That's because you created an account on the refurbished iMac before you migrated the data over. You're not supposed to do that. The Migration Assistant will move your account over automatically during the process.

Log on with the account you wish to keep and copy everything from the "other" account over. Once you're satisfied everything is working and the account is OK, you can remove the duplicate account.

 

[Rod]

If you still have the data you "migrated" on an external HD the easiest way to achieve your ends might be to start over by doing a clean install of Mavericks. Then import (migrate) your data again.
You say you bought it refurbished. Was that from a licensed reseller or a private individual?

 

[wombatlove]

That's because you created an account on the refurbished iMac before you migrated the data over. You're not supposed to do that. The Migration Assistant will move your account over automatically during the process.

Log on with the account you wish to keep and copy everything from the "other" account over. Once you're satisfied everything is working and the account is OK, you can remove the duplicate account.

Thanks, but since I already did, and had no data on it (it was one that was created in the licensed mac store) I deleted it and had no problems. --

 

[Aygee]

That's because you created an account on the refurbished iMac before you migrated the data over. You're not supposed to do that. The Migration Assistant will move your account over automatically during the process.

Log on with the account you wish to keep and copy everything from the "other" account over. Once you're satisfied everything is working and the account is OK, you can remove the duplicate account.

Interesting - the destructions on the support page state - "If your new Mac already has a user account with the same name as one you're trying to transfer, Migration Assistant lets you decide what to do. You can either replace the existing user on your new Mac, or give the user you're migrating a new account name." As has been found by myself and others this isn't correct!

Am I reading your last paragraph correctly - I should transfer data and create a 2nd account then presumably I should be able to copy by activating file sharing?


I'm kicking myself for not doing the data transfer as soon as I started the new machine!!

Thank you.

 

[chscag]

The instructions for using Migration Assistant leave a lot to be desired. A new Mac will automatically run the Migration Assistant the first time it's turned on. The best way to tackle this is to have a Time Machine backup of your old Mac. Attaching the Time Machine drive to the new Mac will transfer the data and your account. However, this does not work if you first create an account on the new Mac because as you found out, you'll wind up with two accounts and confusion.

Am I reading your last paragraph correctly - I should transfer data and create a 2nd account then presumably I should be able to copy by activating file sharing?

Only if two accounts exist on your new Mac and you want just the one.... then and only then copy data from the account to be removed to the account that you wish to keep. After making sure everything is OK, remove the extra account. No need to create another account.

 

[Aygee]

The instructions for using Migration Assistant leave a lot to be desired. A new Mac will automatically run the Migration Assistant the first time it's turned on. The best way to tackle this is to have a Time Machine backup of your old Mac. Attaching the Time Machine drive to the new Mac will transfer the data and your account. However, this does not work if you first create an account on the new Mac because as you found out, you'll wind up with two accounts and confusion.



Only if two accounts exist on your new Mac and you want just the one.... then and only then copy data from the account to be removed to the account that you wish to keep. After making sure everything is OK, remove the extra account. No need to create another account.

Sorry, the bit about creating a 2nd account was meant to refer to what the migration assistant wants me to do as I stupidly created an account before I started the data transfer

I'll give this a whirl when I have a bit more time and I'm more awake!!

Thanks again for the help, much appreciated.