Hi, how might I do this? I am also having a difficult time transferring empty folders.
Thank you,
Chris
Thank you,
Chris
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How to Transfer Alias Files to New Device?
- Thread starter ChrisBryant
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why would you want to?
surely it's easier to create new folders on the new device, or am i missing something here?
surely it's easier to create new folders on the new device, or am i missing something here?
Hi, thanks for the reply.
If you're referring merely to the empty folder half of the question, there are hundreds. And a clean transfer or download would be a lot easier.
Thanks!
If you're referring merely to the empty folder half of the question, there are hundreds. And a clean transfer or download would be a lot easier.
Thanks!
Yes, hi, thanks for these questions.
They are going from a MacBook Pro from 2019 to a laptop that is an Apple A1 Max.
I do not use a backup, per se. Originally, I tried doing the transfer via Dropbox, but none of the empty folders, nor the aliases (of which there are quite a bit too), carried over.
I have since obtained an external hard drive that has quite a bit of room on it.
But that is why I have come here, asking for help. I want you to tell me—not me to tell you—HOW I'm DOING the transfer … in such a way that I do not lose aliases or folders, however empty.
Now what, you ask, are the empty folders for? They are for files. Stuff that I anticipate putting inside of them. It is quite the intricate system.
Thank you very much,
Chris
They are going from a MacBook Pro from 2019 to a laptop that is an Apple A1 Max.
I do not use a backup, per se. Originally, I tried doing the transfer via Dropbox, but none of the empty folders, nor the aliases (of which there are quite a bit too), carried over.
I have since obtained an external hard drive that has quite a bit of room on it.
But that is why I have come here, asking for help. I want you to tell me—not me to tell you—HOW I'm DOING the transfer … in such a way that I do not lose aliases or folders, however empty.
Now what, you ask, are the empty folders for? They are for files. Stuff that I anticipate putting inside of them. It is quite the intricate system.
Thank you very much,
Chris
"I want you to tell me—not me to tell you—HOW I'm DOING the transfer"
OK, I'll tell you just what to do.
Whether you take my advice or not... is up to you.
Plug the external drive you have into the old MBP.
It's going to be erased, so make sure there are no files of value on it when you do this.
Download SuperDuper by clicking this link:
SuperDuper is FREE to use for this purpose (this costs you nothing)
Use SuperDuper to "clone" the contents of the OLD MBP to the external drive.
It's one of the easiest-to-use Mac apps I've ever seen.
When the clone is done, disconnect the drive and take it to the new MBP.
IMPORTANT:
The best way to do a migration is to a "completely blank" NEW Mac.
That means you do the migration when you boot the new Mac for the very first time.
I'm thinking that you have already put an account on the new Mac, is this correct?
I think we need a clarification from you before proceeding further.
OK, I'll tell you just what to do.
Whether you take my advice or not... is up to you.
Plug the external drive you have into the old MBP.
It's going to be erased, so make sure there are no files of value on it when you do this.
Download SuperDuper by clicking this link:
SuperDuper is FREE to use for this purpose (this costs you nothing)
Use SuperDuper to "clone" the contents of the OLD MBP to the external drive.
It's one of the easiest-to-use Mac apps I've ever seen.
When the clone is done, disconnect the drive and take it to the new MBP.
IMPORTANT:
The best way to do a migration is to a "completely blank" NEW Mac.
That means you do the migration when you boot the new Mac for the very first time.
I'm thinking that you have already put an account on the new Mac, is this correct?
I think we need a clarification from you before proceeding further.
Hi, thank you for this reply.
I am just curious about this. Why would that which is on my external hard drive be erased from merely plugging it into a new device? I am so glad you told me so, because I was very close to doing it on my own anyway. There is much on there that I cherish. Thus far, it has only been plugged into my Apple A1 Max, for unrelated reasons. In any case, I suppose this will necessitate the purchase of a new external hard drive then?
So yes, though, I have been using the Apple A1 Max for about a year now. And should it make a difference, I will add that I do not need a complete "migration," at least I do not think so. This all originates back to one folder—that is where all the aliases and empty "sub-"folders are. Everything else transferred successfully via Dropbox. And I did that in the beginning.
Thanks again,
Chris
I am just curious about this. Why would that which is on my external hard drive be erased from merely plugging it into a new device? I am so glad you told me so, because I was very close to doing it on my own anyway. There is much on there that I cherish. Thus far, it has only been plugged into my Apple A1 Max, for unrelated reasons. In any case, I suppose this will necessitate the purchase of a new external hard drive then?
So yes, though, I have been using the Apple A1 Max for about a year now. And should it make a difference, I will add that I do not need a complete "migration," at least I do not think so. This all originates back to one folder—that is where all the aliases and empty "sub-"folders are. Everything else transferred successfully via Dropbox. And I did that in the beginning.
Thanks again,
Chris
Last edited:
"This all originates back to one folder—that is where all the aliases and empty "sub-"folders are."
Navigate to this "folder" in the finder.
Click on it ONE time to select it.
Then bring up the "get info" box on it (type command-i).
What SIZE is the folder, as reported by get info?
Navigate to this "folder" in the finder.
Click on it ONE time to select it.
Then bring up the "get info" box on it (type command-i).
What SIZE is the folder, as reported by get info?
Get an external drive.
It can be USB HDD or SSD, USB flashdrive, etc.
Copy the folder (with the sub-folders in it) to the drive (using the finder).
Take the drive to the NEW Mac.
Connect the drive and let the icon mount on the desktop.
DO NOT "open" the drive icon yet.
Click ONE time on the drive icon to select it.
Now bring up "get info" (type command-i).
At the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter the password you use on the NEW Mac.
Put a checkmark into "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing & permissions).
Close get info.
Try copying the folder to the new Mac now.
What happens?
It can be USB HDD or SSD, USB flashdrive, etc.
Copy the folder (with the sub-folders in it) to the drive (using the finder).
Take the drive to the NEW Mac.
Connect the drive and let the icon mount on the desktop.
DO NOT "open" the drive icon yet.
Click ONE time on the drive icon to select it.
Now bring up "get info" (type command-i).
At the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter the password you use on the NEW Mac.
Put a checkmark into "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing & permissions).
Close get info.
Try copying the folder to the new Mac now.
What happens?
Hello,
Thanks guys, Mr. Fishrrman and Mr. iMacDragon.
First to iMacDragon—I thank you for your clarification about what it would be that erased all my stuff, without which I must admit to some general feelings of instability, as if the ground could hardly hold me.
For Fishrrman, allow me to answer your question, however belatedly. The folder in question is 12.14 GB, which, to me, seems rather manageable, partly so because all of the aliases and empty folders account for very little of it, GB-wise.
In any case, please accept this delayed response, for which I do apologize. Having read your subsequent instructions, I will set to work right away on the acquisition of a new external hard drive and report back upon its arrival.
With much appreciation,
Chris
Thanks guys, Mr. Fishrrman and Mr. iMacDragon.
First to iMacDragon—I thank you for your clarification about what it would be that erased all my stuff, without which I must admit to some general feelings of instability, as if the ground could hardly hold me.
For Fishrrman, allow me to answer your question, however belatedly. The folder in question is 12.14 GB, which, to me, seems rather manageable, partly so because all of the aliases and empty folders account for very little of it, GB-wise.
In any case, please accept this delayed response, for which I do apologize. Having read your subsequent instructions, I will set to work right away on the acquisition of a new external hard drive and report back upon its arrival.
With much appreciation,
Chris
Reading this thread is an out of body experience. I don't understand asking for help, but being so tight lipped about what on earth you're actually doing to need this. Rule #1 of tech support, ask them what they're trying to achieve - people often come with some preconceived approach in mind and ask for help with what ends up being entirely the wrong thing.
All that aside, though, `rsync` is your friend. Enable SSH on both machines and just rsync one to the other, no hard drive necessary - rsync includes plenty of options to handle aliases, symlinks, extended attributes etc.
All that aside, though, `rsync` is your friend. Enable SSH on both machines and just rsync one to the other, no hard drive necessary - rsync includes plenty of options to handle aliases, symlinks, extended attributes etc.
Plug the external drive into the 2019 laptop and copy the stuff you want onto to it. Eject it and then plug it into the new computer and drag all the stuff from that drive to the computer.
All the empty folders should copy fine. The aliases will still work if the locations they referenced on the old computer exist on the new computer.
All the empty folders should copy fine. The aliases will still work if the locations they referenced on the old computer exist on the new computer.
What is AirDrop?
Anyhow, I report back to Fishrrman, et al. with happy news. With expedited shipping, I obtained the device in question just yesterday and successfully completed our mission. Alas, not every single alias transferred, for reasons I do not fully comprehend, but I feel quite content nonetheless.
You have provided tremendous aid for which I cannot sufficiently repay you.
God speed,
Christopher
Anyhow, I report back to Fishrrman, et al. with happy news. With expedited shipping, I obtained the device in question just yesterday and successfully completed our mission. Alas, not every single alias transferred, for reasons I do not fully comprehend, but I feel quite content nonetheless.
You have provided tremendous aid for which I cannot sufficiently repay you.
God speed,
Christopher