Mar 16, 2018  Both Windows and Mac OS X can see each other’s files, but they can’t write to the other operating system’s partition. Boot Camp can be annoying. Both Windows and Mac OS X can see each other’s files, but they can’t write to the other operating system’s partition. How to Share Files Between Mac OS X and Windows. Oct 25, 2019 When asked how you want to transfer your information, select the option to transfer from a Mac, Time Machine backup, or startup disk. Click Continue. On your old Mac: If you started your old Mac in target disk mode or are migrating from a Time Machine backup, skip these four steps. Open Migration Assistant. Click Continue.

I had to restart the finder for this change to take effect.
Also, if you don't have the backup issue that the author has, you can just make the existing folder invisible without creating the alias.

I tried simply to hide the folder using the command, and got an error message because of the spaces in the folder name. So I retyped the command, pressing Tab after Microsoft, and Terminal entered the required backslash prefix to the spaces automatically. After a relaunch of the finder (via Cmd-Opt-esc), the folder is invisible. Thanks!

Be careful. If you use Entourage, your life is also kept in that User Data folder. You might want that backed up.

That's so fabulous! I just did it with my 'iChats' folder, too (gotta save 'em for work reasons). Finally! I've been wondering about that forever....

Be careful if you've moved the iChats folder and made an alias to it! Because Apple *still* has not implemented proper support for Mac OS aliases in Cocoa, iChat cannot follow an alias. If you've replaced the transcripts folder with an alias, iChat won't complain, but it also won't save any transcripts. I spent some time on this because I want to be able to put the iChat transcript folder where I want, not where Apple wants. My final solution:
-Leave the iChat transcript folder ('iChats') in your Documents folder.
-Make an alias from the transcripts folder to wherever you want the iChat transcripts folder to 'really' be (i.e. where you will access it from). Name it whatever you want.
-Now make the original transcript folder (in the Documents folder) invisible. The alias you created will still be visible and it will still open the transcripts folder.

Ummm....
I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but this is *all unnecessary.*
Just drag your Microsoft User Data folder to your Library (~/Library/) and Office will find it there just fine, and never create a new one in your Documents folder.
---
---------
cpac

didn't work for me. MS just went and created a new User Data folder to replace the one I just moved.

Hi,
It has worked for me.
I moved the Microsoft User Data folder to /User/xxx/Library/Application Data while Word was opened.
After having closed Word then re-opened it, the Microsoft User Data folder was NOT re-created in my Document folder.
So, the SetFile command is not the only solution to get rid of this folder.
Bye,
---
--
Thomas Balthazar

My folder gets recreated in Documents when I try this. Running 10.3.2 with latest MS Office updates on a relatively clean system, no haxies. I tried moving to my Library folder, Application Support, and I created an Application Data folder. Didn't work, and that doesn't surprise me.

I recently installed Microsoft Office on 25 MACs and had an 'unexpected error loading Microsoft Framework X library' on 5 of them. Do you have a fix for this?

Microsoft User Data Mac Move To Computer

thanks so much man. i applied for an account on this message board just to thank you. i appreciate an explanation like urs which is easily understandable by a new Mac convert. it means a lot

Yeah its pretty annoying that Apps create folders in Documents. Appleworks, MS, Inspiration and Adobe Acrobat all do this too. My backup script I have contains a list of folders to ignore. So its pretty easy to add in new folders and such.

I have to say that this 'feature' is the one reason I have stayed with Entourage instead of mail. I move between computers and can simply copy this one folder to take all my mail with me. With Mail.app, I would have to copy my preferences separately (or so I believe).
I could get around this using aliases on all the machines I use but its not as neat as the office solution.

Great hint. I moved a bunch of folders into the Application Support folder in my Library.
One question though, why do you have the /. in the path to the SetFile program? I've never seen that. Isn't /Developer/Tools/SetFile the proper way to do it? What's the /. for?

Well dammit, this is a whole new thing. After how many years. . . Just opened Entourage '04 and it acted like that MSUserData Dolder was always in /User/Library/Preferences.
Sure is nice to have the Documents Folder back for my own use. I had such an arcane thing going, just to have my own files. Thank you! [10.4.5, AlBook]

Yep it works but the place has to be /Library/Preferences not just /Library

where do you type that developer code into?
Thanks

Moving to a new Windows 10 PC is an exciting time. Shiny new hardware and a snappy system are sitting there waiting to be used. The problem is that your familiar files are sitting on your old PC, and you don't want to start over entirely anew. To ease your transition between PCs, here are seven ways you can transfer your data.

Use OneDrive to transfer your data

One of the easiest ways to back up and transfer your data is to use the cloud storage service OneDrive. If you have a Microsoft account, you automatically get 5GB of storage for free.

This isn't a lot of space for a backup, especially if your old PC has been around for a long time, but there are affordable options with much more storage. 100GB of space will cost you about $2 per month, while 1TB of space will cost you about $7 per month and will also get you a Personal subscription to Office 365.

Transferring your files and folders between PCs is easy as long as you have an internet connection, and you can enjoy knowing that your data is protected from hard drive failure. The only downside here is that your applications and settings won't make the trip over to your new PC.

Cloud storage solution

Microsoft OneDrive

A 5GB plan from OneDrive is still free, but if you're transferring a bunch of larger files between PCs, you'll likely want to check out the 100GB plan at $2 monthly, or up to a 1TB plan that includes Office 365 Personal for about $7 monthly.

Source: Windows Central

Using an external hard drive to transfer your data from an old PC to a new PC also gives you a backup of your data in case things go wrong. This mostly manual process might take a bit longer, but if you already have an external drive lying around, you can transfer your files without spending more money.

All you have to do is plug your hard drive into your old PC, move your files and folders from your old PC onto the drive, then plug it into your new PC and reverse the transfer process. Note that using an external hard drive does not let you transfer your Windows settings or applications — this is a method for moving your files and folders only.

If you're interested in using an external drive to back up and transfer your data, check out our roundup of the best external hard drives available now.

Use a transfer cable to transfer your data

If you don't want to subscribe to cloud storage services or spend the money on an external hard drive, there is a relatively cheap option that lets you transfer your data between Windows XP all the way up to Windows 10.

This Windows transfer cable from Plugable costs about $40 and uses two USB-A 3.0 male connectors to plug into each PC. Once the PCs are connected, the included software will move you through the process of transferring your files, settings, user accounts, and folders.

If both PCs don't have USB 3.0 ports, there is also a USB 2.0 option available from UGREEN. Note that using a transfer cable does not create a backup of your files when they are transferred.

Direct transfer

Plugable USB-A 3.0 transfer cable

Connect to each PC with USB-A 3.0 and transfer your files directly between PCs. Plugable includes software that will make the process as easy as possible.

Source: Laplink

Back in the days of Windows 7 and Windows 8, Microsoft had a service called Easy Transfer that allowed users to move their files and settings between PCs using either a physical USB transfer cable, a set of DVDs, an external hard drive, or a network.

Unfortunately, Easy Transfer was scrapped in Windows 10, but you've not been abandoned completely — Microsoft's partnered up with Laplink PCmover to duplicate that functionality, except now it's no longer free.

The Express version lets you select folders, user profiles, files, and settings you want to be transferred over to your new PC. All you have to do then is connect the two PCs to the internet and let everything transfer. PCmover will do its best to make your new PC seem like your old PC, but, depending on how old of an OS you're moving from, you will likely see some changes. In the case of anything going wrong, there is 24/7 assistance to get you through the problem.

This version of PCmover does not allow for full application transfer between PCs. It is compatible with Windows OSes between, and including, Windows XP and Windows 10. Keep in mind that PCmover does not create a backup of your files when they are transferred.

Easy Transfer replacement

PCmover Express

Transfer folders, profiles, files, and settings to your new PC over your connected network, and take advantage of 24/7 assistance should any errors pop up. This license is good for one transfer between two PCs.

PCmover Professional

PCmover Professional will cost you more for a single-move license, but if you want to also transfer your applications, you'll want to go with this option. It works essentially the same as PCmover Express, except you can choose which applications to transfer as well as your folders, user profiles, files, and settings. It also has 24/7 assistance in case anything goes wrong.

This works on Windows operating systems between and including Windows XP and Windows 10. Keep in mind that PCmover does not create a backup of your files when they are transferred.

Transfer applications as well

PCmover Professional

If you'd like to also transfer any installed applications from your old PC to your new PC, you'll want to check out PCmover Professional. It works the same as the express version, but the end result is a new PC set up much more like the old one.

Source: Windows Central

Cloning a hard drive allows you to create an exact replica of your old drive on a new drive, whether external or internal. As soon as a clone is created, it should be ready to boot on the new PC.

There are several cloning tools you can choose from, but we found success with Macrium Reflect. There is a free version that works well for casual users, a home version with four use licenses, and there's also a free business version as well as paid options with varying prices.

If you're interested in creating a direct clone of your old drive to use in a new PC, check out our complete cloning guide that will walk you through the entire process.

Cloning software

Microsoft User Data Folder

Macrium Reflect Home Edition

Though there is a free version of Macrium available for casual use, the Home Edition includes a full year of extensive support and use licenses for four PCs. If you plan on getting serious with backups and clones, this is the way to go.

Source: Windows Central

With the Windows 10 April 2018 Update, HomeGroup was retired in lieu of a new feature called Nearby sharing that uses Bluetooth to transfer files between PCs in close proximity. It should be enabled by default on your PC, and you can tweak settings to have everything set up exactly how you'd like.

Nearby sharing is great for transferring files to a new PC, but it will not work the same way as, say, cloning, where you essentially duplicate everything, including Windows 10 and your data. If you'd like to try out Nearby sharing, be sure to have a look at our comprehensive guide with everything you need to know.

Use Flip Transfer for quick, free sharing

If you're looking to quickly and easily transfer up to 50 files (each less than 250MB in size) at a time, Flip Transfer can get the job done for free. Just visit the Flip Transfer website in your preferred browser, drag and drop some files, then access and download them on a different PC using a unique FLIP-ID.

Flip Transfer isn't going to deliver the same experience as, say, cloning, where all apps and settings are carried over to a new PC, but it is extremely convenient and will work on plenty of devices. After 24 hours, the files are removed from Flip Transfer's servers, so be sure to download them onto your new device as soon as possible.

More Windows 10 resources

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Microsoft User Data Mac Move Free

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