What Is Migration?

What are the good ways to delete files from failed migration on OS X Lion?

• So I was migrating files from my MBP to newly bought MBA. Since the migration was too slow I decided to cancel the process and try alternate solution. But once I canceled, the files from migration attempt remained on the computer. Now when I go through finder to check how much hard drive space I have it shows additional 30 gigs of used space, from failed migration. What is the easiest way to fix this?

• Answer:

  I had the same problem, and found no useful answers.  My answer ain't pretty, especially if you don't know your way around a UNIX command line, but here's what to do: Download GrandPerspective (google it) Open terminal under /Applications/Utilities/ Run GrandPerspective as root:  "sudo /Applications/GrandPerspective.app/Contents/MacOS/GrandPerspective &" (without the quotation marks) In GrandPerspective, choose File>Scan Folder Press <Command>+<Up Arrow> until the directory stops changing; you should see your hard disk (i.e. "Macintosh HD"). Scan it. When it finishes (can take a few minutes), you'll get a graphical overview of your hard disk.  Mousing over each of the little blocks will give you a file name; look for stuff under /private/var that includes ".../Users/<failed migration account name>/..."  That's what you're looking for. Here's the part that will make sysadmins cringe:  Set a password for the root user.  In the terminal, enter "sudo passwd root" (again without quotes).  It will ask you for a password.  Pick a good one (google "strong passwords" for advice) that you won't forget.  DON'T pick the same one you use to login to your mac or anything else. Now enter "su" (no quotes).  Enter the password you just chose.  Your prompt will change; that's fine. Now, make note of the path you saw leading to your failed transfer, and move to that directory:  "cd /private/var/...<other stuff>.../Users" (again, no quotes) Type "ls" and you should see your failed login account name, say "foo," for example.  Type the following:  "rm -rf foo" (repacing "foo" with whatever account name is there).  Depending on how much there is, this may take a minute or two.  When the cursor moves to the next line with a new prompt, it's done, and your space should be reclaimed.  Type "exit" next, to stop being root user, or just quit Terminal. Do NOT make a habit of using that "su" command; you can easily hose things up. Good luck.