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Resolved Question

MacBook Air - Transferring files to iMac Desktop

Sep 30, 2011 2:24PM PDT

I have a 2nd generation MacBook Air, and a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo on the same Airport network. My iMac and MacBook Air both use OS 10.6.7. How do I transfer files from my MacBook Air to my iMac? Thanks!

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jretzner has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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On the iMac,
Sep 30, 2011 11:25PM PDT

Turn on File Sharing in the System Preferences > Sharing

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Thanks!
Oct 1, 2011 2:58PM PDT

It took a little fiddling but I finally got them set up and was able to transfer a file.

Thanks!

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Good Job!
Oct 1, 2011 11:51PM PDT

was there something that I missed telling you?

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Public Folder
Oct 2, 2011 1:47PM PDT

I had to hunt until I found the "something like a public folder. As soon as that appeared all was well.

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thanks,
Oct 2, 2011 9:51PM PDT

I'll remember to be a bit more specific about it when someone else asks

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Is this fastest?
Feb 10, 2012 3:39AM PST

Would a wired connection be faster? Does the Air Foa target disk mode like the FireWire equipped macs do? I realize USB is slower than FireWire, but might it be faster than wifi?

Thanks.

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that depends on your WiFi speed.
Feb 10, 2012 9:06AM PST

Gigabit Ethernet is faster than everything below this
Wireless N can go faster than Ethernet 100, theoretically.<div>Ethernet is faster than Firewire 800
Firewire 800 is faster than Firewire 400
USB is faster than Firewire 400 (Theoretically)

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this was helpful until....
Jul 19, 2012 5:40PM PDT

I tried to open the shared computer folder and it said I didn't have permission, is that normal or can I stop that from happening? Anyone help?

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make sure that you are logging onto
Jul 19, 2012 9:47PM PDT

the target computer using the username and password of the owner of the target machine.
Do not try to open the shared folder. You should have complete and unfettered access to the target machine if you logged on to that account.

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Answer
Another approach
Feb 19, 2012 4:00PM PST

Your post doesn't say you want to transfer ALL your files from your MBA to your iMac. If only some of your files, you could use your backup drive ( you DO have one, right?...) and drag the files over from that. Or just turn on file sharing and do it that way. Or put files that you're working on with both machines or need to have on both machines in Dropbox (you can get a free account) and you'll have them available seamlessly where you can see and use them in your Dropbox folder right in the finder.

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No it still says that I do not have permission
Jul 20, 2012 5:23PM PDT

when I try to drag them across to the drop box it says I do not have permission

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I think we are talking about two different "Dropbox" things.
Jul 20, 2012 11:36PM PDT

The one referred to in the last post is found at www.dropbox.com
Register for a free account, install it and configure it on the MacBook Air
Download it on the iMac too.
Now you have the Dropbox installed on two machines, using the one free account.

Anything you put into the Dropbox folder on the Air, will be seen in the dropbox folder on the iMac.
Go from there.

Regarding Logging in from the iMac. If you use "Connect As" (a button seen at the top right of the window that shows when you have selected the computer you want to log into) and use the username and password of the owner of that computer, the entire computer will be available to you. Select the HD and it will mount on the desktop. The Drop Box you can see does not allow you to see inside it. If you can see the Drop Box of the iMac from the Air, just dump the files you want to move, into it. I think the message is that "you cannot see the files you drop in here" (or words to that effect.) That is normal. The owner of the Drop Box, (iMac) can retrieve files from it.
The point of using Connect As, is that you do not have to mess with the Drop Box, you have the complete run of the machine.


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