Does everyone have issues with aliases after every migration?

I posted a similar question (which has been closed) a couple of months ago when I began noticing how slow my new M4 system was, which seems considerably slower than my 2015 MBP running OS 10.15.7. I feel ripped off, to be honest; the new Mac is no better than what I had, aside from the increased memory and storage capacity. I am frustrated at the lack of information or resolution for the problem with my 3-month-old computer

So, back to my initial question heading. I'm struggling with aliases not working as intended and many other minor anomalies that are malfunctioning as advertised. Don't suggest I take the machine to an Apple Store and have someone look at it? I don't like talking to any Apple employee who believes they are God's gift to the tech world but can't address the real issue. and instead of solving the problem, They insist that I go through the process of wiping the entire 8TB drive and installing everything I have from scratch without any valid reason for doing so. Suggestions anyone?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 15.4

Posted on Apr 12, 2025 8:39 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 12, 2025 9:05 AM

Have you tried disconnecting all peripherals? That is commonly a good troubleshootig step.


Have you eliminated interference from unneeded software?


Have you run Apple Diagnostics? If so did it return any error codes?

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support


At the very end of that article is a llink to a "translator" for any codes you see.


If you want a data-driven evaluation in this setting where we can neither see nor touch your computer, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days. 


EtreCheck Pro is available here:


https://etrecheck.com/index


The free version will do nicely for this purpose, although the app is worthy of our financial support.


We can, among other things, see hard data about drive performance, software issues and interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.


Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:


How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community



5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 12, 2025 9:05 AM in response to jonpen69

Have you tried disconnecting all peripherals? That is commonly a good troubleshootig step.


Have you eliminated interference from unneeded software?


Have you run Apple Diagnostics? If so did it return any error codes?

Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support


At the very end of that article is a llink to a "translator" for any codes you see.


If you want a data-driven evaluation in this setting where we can neither see nor touch your computer, please post an EtreCheck report. We can quickly and within the limitations of these forums help you determine what issues are at play without our playing a protracted game of "20 Questions" with you that could go on for days. 


EtreCheck Pro is available here:


https://etrecheck.com/index


The free version will do nicely for this purpose, although the app is worthy of our financial support.


We can, among other things, see hard data about drive performance, software issues and interferences, and RAM usage. Etrecheck is the development of a long-serving and trusted ASC contributor. It is a reporting app, not a "fix-it” app, expressly for displaying information in these forums to help us help you remotely. It will not reveal any personal or secure information.


Please see this excellent user tip on how to post long text reports like EtreCheck's into a forum response:


How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community



Apr 12, 2025 11:01 AM in response to jonpen69

jonpen69 wrote:

Don't suggest I take the machine to an Apple Store and have someone look at it? I don't like talking to any Apple employee who believes they are God's gift to the tech world but can't address the real issue. and instead of solving the problem, They insist that I go through the process of wiping the entire 8TB drive and installing everything I have from scratch without any valid reason for doing so. Suggestions anyone?

The valid reason they suggest that is that almost always these problems stem from something that is installed. There used to be a program many years ago called "Conflict Catcher" that allowed users to selectively deactivate installed items one or two at a time to find the culprit. Unfortunately, that tool no longer works with modern Macs. Starting fresh is a good way to test for a hardware cause, which is very rare. Then after a wipe and clean install, one installs all third party items one at a time and that way you can isolate the true root cause by testing after each item installed.


A less invasive approach is the Etrecheck tool that others have suggested. This may allow people reading its report here to find what might be causing this. You can also try booting into Safe Mode to see if the issues go away. However Safe Mode is sometimes slow for other reasons so that might not be definitive.


We have thousands of these M3 and M4 Macs in use where I work and they are lightning fast. And my employer puts anti virus, Big Fix, and all kinds of extra stuff in them, they are managed Macs, yet they are very fast. Yours should be as well.

Apr 12, 2025 8:53 AM in response to jonpen69

The most trouble free way to move to a new machine, is using the Setup Assistant on the initial boot of a brand new machine— you have one shot here. Set up your MacBook Pro - Apple Support


The second best way is use the Migration Assistant.

How to move your content to a new Mac Transfer to a new Mac with Migration Assistant - Apple Support



I f you have ongoing—I would start over and try again.


How to reinstall macOS

Recovery (both M1/M2/M3/M4 and Intel) — How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support





Always recommended to Uninstall all third party apps that are Cleaners/Optimizers/VPN/Anti-Virus

all known to cause issues on the macOS



As it stands right now to trouble shoot further you can:


—A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies


Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled temporarily.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.


This test will tell you if third party interference; most extensions etc are not loaded in safe boot mode.

 


—Test issue in another user (or guest user) account Change Users & Groups settings on Mac - Apple Support

This will tell you if it a universal issue or isolated to your user/admin account. 



You can get a good look at your User/System config. and reveal conflicts or issues, you can download/run this trusted utility https://etrecheck.com


If you need help interpreting the report you can post it here in its entirety in the "Additional Text" box in the editing toolbar below, in your reply.


How to use the Add Text Feature when posting an Etrecheck Report

How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community


Apr 13, 2025 1:15 PM in response to jonpen69

jonpen69 wrote:

I've signed in to my Macbook in safe mode. same things happen. I have no idea what is happening. I aslso have and did a recheck with Etrecheck. No DIce

What does "No Dice" mean -- Etrecheck simply lists things that are installed and information (anonymously) about how the computer is configured. It does not "fix" or "change" anything when it is run, it provides diagnostics in its report, hence Allan and Leroy suggested posting the Etrecheck report so people familiar with those can scrutinize it for possible causes.


It is worth getting to the bottom of this, a new M4 Mac is not inexpensive and you will note scores of them in Apple Stores running quite fast and smoothly. Yours is slow: either something has been installed that is incompatible (run Etrecheck and readers here may find the cause), or you have a hardware problem. Since Safe Mode was still slow, that is disturbing and MIGHT point to hardware, but not always. If it is a hardware problem, you will want to get that addressed as soon as possible by an Apple Authorized Service Center, either under warranty or AppleCare if those apply to your case. The wipe and clean install (with no third party extensions or software) is a pretty definitive test for faulty hardware.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Does everyone have issues with aliases after every migration?

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