2008 iMac - Target Display Mode?

Hi! I am a little confused it looks like newer versions of the iMac 2009+ support target display mode but I can't find any info on older iMacs. I have a 2008 iMac that has a mini DVI on the back and a 2010 MacBook Pro with mini displayport. My question can I use the iMac as a monitor for my MacBook Pro? Can I take a mini displayport cable to DVI and a DVI to mini DVI to the back of the iMac? Or is the mini DVI on the back of the iMac an output only? If so does it allow you to use a second monitor?
Thanks!
Guy

I hear you - I'm trying to make it 4 (at a little over 3 right now) because I have some camera gear I want to buy first. My iMac has been crawling a bit lately especially when running Aperture. Just did a fresh Lion install this weekend and it seems to have improved. Was thinking about getting a super beefy Mac Mini and a 27" Cinema Display instead of an iMac next time - that way I can upgrade sooner and not feel so bad about it. Keep the Cinema Display and replace the Mac Mini every 3. Else bite the bullet and get a Mac Pro - but not sure I want a giant cheese grater

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Apple Mini DVI to DVI Adapter to connect Win7 tower to iMac / Target Display Mode

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I am buying a Windows machine, and am to uninstall bootcamp and use the Mac purely for OSX, but use the iMac screen as a monitor for the tower using Target Display Mode. My issue is - the Windows 7 tower only has DVI output. And as I understand, the Mid-2011 iMac only supports Target Display Mode via a thunderbolt cable.
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Oh, I should mention also that the iMac is the 27" model. Mid-2011 3.4Ghz Intel Core i7 with 4GB RAM and 1TB Harddrive. And ATI HD5450 1GB Graphics.

HT3924 any HDMI converters available for iMac target display mode yet?

Just got this bed with a pop-out TV, and I'm thinking about getting an iMac 27" to use instead of a TV. Problem is, I'll also want to attach an Apple TV or Freeview box to my iMac - so I can play content from my iPad / watch live TV from the freeview box. This would be technically possible with target display mode, except the Apple TV / Freeview box don't have mini display port output.
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None of those will work.
It has to have a Mini DisplayPort, not evn a Display port will work.
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http://www.screenrecycler.com/ScreenRecycler.html

Mid 2010 27" IMac Target Display Mode has stopped working

I have a 27" mid 2010 IMac, NOT the thunderbolt version, and have been using it in target display mode for my Mac Pro and 2010 Mac Mini with no problems. I have used the Belkin cables, and routinely would switch between internal and external machines using Command-F2. Worked like a champ for about 7 months.
Today, with no obvious change, I cannot get the IMac to enter TDM. This is true whether I use the Mac Mini or the Mac Pro, and is true using either of two Belkin Cables.
I reset the PRAM and NVRAM on the IMac, but this made no difference. I changed keyboards from my Bluetooth IMac keyboard to an Apple USB keyboard. Again, no improvement. I have rebooted the machine without benefit. The IMac seems to function just fine in every other respect.
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When the display only shows the background, it's working in extended desktop mode. That's a logical extension of your desktop to the right of the MBP. Drag an application off the MBP to the right and it will appear on the iMac. When you close the lid of your MBP the iMac becomes the primary monitor in Clamshell mode.
If you want to mirror the MBP to the iMac then press CMD F1, press again for extended desktop mode. These settings are in System Preferences > Display > Arrangement tab.
When the iMac is in Target display mode, you don't use the keyboard on the iMac. Use the keyboard on the MBPro.

Using iMac (Target Display Mode) as an External Display for MacBook Air

I have a Mid 2010 iMac with a 2 thunderbolt ports. I now have a brand new MacBook Air (2012 Core i5 1.8GHz with 8GB RAM) with a thunderbolt port. I have a Belkin Mini Displayport Cable to connect the two. I want to use the iMac as an external monitor for the MacBook Air. I cannot seem to get this to work. Can I do this? Do I have the right cable?

You can do it but you need a thunderbolt cable to connect the two. Then just hit CMD F2 on the iMac and it will enter Target Display Mode.

2010 iMac target display mode with 2013 Mac Pro

I have a 2010 27-inch iMac that I want to use with target display mode for a 2013 Mac Pro. I have a mini display port to mini display port cable connecting them. When I plug the cable in the iMac screen goes black, but eventually reverts back to iMac desktop. Pressing Cmd-F2 makes it go black again, but eventually reverts back. I was under the impression that this was the correct cable to use to connect, but it doesn't seem to work. Anyone have ideas for what to do? What am I missing? Thanks!

You can use the cheaper single link adapter
<http://store.apple.com/product/MB570Z/B/mini-displayport-to-dvi-adapter>
if you don't have more than two DVI or HDMI displays.
<http://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT202801>
If you will be using more, you can still use a single link adapter, but it must be ACTIVE, such as
<http://www.amazon.com/Accell-B087B-005B-DisplayPort-Single-Link-Certified/dp/B00 4071ZX0>

2010 iMac Target Display Mode not working

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Target Display is working on the iMac, but by default, the MacBook Air uses the external display (in this case, the iMac) as an extended display, so you have to drag the windows to the right of the display of your MacBook Air and they will appear on your iMac.
If you want to show the same on both MacBook Air and iMac displays, see "Video mirroring" > http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5019

MacBook Air to iMac Target Display Mode not working

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I have a brand new Macbook Air and iMac along with new thunderbolt cable (all purchased at Apple Store in 2014). Would appreciate any help, thanks!

Additional twist to this...
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Hi Guys
I have a early 2011 15" Macbook Pro with thunderpolt port aswell
as a Mid 2010 27" iMac with MiniDisplay port.
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Both has Mountain Lion on them.
I have both Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt aswell as miniDisplay to MiniDisplay
cables.
I can't get target display mode to work.
The thunderbolt cable doesn't work at all.
The MiniDisplay does seeem to work to an extend but not completeley.
When i plug in the MiniDisplayPort cable to both machines then
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I have a 13"macbook air and a Dec. 2012 iMac 27". Out of the blue it stopped working in Target Display Mode. Switching cables doesn't help, and the iMac and MBair are connect to power. I can see the iMac screen in Share Screen mode on the MB air.
This seems to be an issue, I have encountered eg. in MacRumours:
Jan 11, 2013, 10:17 AM
#5
martinm0
macrumors 6502
Join Date: Feb 2010
I have the same issue with my 2012 27" iMac (3.4, 680MX). When I initiate Target Display mode the iMac goes black and never comes back up. On the laptop I can see the display in Display Preferences, but its as if the backlight doesn't come on in TD mode. (I even did screen sharing into the laptop and can see both displays there.
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I have connected my early 2014 MacBook to a late 2012 imac and connected them via Thunderbolt cable. Pressing Command F2 causes the screen on teh iMac to change to teh MacBook background screen, but does not display any desktop files or command lines. Any ideas how to fix this?

Hi tdmone,
Welcome to the Support Communities! The resource below may help you with the Target Display Mode options for connecting your Macbook and iMac:
Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Apple Support
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT3924
The table below shows iMac computers that support TDM, the required cables, and the port of the computer to which you are connecting the iMac.
iMac Model
Cable Supported
Port on Source Computer
iMac (27-inch Late 2009)
Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort
Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt
iMac (27-inch Mid 2010)
Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort
Mini DisplayPort or Thunderbolt
iMac (Mid 2011)
Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt
iMac (Mid 2012 and later)
Thunderbolt to Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt
Are you connecting via the Thunderbolt ports on both computers?
How do I enable TDM?
Make sure both computers are turned on and awake.
Connect a male-to-male Mini DisplayPort or ThunderBolt cable to each computer.
Press Command-F2 on the keyboard of the iMac being used as a display to enable TDM.
Note: In Keyboard System Preferences, if the checkbox is enabled for "Use all F1, F2, etc. keys as standard functions keys," the key combination changes to Command-Fn-F2.
Can I use a third-party keyboard or older Apple keyboard to enable TDM?
Some older Apple keyboards and keyboards not made by Apple may not allow Command-F2 to toggle display modes. You should use an aluminum wired or wireless Apple keyboard to toggle TDM on and off.
I hope this information helps ....
- Judy

Can windows 8.1 in boot Camp display in target display mode on an IMac?

I have given up on Windows 7 running in Boot Camp on my 15" MacBook Pro and displaying it on my 27" IMac via thunderbolt and Target Display Mode.
The FAQ concerning Target Dsiplay Mode farily clearly says Windows 7 won't work.
But it does not say Windows 8.1 will or will not drive Target Display Mode via thunderbolt.
see: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5219, question 29
Has anyone found that running Windows 8.1 in BootCamp on a MacBook Pro Retina mid 2012 will display via a thunderbolt cable in to Target Display Mode on a late 2013 IMac 27"?
I don't want to go to the trouble of installing Windows 8.1 and trashing my otherwise functional Windows 7 Boot Camp installation unless it is going to display properly on my late 2013 27" IMac running OSX 10.9.3 via thunderbolt.
Thanks in advance!

no, tdm doesn't work under bootcamp regardless of which windows is being used, imho i don't think it will ever work under bootcamp

TS3775 Hi I am trying to connect my mba mid 2011 with an imac 27" 2011 with target display mode tdm. When I am using a thunderbolt cable nothing will work. When I use a minidisplay cable, both screens turn blue but eventually nothing happens. What is the

Hi I am trying to connect my mba mid 2011 with an imac 27" 2011 with target display mode tdm. When I am using a thunderbolt cable nothing will work. When I use a minidisplay cable, both screens turn blue but eventually nothing happens. What is the problem

Your answer is likely in Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Apple Support If you are familiar with this document, please re-read it and I suspect you may find something you either missed or are doing incorrectly.

How can I use my 27" iMac (2010) as an additional display to my Windows 7 PC (target display mode)?

So I have purchased a windows machines so that I can play all my favourite games on, and it's not so much a problem rather I have a 27" iMac that I would like to use as an additional monitor for said games.
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Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

Hi,
have a read here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924
Regards
Stefan

IMac 27" Target DIsplay Mode + Answer to Windows 7 Boot Camp Install

First, I'd like to address the handful of complaints I've come across about installing Windows 7 via Boot Camp on the new 27"iMac.
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Target Display Mode is a great feature. It worked great when I first used it, and it works great now except for the fact that the Command+F2 button combination stopped working. I have to manually unplug my MacBook Pro in order to get my iMac's original screen up. At first Command+F2 would allow me to switch back and forth, and now it does nothing.
Any suggestions?

Well, the usual first things to try for a display-related issue are
Reset PRAM
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379
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http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1543
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2008 iMac - Target Display Mode?

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