Back up in target mode on time capsule

Question

This may be something that's been answered before, but here goes:
I have this macbook pro from work that has become unstable. It crashes constantly, but I can reach it in target mode using my own old macbook.
I've got a 2tb time capsule in service as wireless router.
There's a cat 6 network cable in the house.
What I want to do is make a backup of as much as possible onto the time capsule and then do a reinstall of snow leopard and lion on the macbook.
Depending on the outcome I want to restore as much as possible to the revived macbook or have my macbook replaced and do the same.
What would be the best way to do this? Is it just a question of 'plug in and follow the wizard' or is there more to it?
Thanks for taking the time.

Answer 1

koebeen wrote:
I have this macbook pro from work that has become unstable.
Do you know why?  If the HD is failing, or the file system on it is compromised, you may not be able to do much with it.
If it's not a hardware problem, your best bet will be to try to fix it, rather than take the "nuclear" option first. 
What I want to do is make a backup of as much as possible onto the time capsule
I take it you've not been backing the MBP up to the TC?   Do you have any other backups of it?  If so, what?
That can be done, but it's a bit tricky, and Time Machine may not be your best bet.
Since Target disk mode makes the MBP look like an external HD to your MacBook, you should be able to use CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper (or the Restore tab of Disk Utility) to make a "bootable clone" of the "external HD" to an actual external HD.  
(In theory, and depending on what version of OSX both Macs are running, you could use Migration Assistant to transfer 3rd-party apps, user accounts and data directly to the MacBook, but since there's some sort of trouble, you'd probably be safer trying to do a one-shot copy to a known good drive.)
then do a reinstall of snow leopard and lion on the macbook.  Depending on the outcome I want to restore as much as possible to the revived macbook
Do you want the MacBook set up exactly like the old MBP?  If so, and if the MBP was running Snow Leopard or earlier, start the MacBook up from the Snow Leoaprd disc, erase the MacBook's internal HD, install Snow Leopard, then use Setup Assistant when it starts up to transfer everything from the external (see Using Setup Assistant on Snow Leopard or Leopard for details). 
Make sure everything's there and working right, and backed-up, before upgrading to Lion.
Once this is all done, you can use the Time Capsule for Time Machine backups, and the external HD for "secondary" backups with CCC or SD.
If you really want to use Time Machine, or if the MBP is running Lion, post back.  That will be a bit more complicated.  Incude the version of OSX each Mac is running, too.