Hooking mac mini to iMac

Can I use my Mac mini as a disk for my iMac? If so, how would I go about it?

Hello FilmCCSL,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
For more information on this, take a look at:
Transfer files between two computers using target disk mode
http://support.apple.com/kb/ph3838
Best of luck,
Mario

Similar Messages

Is it possible to add a second monitor via mac mini with iMac

Hi
is it possible to add a second monitor via mac mini with iMac
or is there another solution?
all i want to know is if i can run a second monitor or link a mac mini for more speed like i heard you can with the G5 Towers.

The iMac will allow you to connect a second monitor but that monitor will show the same thing as the iMac's built-in screen.
You can network a Mac mini and iMac via Ethernet or Firewire.
Software load sharing like Xgrid can allow you to share work between the Macs.

HT204388 how do I switch between my mac mini and iMac using iMac screen?

how do I switch between my mac mini and i mac using i mac screen? I thought it was using F2 but that does not seem to work.

To switch between your Mac mini and iMac, you just have to turn on or off Target Display mode. To do it, press Command and F2 keys in your iMac, not only F2

File sharing between Mac Mini and iMac "breaks" after reboot of either device, and won't restore. Why? Running Maverick 10.9.1 on both. File sharing is setup on both. Help.

I'm a new user - recent convert from longtime Windows to Apple. Thought having desktops and computing aligned with phones and tablets would help. Not so far.
I have a MacMini running Mavericks 10.9.1, and an iMac running Mavericks 10.9.1. File Sharing is set up on both. If either device is rebooted for any reason, file sharing from the Mac Mini to the iMac "breaks" and will not easily restart. Various things eventually brings the connection back - usually having to do with checking and unchecking File Sharing, the AFP button, and/or the SMB button on the iMac - but never the same procedure twice in a row. File Sharing from the iMac to the Mac Mini is never disrupted - always comes back up without a problem. Screen Sharing also works between both without fail, and comes up after reboot of either. No problem there. Only difficulty is from Mac Mini to the iMac.
Why? Any ideas?

Should also clarify - usually takes multiple hours of checking/unchecking file sharing settings in order to restore the share between Mac Mini and iMac. NEVER happens automatically.
This is disruptive because I've got the Mac Mini pointing to several file locations on the iMac for various things - photos, music, etc. - and they all hang up unless the share is restored. Real bummer.

Getting error "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer." on mac mini and imac but it works on old macbook pro

Please help! My hard drives work on all other computers except new imac and macmini.

Both the mac mini and imac do not have cd drives. The trouble is why should I repair the external HDs when they work fine on other computers? I'm running OS X 10.8.4. I feel like its an OS X problem but I cant say. I will try the suggestion but I absolutely cannot reformat these drives right now becuae it would be way too time consuming to recover all the files on them

Connect mac mini to imac

Hi,
I was wondering if I can connect an old mac mini to an imac so I can use the mac mini as an aditional hard drive to store all my music and pictures.
If so, how do I do it?
Thanks in advance.
Oscar

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
If the Mac mini and iMac have got FireWire or Thunderbolt (probably, FireWire 800), just buy a FireWire cable and start the Mac mini holding the T key while your Mac is starting. Doing this, your Mac mini's hard drive will show up as an external drive in the iMac, so you can store data in it. You may want to format the hard drive first.
This isn't the best way. If you aren't going to use the Mac mini, you can take the hard disk out of it, buy an enclosure, install the hard drive in it and connect it to your iMac. Then, format the hard drive > http://pondini.org/OSX/DU1.html Finally, open Finder and you will see the hard drive in the Finder sidebar, under "Devices"

Can I connect Mac mini to iMac monitor

Can I connect a Mac mini to iMac monitor ? To view Mac mini files

Hi Ricemail,
You *may* be able to do so, depending on the specific models of your iMac and Mac Mini, using a feature known as Target Display Mode. You may find the following article helpful:
Target Display Mode: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3924
Regards,
- Brenden

How reliable is the Mac Mini or iMac (2009) models?

Greetings to you all. I have a question directed at anyone who owns the 2009 Mac Mini or has recently bought a Mac Mini either last year 2009 or this year, 2010. My Acer Aspire L-100 finally died on 29th Dec 2009 as a result of USB failure caused by a windows auto update. Fed up with Microsoft, I am thinking about switching over to Mac and thought the Mac Mini or iMac would be a good start. I am however troubled by the numerous complaints I am reading on the Apple website posts regarding the 2009 model Mac Mini loosing sound after a month or two of use and some posts claim that the sound on their Mac Mini is distorted, crackling and some had broken systems out of the box. How many of you have had similar sound issues with the Mac Mini? Also, is it better to get the iMac 21.5 inch instead? Has anyone had hardware issues with the Mac Mini and or the 21.5 inch iMac in less than 2-6 months of use? If so please let me know so that I can make up my mind, whether to purchase Mac computer platform or just build my own customized machine. What I need to know is, how reliable or durable is the mac mini computer, especially the 2009 model and how does the mac mini, especially with its small size, handle temperatures? Does the mac mini overheat? Please help. All information will be highly appreciated.

Remember, Apple offers a 1 year hardware warranty and 90 days free software support, both of which can be extended to three years from date of computer's purchase. This means if you appear to have what is a technical issue with your machine off the bat, Apple will cover the lemon issue, if it is obvious it is not an issue you the user could have caused. Mind you, if issues appear much later during the ownership, it gets harder to justify that it is a manufacturer issue. As long as you don't upgrade the internal hardware, the hardware test CD that comes with the machine will be able to tell if there is a manufacturer issue with the machine. All bets are off, if you change the RAM, or hard drive beyond the specs of the machine. Apple publishes the specs of the machine on http://support.apple.com/
Your machine shouldn't overheat unless you excede the published specs.
The advantage of the Mac is that malware and viruses are practically a nonissue, and everything you usually could desire is already built-in to the machine. So while you could build your own machine, you can't really get the integrated hardware and software as you do with the Mac.
Yes, the 27" iMac has been hit hard with issues, more around the display than anything else. I for one, if were forced to get an iMac, would get the 21.5".
I've not seen any specific Mac Mini issues really come to the fore.
If sound is lost on a Mac Mini, it usually is due to the fact that minijack connectors themselves are fragile to begin with, and endusers tend to jiggle them a lot in the connector, causing the connectivity to get lost. If you are careful to follow these directions about cables*:
http://www.macmaps.com/frayguide.html
You should avoid most of those issues. Thankfully there are 5 USB ports on Mac Minis, and USB audio is frequently better than the built-in audio, except when adding your own 5.1 speaker system with mini-Toslink connector speakers.
Don't forget the number of posters to this board, don't even amount to 1 tenth of a percent of all purchasers of iMacs, Mac Minis, or MacBooks any one quarter. Thus the remark you said was "rude" is not. It is factual. You are basing your information on what amounts to less odds of happening than a space program disaster with NASA. Mostly people who have problems are posting, and those who don't rarely do post.
I recently had a hard drive die after the three year warranty was spent, but hard drives I've seen die on Acers and Dells on the first day of ownership too, so that's nothing new. Backing up your data is the best way to deal with data loss*:
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
- * Links to my pages may give me compensation.

Mac Mini and IMac

I have a 20' G4 Imac and would really like to upgrade it as I love the design. Is it possible to hook up a Mac mini so that one just uses the IMac as a display and gets the benefit of the processing power of the mini??

Given the specific reference to an iMacG4 20" machine, which clearly
falls within the specifications for USB 2.0 and AirPort Extreme, in
addition it also supports Bluetooth (module as dealer or BTO accessory)
this would be able to accomodate at least the experiment with some
expectation of success. My iMacG4 17" machine with USB 2.0, AE,
and other similarities would also be a candidate.
The Mini should be capable of supporting the standard which existed
when it was introduced, so both would have that much in common.
[Sounds likely, but doing this with supported hardware may be not as easy
as one could hope. Or with luck and good engineering, it may just work.]
However the reason for the exercise implied a desire to retain
the iMacG4 as a viable computer and the hardware (logicboard)
upgrade to a different processor done by a known aftermarket
company, could provide this without any networking voodoo.
There is a way to network computers to make supercomputers;
universities have been doing it for years; but the elegant solution
resides in the processor upgrade to a newer PPC 1.92+GHz G4.

HELP!! Mac Mini vs IMac Preformace

I need someone to help me with learning about the Mac Mini. I am trying to buy one for my dad who really wants to turn use it for converting his old records, and editting home videos. He has a PC and really wants to go Mac. We have all external stuff like monitor and such, so it seems that a mac mini would work well and save money. We were are looking referbished IMac but I am looking at the mac mini as a cheeper option. I really do not know anyone with a mac mini so thats why I am unsure of it works.
1. If I buy a mac mini will it preforme the same as IMac or is it more like a Macbook Air.
Is it safe to assume the Mac Mini is about on par with the IMac 21.5 inch. From a quick glance they seem pretty similar, Harddrive space, memory. I think the Imac has better graphics card but i dont know for the kind of editting he is doing it is very neccessary.
http://www.apple.com/mac/compare/desktops.html
If you have any knowledge or experience please share it. I would love it hear it. He wants a computer that will last awhile and worth the money.
Thanks!!!

You can still find iLife '11 DVDs at eBay and Amazon and it appears to be that it is compatible with Mavericks. Check this discussion for more information. There are some other DVD creator programs available but there seems to be no consensus on a good replacement for iDVD.
As far as the performance differences between the iMac and mini: I chose the top 21.5" model for personal use last year and I use a base model mini at work. In terms of using iMovie, Photoshop and other basic software I really don't notice that much difference between them. Movies & slideshows take longer to master on the mini but since I walk away from the computer to read or perform some other task that isn't an issue. When I return to the mini or the iMac the job is complete.
However there is one difference between the two systems (originally) that I considered a big deal. Both systems ship with a 5400RPM drive standard. I chose the Fusion drive for my own computer, the IT department chose to stick with the default drive. The slow mechanical drive drove me nuts so as an experiment I hooked up a USB 3 external drive with an SSD and cloned the internal drive to it. The difference was amazing. So I'd strongly recommend the SSD or fusion drive upgrade.

Hooking Mac Mini 1.83ghz to Sharp LCD TV

I have a Mac Mini 1.83 ghz Intel Core 2 Duo that I'm trying to hook up to a Sharp Aquos 32" LCD TV model LC-32GA5U. I've hooked the Mac Mini up to the TV using the DVI port on the back with a DVI/DVI cable, DVI/VGA cable with the DVI adapter to the Mac Mini, and a DVI/HDMI cable to a HDMI router, all of which have come up with a black screen, except the DVI/HDMI option. That started with the usual light gray screen and then it went to black.
The Mini starts up fine, I hear the drive turning, the front light comes on and I hear the start up chime. I hooked the Mac Mini to a 15" Dell LCD flat screen monitor with a DVI/DVI cable and it worked fine. I was able to run through the initial setup procedures without any problems, so I know it's not an issue with the graphics output or the cable.
If anyone has any ideas, they would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for you time.

I would stick with using a DVI-to-DVI cable per the user manual, page 32, which says to use INPUT 5 (DVI) to connect a PC. Make sure you have a DVI-D cable and not a DVI-I cable. Select INPUT 5 by pressing the INPUT button on the Sharp remote and then press MENU to see if there are any options that need to be set for INPUT 5.

New mac mini and imac vs powermac G5 running FCP studio

I want to compare running the FCP suite on the new max minis and imacs that came out today vs what I am currently using:
Currently I am running FCP Studio on a Powermac G5 dual 2GHz with one gig of ram. I believe the frontside bus is 1GHz. I believe the stock video card isan ATI Radeon 9600 Pro (AGP 8X Pro) video card with 64 MB of DDR SDRAM.
With this being said, is it safe to assume that the new entry level mac mini would surpass my G5 in terms of performnce in both video (NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with128MB or 256MB of shared DDR3) memory processing (intel core2 duo 2GHz)?
If not would the two low end Imacs (using NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256MB of shared DDR3 memory) and processing power handle FCP studio better than my current powermac G5 setup listed above?
I am wondering because I spoke to a apple sales person who transfered me to a system engineer that said I'd have a slow time rendering video on FCP with the mac minis as well as the 2 low end imacs. This may be but Im wondering if it is still better than what I am using
I appreciate your opinions, but please only answer if you really know,
Thanks!

For FCP/FCS I would not save on anything but will get the max what my budget allow. You will be always doing more and the workflow in FCS will entice you to open almost all apps in FCS concurrently to make use of the advanced features. I think that the new iMac are powerful enough to handle FCS, but once again, the extra dollars will save you alot of pain. FCS is a pro app and is not to be underestimated. Good luck.

Ideal network to share 2TB iTunes library with mac mini and iMacs by wifi?

Greetings,
Just made the move from pc to apple world. First time poster. Please feel free to suggest if this topic is better suited in another area.
I am looking for an ideal means of sharing my music library (+/- 1.5TB size) from my mac mini with my 2 kids iMacs.
The mac mini has an internal 80GB SSD and 4 GB RAM. It connects via ethernet to my Netgear WNDR 3700 wifi a/b/n router which connects to a Docsis 3 modem. Speed and signal strength is great.
My music library is currently backed up on a Seagate USB desktop HDD. My interim plan is to use USB to connect it to the mini. Long term plan is to migrate to a NAS system.
The kids iMacs (1x 2006 model with core duo and 1 x 20008 with core 2 duo) both run snow leopard 10.6.3 and access wifi signals for internet. Wifi signals ~16-20 Mbps strength.
Is there prefered method to share the music library with the kids by wifi? Only one way? do I need to add airport devices, or? It would be extremely difficult to provide ethernet to their rooms.
Thanks
Kenreau

kenreau wrote:
It would be extremely difficult to provide ethernet to their rooms.
have you consider *powerline adapters* _*such as these*_
here's an interesting read on the subject.
JGG

Can't see external HD on Mac Mini from iMac

For months I had an alias on my iMac desktop that opened my external HD, connected to my Mac Mini downstairs.
It worked flawlessly. Both machines on Leopard.
I upgraded my iMac to Snow Leopard on release day (Mac Mini is still Leopard). I haven't connected to the external HD from the iMac since, but I tried it today and it can't find it.
I can browse the Mac Mini, and connect as my admin account and browse the entire Mac Mini HD, but the External HD just doesn't show up.
The external HD is still working fine on the mac mini itself, I just cant see it remotely.
Snow Leopard issue or something else?
Cheers

Apple told me that the HD drive doesn't show up on other user's page, as it has been hidden on purpose by apple, and only shows up on the main user of the computer, Are you the main user on the computer, if so maybe a problem but if you are an added user it just shows up a blank screen

Mac mini vs. imac

Okay looking for some advice. I'm sure this has been discussed previously, for that I apologize. Need to replace my main computer ( currently a imac g5 ppc) because the screen went dark and its just old anyway. I have loved this imac so top on my list was to check out the brand new iMacs, which look amazing to me! (Especially with the 27" screen). A friend of mine who has a MBP was trying to convince me that desktops are becoming extinct and that the MBPs are every bit as capable of a machine as any IMac. I think it's an interesting discussion. However, once I started to price either option ( a nicely loaded 27" iMac vs. a MBP) I soon realized that I may have to rethink my options. Trying to more fiscally responsible this year ( a resolution) I had to look honestly about my computing habits. Our family has 2 iPads and 3 iPhones. If I'm truly honest about what I really need a computer for its very little. Mainly just basic computing needs as well as controlling a huge music library (300 GB). Since I got my ipad 2 I'm using it 80% of the time! Enter the idea of the new Mac mini. My first thought was that it was a cheap way to get by until I could save the funds to get a REAL machine! (MBP or 27" iMac) Obviously I have a compensation problem regarding this because I can't help but want the big bad machines! But I know it's overkill for me ( hard to admit but true!). So with level headed ness I'm trying to determine which Mac mini is right for me. Hear it goes. This will be a family's main computer. None of us do anything particularly advanced however, would like some future flexibility regarding this as I have 2 teens of which 1 is starting to get into photography. The rest is playing videos and managing our big music library but would like to get into some basic video editing as well. That's it. I have all the gaming systems ( spoiled teens!) as well as a separate small home theater for watching movies so I have those areas covered. When I start pricing the Mac minis I'm interested in the $799 base model but when I add the features that interest me, namely the fusion drive and faster processor it prices out at $1049 with no monitor! Well for $1299 I can get a base IMac! So this is a real long story (I'm so sorry!) to really just ask this question. Which is the better buy for me? $799 Mac mini with add ons? Or a base model Imac @ $1299? I really want hear personal experiences and discussions regarding this. I want to solve my computing needs for the next 6 years or so. (Is that realistic?) and even though the higher end machines are probably out of reach for now (ever?) I would like thoughts on the whole MacBook Pro vs. loaded 27" iMac thing as well. Sorry again for the lengthy post. I just didn't want questions thrown back at me so hopefully I gave all the pertinent information. Thanks in advance!!!

Hello, my thoughts...
Mac Mini will outdo your G5 iMac by miles & likely do what you want, but I hate the fact it has no real Video card & will likely be one of the 1st ones dropped in some future update of the OS if history repeats itself.
MBPs, while fast, are short term fast, not really meant to be run all the time at full speed, are too expensive to upkeep & repair.
2012 iMacs, seem like disposable computers to me, if getting the 21" model you must upgrade the RAM to max at purchase, 27" can upgrade the RAM later, but both are nearly impossible otherwise to even do a simple thing like replace the PRAM Battery.
No matter which you get, be sure to factor in & get the 3 year exyended AppleCare, & expect the new Mac not to last near as long as your G5 iMac did.
Have you cconsidered a newer yet older Mac?
The Aluminum or up here...
http://www.powermax.com/parts/code/PM_CU_IM_I4?p=2
21.5"...
http://www.powermax.com/parts/code/PM_CU_IM_I1
27"...
http://www.powermax.com/parts/code/PM_CU_IM_I8

Hooking mac mini to iMac

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for