How to identify OS on Mac in target disk mode?

If I have a Mac that won't boot, but I can mount the disk in target disk mode, how can I tell what OS is installed on it? Is there some aspect of the directory structure (or just a file somewhere) that identifies Tiger vs. Leopard vs....?

(I think I answered my own question)
If there's a /System/Library/PreferencePanes/TimeMachine.prefPane I guess it's Leopard, huh?

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No security for intel macs in target disk mode?

By putting an intel MacBook in target disk mode, all the files are accessable by another computer which can mount the disk. If my machine is stolen, apparently I have no security. I found one post that says intel macs actually have some firmware password protection, but I have not been able to find how to turn it on. The Open Firmware Password feature does not work on intel macs. This seems to be a really big loophole. Having a login password is worthless if your machine is stolen. If anyone can help, please point out where there is more information on this issue.

If your computer is stolen firmware password will not protect your data. Even if the thief can't turn off the password, the disk drive can be removed and connected to another computer. Passwords, and other information, stored in keychains are still safe, however. The only way to protect other data is to use Filevault, Be sure to have good backups, because any error can make all your data inaccessible (as would the theft of the computer, of course).

Installing Leopard from a PowerPC mac to an Intel mac via Target Disk mode

I've just purchased Leopard, but thanks to the common and very annoying faulty MacBook Pro disk drive, I cannot even read the DVD, much less install from it. Before, the disk drive error never affected purchased DVDs, only the ability to read and burn to empty DVDs, but now, apparently, I can't even read Apples own disks.
As the new system disk is Universal, would it be possible to start the installer form the cd on my sister's PowerPC mac (12' Powerbook), and install the system on my MacBook Pro's harddrive, mounted as a firewire drive, or would the installer automatically choose the PowerPC version, since it is launched on a PowerPC computer?
And, if so, is there any way to tell the installer to install the Intel version of Leopard if I run it on a PowerPC computer?

well, looks like I'll have to install Leopard through the Firewire Target Disk mode as my MacBook can't read the DVD. I would appreciate if someone could review the steps below to let me know if I am on the right track. The MacBook is the computer on which I want to load 10.5 and the iMac G5 (PowerPC chip) is the computer on which I will insert the DVD.
- First question: Am I correct (see above) in saying that the MacBook is the Target computer?
- Insert DVD in Host computer
- Connect Target to Host using FW cable
- Turn on Target computer press and hold T to launch in target mode
- select DVD drive from disk options
- this is where I get fuzzy, would I simply click the Install icon? And then what? Will the MacBook know to reboot in Target Mode or do I have to hold down T again?
- anything else I am missing?
Thanks.

Can u boot from a Mac in target disk mode

I'm wanting to know if I put a Mac mini in target disk mode, can I boot from that Mac mini from my MacBook Pro. I'm wanting to set up a mini as a server but it may have to be the basic and ill install server on it but I prefer to do it without using a monitor. I'm curious to know if its possible.

You don't need a monitor with the MM, and neither boot in Target Mode. Like me, use screen sharing for remote access over the network:
On the MM, -> System Preferences -> Sharing, there check Remote Management and choose which user, if not all, may have access. If you're not the only one, you can limit access for each user under Options.
Under -> System Preferences -> Energy Saver, it makes sense to check Wake for network access.
Then you can log out from the MM, leave it sitting at the login screen and turn off or disconnect its screen.
On the remote Mac, open Finder and find the MM under Shared. Click in it, then on Share Screen. You'll need to enter the login credentials for your account on the MM, eventually save it to your Keychain. Then your MM's login screen should appear in a window on your remote Mac. You have now full access to the MM.

How do I put my MacBook in "target disk mode" without FireWire?

I bought an aluminum MacBook (13 inch) and am shocked that there is no FireWire port. WHY? I want to hook it up to my MacPro as a targeted disk to copy over some but not all of my files. Also, I'd like to connect to some external hard drives to get some backed up files. Can I do this with USB? Is there a USB to FireWire adapter?

The hard drive is fairly easy to remove on the aluminum Macbook. I would remove it and install it in an external Firewire enclosure temporarily to transfer your files quickly and reliably, then put the drive back in the Macbook.
Ethernet works great, IF you have two FUNCTIONAL machines. The great thing about Firewire Target Disk mode was that if the HD/OS was corrupted, or the computer was for some reason unbootable you could still get data off of it quickly, without tools or special equipment.
Ethernet works great, IF you have two FUNCTIONAL machines. The great thing about Firewire Target Disk mode was that if the HD/OS was corrupted, or the computer was for some reason unbootable you could still get data off of it quickly, without tools or special equipment.

My G4 AGP won't startup after turning on firewire target disk mode

Can any one help me on this? I have a G4 AGP Graphics Mac running 10.4.11.
I turned on firewire target disk mode in the startup utilities to transfer files to my G5. The G4 started up in Firewire just fine and I could open it up as a drive on my G5, but the problem now is that the G4 won't startup in anything but firewire mode.
So my question is: How do you shut off the firewire target disk mode? I have tried all the keyboard commands at startup and inserted the Tiger install disk and holding the C key, but nothing will let me get me passed the Firewire Icon at startup.
Any help would be appeciated, Thanks.

Hi Steve, and a warm welcome to the forums!
More things to try...
Does it boot into Open Firmware with CMDOption+of ?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=42642
reset-nvram (press Enter)
set-defaults (press Enter)
reset-all (press Enter)
Have you done a PRAM reset...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
Tried resetting the PMU?
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449

Target Disk Mode = MAX FANS!

I know I'm not the only one with this issues as almost every Mac I've ever used has done this.
Why is it that when you run your Mac in target disk mode, the fans slowly rev up until they hit max speed, and then it just stays that way. EVEN IF THE COMPUTER IS IDLE AND NOT DOING ANYTHING!!!!
I think this is kind dumb. In Target Disk mode, only the hard drive is active. Everything else like the video card, processor, etc is not active as that is what the other computer is for. Only the hard drive is running, so why do the fans need to be maxed when only one component is running when any other time the fans never come on that high unless i'm processing video or doing something intensive like that.
Any ideas?
-Scott

Niel wrote:
so why do the fans need to be maxed when only one component is running
Because the OS normally controls the fans, using the computer's activity and the processor to calculate the needed speed and send the request. When the computer is in target disk mode, there's nothing to control them, so they do everything they can to ensure the computer doesn't overheat.
(49319)
Good explanation! Thanks!
BTW: whats "49319" mean?

Can you install tiger on a power mac g4 with out a DVD drive if so how, I do have have a 2011 iMac can I use that in target disk mode with a FireWire cable any help would be appreciated

Can you install tiger on a power mac g4 with out a DVD drive if so how, I do have have a 2011 iMac can I use that in target disk mode with a FireWire cable any help would be appreciated

Hello,
You need to put the Tiger Install Disc in the 2011 iMac, boot the 2011 uMac into Target mode...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
Boot the G4 holding the Option or alt key, hopefully the Install Disc in the 2011 iMac will show as a boot choice.
We just want to use the 2011 iMac as a big expensive FW Optical drive, it cannot be installed osing the 2011 iMac itself.

How to remove time machine backup from a mackbook pro used in target disk mode

Many months ago I (as my backup drive failed) I used my macbook pro in target disk mode to store the time machine backup of my iMac. How do I delete the backup on the macbook pro? I am running mountain lion on both machines. When I boot the macbook pro in target mode, it's not showing up in the finder on my mac.

When I boot the macbook pro in target mode, it's not showing up in the finder on my mac.
From the Finder menu bar, select
Finder > Preferences > General
and check the box marked Hard disks.

How-To: Install Bundled Apps to another MacBook Pro using Target Disk Mode

Recently, I replaced the dead hard drive on my wife's computer. All the data was previously backed-up so all I needed to do was reinstall the original OS. Oops! Those disks disappeared over two years ago...perfect, right? No poblem, I already had the boxed install DVD for Snow Leopard and installed the core OS. But what about those bundled applications? Aha! That is the marketing coup Apple doesn't really talk much about. You see, you get the entire suite of Apple branded apps with the original install disks but not with a boxed OS install disk. It's just something that you have to find out for yourself...the hard way.
My requirement: restore all the iPhoto data to the reimaged machine running Snow Leopard. But that data has no application that can read it. Solution - Reinstall iPhoto from another source.
So I developed this workaround I hope the rest of you find amusingly simple, wildly helpful
Here's how I restored iPhoto on my wife's computer:
1) Get two Laptops side by side. In our case we both have macbook pro 2008 computers (Wife's and Mine)
2) Power both down and direct connect a firewire 400 cable (or 800 if you have it) between the two
3) Start the Wife's laptop in Target Disk Mode: Press "T" immediately after engagin the power button, hold it down until you see the "fanned" firewire symbol floating across a grey screen - it's quite large, about the size of your hand making a "stop" gesture
4) No start the Mine laptop by pressing the "option" key (two keys to the left of the space bar)
5) You will presented with a pair of hard disks to boot from, choose the Wife's laptop hard drive
5a) you'll notice now that the Mine laptop is booting the OS system files of the Wife's laptop (Her desktop, her preferences, etc...)
6) On the Mine laptop, insert the original Mac OS Install Disk (#1) that came with the Mine laptop (usually any OEM install disk will work, though)
7) Double-click on the DVD icon on the desktop when it mounts and look for a shortcut that reads, "Install Bundled Applications Only"...launch it
8) Now choose install bundled applications but make sure to press the "Customize" button in order to specifically choose which OEM software you want. In our case, just iPhoto
9) Follow the installer prompts all the through to completion and exit (you will be prompted to insert disk #2 along the way).
10) Remove the install disks, power down
11) Power down the Wife's laptop too
12) Disconnect the Firewire cables from both laptops
13) Power up the Wife's laptop normally
14) Launch the FInder and drill down to Applications. Look for iPhoto and launch it
15) iPhoto will either pickup the "iPhoto Library" that was previously restored after reimaging with Snow Leopard or you may be prompted to manually associate a library with iPhoto.
16) Once complete, you'll se all the restored pictures and data from when before the original hard drive crashed. Wife will be pleased and you'll look like a Genius
This is a really handy trick for troubleshooting a lot of install and restore related issues.
Hopefully you'll find other uses for it too.
Good Luck,
TheHighSierras

I think the problem is that you can't install an older OS X version onto a system running a newer OS X version. So I would try the following:
     1. have an external disk or create another partition on an internal drive to use for the Mountain Lion install (you might have to shrink an existing partition to make room for another)
     2. Create an external bootable USB thumb drive with the Mountain Lion OS on it (do a search on the web for this - for example see http://www.macworld.com/article/1167857/how_to_make_a_bootable_mountain_lion_ins tall_drive.html
     3. Reboot Yosemite and then boot from the USB thumb drive by holding down the option key
     4. run the mountain lion installer and install on the new disk/partition you created in step 1 - it will also create another recovery partition from this same part of the disk
Now your Mac system will have both a Mountain Lion install as well as the Yosemite install. You won't be able to use Migration Assistant to move things from Yosemite to Mountain Lion because it will see that you're "going backwards" and won't allow you to.
Have a good backup of everything before starting in case there are problems.
Good luck...

Firewire Target DIsk Mode Mac partition not Boot Camp partition

Hi I'm having issues starting up my Mac and would like to Firewire mount the drive then image it. However, when I do so the Boot Camp partition mounts instead of the Mac partition. I've tried using Disk Utility on the host machine to mount the Mac partition (it does show up in Disk Utility) without success, Is there anything I can do.
(Yes I have yesterday's Time Machine backup, but would still prefer to do a full image before wiping and installing the OS).

Are you talking about starting up one computer in Target Disk Mode and then seeing it with a second computer (and if so, which model computer and which OS)?
[How to use FireWire target disk mode|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661] includes description of hardware and software requirements.
[What to do if your Mac doesn't enter FireWire Target Disk Mode|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=75414], also read about [Open Firmware Password Protection|http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/openfirmwarepassword.html] which can disable Target Disk Mode.
[Technical Note TN 1189|http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn/tn1189.html#TargetMode] - driver details for TDM

Mac OS X Target Disk Mode Security Hole?

I just put my iBook in Target disk mode (as in held down T while booting, so that it appears as an external disk on my PowerMac G5 via a firewire cable) and my G5 has root (well, unlimited) access to the iBook's hard disk! No passwords asked!
I could just take anyone's computer and attach with a firewire cable.. and bob's your uncle, access to anyone's files! What's going on?!
Both Macs are on 10.4.3

If you are concerned about security, note what the second paragraph of the article: Macintosh: How to Use FireWire Target Disk Mode has to say:
Important: The computer will not go into FireWire target disk mode if "Open Firmware Password" has been enabled.You can find out about Open Firmware here: Setting up Open Firmware Password Protection in Mac OS X 10.1 or later.

How do you install Tiger using target disk mode?

Hi guys,
I have an old Powerbook G4 that seems to have a dead DVD drive, so i am now trying to install Tiger using target disk mode from my Macbook Pro.
I successfully mounted the G4 using target disk mode and the Tiger install DVD but when I double click the install icon, I get an error message saying: "Mac OS X 10.4 cannot be installed on this machine"
Okay, fine but i want to install the OS on the G4. How do I go about selecting the G4 for installation?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Hi Nichola,
Have you tried a search on the support site with the error messages you are receiving? (Maybe your computer doesn't meet the minimum requirements to run Tiger.)
To re-initialize your disk, go into disk utilities, select 'Erase' and follow the instructions. This will erase and format your disk. Hopefully this helps, but I'm not sure if it will solve your kernel panic problem - maybe that's a different issue all together??
Hopefully, you've already backed up your important data, but you should try to use target disk mode to do that if you are still unable to boot up the G4 using Tiger. Good luck - hope this is helpful.

How do I start-up in Target Disk mode without a keyboard ....?

I am trying to start-up an iMac 700 G4 flatpanel in Target Disk mode without a USB keyboard ... the machine is running Mac OS X.3 Panther & the system prefernces do not include the start-up in Target mode feature that Mac OS X.4 Tiger has ...
Actually, I do have a bluetooth keyboard which works fine once I get to the desktop - but the keyboard will not pair quick enough to register the 'T' hold-down before the system boots up ...
Q: Is there another way I can get this machine to boot in Target mode ...?
Maybe a terminal command ....?
I am not so savvy with Terminal - but if someone can step me thru it (v e r y s l o w l y) - you will have my sincerest gratitude ...;-)
Nutshell: Firewire Target startup between iMac 700 running Panther with no keyboard - to G5 PowerMac running Tiger ....

Niel ....
That's so helpful!! very happy mate - thank you ....
I have successfully booted into Target Disk mode using the command at Mac Geekery as suggested ... however, a backward step is now required without access to the machine's terminal window ...
Q1: How do I reset the PRAM without a keyboard ...?
Q2: What is the Open Firmware reset command via a 'hard-pressed' power-up using the Power button at the rear of machine ...?
... I still cannot pair my Bluetooth Keyboard early enough to register a PRAM reset (Opt Cmd P+R) at start-up (as per instructions by the authour) before the system boots back into the 'fixed Target mode ...
Any suggestions ...? ... or can anyone else assist ...?
Oh, & thanks again everyone ... & apologies this request might not be in the correct catergory ....
Best,
Macfinger

IMac in Target Disk mode won't mount on Mac Pro via Firewire

My iMac (intel Core 2 Duo) won't start up - it has the question mark in a folder icon.
I can't find the Apple Snow Leopard disk, so I've started it in Target Disk mode, connected it to my Mac Pro, but it doesn't mount on the Mac Pro even though it appears in System Profiler on the Mac Pro.
Both running 10.6.8
Can I force it to mount? I have tried front & back firewire ports and restarted several times to no avail.
I'm hoping to repair the iMac disk using Disk Utility or Diskwarrior on the Mac Pro, but need it to mount first.
Any ideas? Thanks.

I want to copy everything off the iMac before re-installing Snow Leopard & starting again.
I do not have a backup of the computer (I've had a backup hard drive on order for 7 weeks that has been delayed due to the shortages...) I am aware that this is very stupid of me.
The disk is obviously in very bad shape as Disk Utility can't do anything with it.
Diskwarrior v4.2 on a DVD will make a 'Preview' of a directory of it, but will not 'Replace' the directory as the disk is damaged.
1. Does anyone know how to make a startup DVD of Diskwarrior v4.4 (I have the v4.4 update but can't find out how to make a new startup DVD using the old v4.2 DVD and the software v4.4 update) and I think Alsoft must now be on holiday as they're not answering... (I would like to use v4.4 as it should be more capable).
2. Assuming I can get Diskwarrior (hopefully on a new v4.4 DVD) to make a 'Preview' again of the iMac directory, how do I copy everying off the computer? My only guess is to connect my Mac Pro in target mode to the iMac. Will the Mac Pro disk show up in the 'Preview' directory & therefore allow me to copy all of it's contents across to the target mode disk?
3. Assuming all the above works, is there a best way to copy all of the iMac contents to a folder in the Mac Pro? i.e. is there a way of Carbon Copying it so that after wiping the disk I can simply copy it all back? Or is it all too late for that
THANK YOU very much for any help.

How to identify OS on Mac in target disk mode?

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