How to use a target disk mode to boot my iMac

My iMac won't boot up. I think its HDD is dead . Is there a way for me to use target disk mode to boot from my laptop HDD so that I can rescue my iMac HDD?

If both computers have a FireWire or Thunderbolt port, yes, but you're probably better off putting the iMac in that mode instead of the laptop.
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Similar Messages

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.

Startup problem after use in target disk mode with a PC. Ideas?

I used my Mac 10.4 in traget disk mode. Data transfers between Mac and PC worked fine (via Macdrive 6). After disconnecting and trying to boot normally, Mac doesn't recognize internal volume. It flashes the question mark.
Tried to repair disk via install DVD - disk utility found no problems.
Reapired permissons.
Reset PRAM and NVRAM.
Tried Startup utility - found the internal volume and even after selecting it for startup, I still get the flashing question mark.
Apple hardware test found no problems.
Archive and reinstall is not allowed.
Data can still be accessed fine via target disk mode.
Any ideas how to reinitialize or reset the startup volume?
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

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.

Spotlight will not fully index PowerBook used in target disk mode

I connected my PowerBook in target disk mode to my desktop to transfer files. Quickly added the PowerBook drive to the desktop's privacy list. After restarting the PowerBook, it started indexing, but said it was finished in less than 5 minutes (about 50 GB on drive). Spotlight will get a few hits, but misses many that I know are there for key words that are in both file names and contents.
I've tried erasing the index, I've tried using Spotless, I've tried running mdimport on the whole drive (it began using too much memory and bogged down). Nothing I can think of will get the drive to index properly. Any ideas?

< Any ideas? >
Yes, use Easyfind. Easy find doesn't have all those limitations that Spotlight has.

Something annoying this way comes: using targeted disk mode for boot drive

So, this should be doable, but it's not working. Can anyone explain why, or what I'm doing wrong?
I have an Intel iMac, and an Intel MacBook - both are running Leopard. I temporarily want to use the iMac as the workstation, and the MacBook as the operating system hard disk. So, I put the MacBook in targeted disk mode, and connected it to the iMac via firewire 400. From the iMac, I option-booted to see the available boot disks. I then selected the MacBook's disk and clicked the arrow icon to boot. Once the iMac attempts booting, it displays the spinning cog on gray screen for longer than usual, then goes to a blue screen with an intermittent spinning cog. It seems to hang at this point.
I've done this with PPC machines in the past, so I'm not sure what the deal his here. The only things I can think of that would be a problem, but really shouldn't be are: 1) the MacBook is running 10.5.2 (keeping it at v2 due to the CS3 issue) and the iMac is running 10.5.3. Also, the iMac is the 24" model - so perhaps there's a screen resolution issue...
Any advice out there? THANK YOU!

Hi
Presumably the version of Leopard on both models are hardware specific? I would have thought extensions for device specific hardware such as graphics drivers etc on the Macbook would not include support for the 24" iMac. Bigger screen, more resolution support and a more powerful graphics card.
If you were to go the other way I can imagine the driver included for the iMac 24' would probably support the smaller Macbook screen.
I don't have any link or kbase that I can point at to prove this 'theory' because thats all it is - a theory. But it kind of makes sense to me and does explain the behaviour you see.
Tony

Is It Safe To Use Target Disk Mode Between My Intel iMac And A G4 eMac ?

I want to use DiskWarrior 4 to rebuild my Intel-iMac's directories but a suitable startup CD has not yet been produced.
So I intend to put DW on my old G4 eMac (OSX 10.4.10) and use Target Disk Mode between the two.
As they have different processors and OS will it be possible and more importantly will it be safe to do so?
Ian.

I received the very latest CD revision from Alsoft for DiskWarrior, Rev. 42. This latest version is STILL not able to boot the newest MacBook Pros. I tried, and eventually my MacBook just restarts to its internal HDD.
So I tried to run DiskWarrior 4.1 on a PowerMac Dual G4 which I had the Macbook Pro connected via target disk mode. NOTE: Both Macs are running the latest Mac OS X 10.5.4.
About half way through the "rebuilding directory" process, the G4 had a kernel panic and the black screen came up telling me to force shutdown my Mac. I nearly soiled myself. Luckily, the freeze up happened before the vital stage when DiskWarrior is replacing the directory. So MacBook Pro luckily booted back up okay.
So, I'd say to play it safe and NOT try to run DiskWarrior 4.1 from an older pre-Intel Mac to rebuild an Intel Mac's directory via target disk mode.
Currently, I think my only option I have to rebuild my Macbook Pro's directory is to install Mac OS X on an external HDD, install DiskWarrior and run it from there.

Firewire Target Disk Mode Battery Icon

When trying to enter TDM with Lacie drive connected by firewire I get the TDM yellow icon and an icon at the bottom that appears to be a charge or battery icon. It appears red.
Note:
-Power is connected (third-party ac adapter by macally)
-When in Leopard, I can access the Lacie drive and the files (I want to start up in Tiger)
Thanks.

Hi, Rob. Quoting from Apple's article How to use FireWire Target Disk Mode:
"Important: Unplug all other FireWire devices from both computers prior to using FireWire target disk mode. Do not plug in any FireWire devices until after you have disconnected the two computers from each other, or have stopped using target disk mode."

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.

10.3.9 No target disk mode keyboard command??

Hi,
So I have an old PowerMac G4 and it has like 120 GB, so i will like to use as another external HDD and the problem is that i have no monitor nearby so i can't restart it from the system preference menu. i hooked up a keyboard and press at startup la letter "T" and nothings happens it doesn't appear on the desktop of my MacBook (nor in disk utility) and i know for sure the computer is fine. Any ideas?
thanks in advance,
-Victor

Is your computer in this list?
Target computers
The following models can be used as target computers:
iMac (Slot Loading) with Firmware version 2.4 or later
iMac (Summer 2000) and all models introduced after July 2000
eMac (all models)
Mac mini (all models)
Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics) with ATA drive
Power Mac G4 Cube
Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet) and all models introduced after July 2000
Power Mac G5 (all models)
iBook (FireWire) and all models introduced after September 2000
MacBook (all models)
PowerBook G3 (FireWire)
PowerBook G4 (all models)
MacBook Pro (all models)
To boot into TDM you restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the "T" key until the TDM screen appears.
How to use FireWire target disk mode
Important: Unplug all other FireWire devices from both computers prior to using FireWire target disk mode. Do not plug in any FireWire devices until after you have disconnected the two computers from each other, or have stopped using target disk mode.

Is it possible to store a back up on external HD by transfering files using Target Disk Mode?

Dear Apple community,
There's absolutely no way that I'm going to be able to fix my MBP without a clean install. I simply cannot log in and get to my desktop screen after upgrading to Mavericks. So I will have to erase everything and perform a clean install. However, before proceeding with this plan, I'll have to back up my files from my MPB since I cannot use my mac normally, I'll have to back up my files using the Target Disk Mode. I've connected my MPB to another MPB in the past, so I know how the process work. But this time around I won't be able to use another MBP but a MB. I have a few doubts regarding the process especially in what concernd adding an external HD to this equation. So please bear with me and see if you can answer my doubts.
So this is the equipment I'll be working with: my MPB, my friends MacBook (2008) and my 1TB external hard drive.
My basic question is: once I connect my MPB in Target Disk Mode to the MB, I'm sure I'd be able to transfer my files to this MB. But let's say that I don't want to leave my files in this MB (after all it's not my computer) and want to send my files straight to an external HD connected to this MB. Is it possible? If positive, I know that the only FireWire port in the MB is a 400 port. That means my MBP will be connect to the MB using the only FireWire port available in the MB. So I believe that my external HD would have to be connected to the MB with the help of an USB cable. I assume that this will make the transferring process a little slower than if I could count solely on FireWire ports. Slowing the process down is not a problem but could this corrupt any of my files during the transferring process or even damage anything? I assume that would never happen after all it's just digital data, but better safe than sorry, right? What do you think?
Another thought that occurred to me is: let's say I connect my MBP to the MB using the FireWire 400. I'd still have an FireWire 800 port available on my MBP. If I connect my external HD to my MBP (yeah, the one that will be in Target Disk Mode) using that FW 800 port, would my MBP allow this external HD to mount as if it was just another folder/drive in my computer? If positive, theoretically I'd be able to transfer files from my MBP to my external HD manually (by dragging files from folder to folders), right?
I really don't want to transfer my files from the MBP to the MB and then from MB to external HD. That would just take time and I really don't know how much available space I'll find on my friend's MB.
Oh, one last question: when transferring files using Target Disk Mode, do all computers involved in this process gotta have the same OS X version installed or it doesn't matter if e.g one is running Snow Leopard and the other Mavericks?
Looking forward to hear back from you, experts.

Grant Bennet-Alder West of Boston, USA
A new 1TB External drive (suitable to replace your current Internal drive if you choose to) and enclosure can be had for under US$160
Ehh, you meant $60 , not $160
CassHeger
I do need to buy an external HD to be used solely for that purpose.
Yes, quality HD are cheap as dirt.
however a likewise Toshiba Internal HD 1TB is $70   (same as used by Apple)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TOSHIBA-MQ01ABD100-1TB-5400-RPM-8MB-Cache-2-5-SATA-3-0Gb -s-Internal-Notebook-/121107538930?pt=US_Internal_Hard_Disk_Drives&hash=item1c3 2 9263f2
best options for the price, and high quality HD:
Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or $65 per TB on 2.5"
Perfect 1TB for $68
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba
Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim and perfect
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb
2.5" USB portable High quality BEST FOR THE COST, Toshiba "tiny giant" 2TB drive (have several of them, LOT of storage in a SMALL package)    $117
http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1379182740&sr=1-4&keywords=2tb+toshiba
*This one is the BEST portable external HD available that money can buy:
HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
$88
http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Mobile-Portable-External-0S03559/dp/B009GE6JI8/ref=sr _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383238934&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+Touro+Mobile+Pro+1TB+USB+3.0+72 00+RPM
Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"

Upgrading Xserve G5 using USB Optical Drive/ Target Disk Mode

Hello Everyone!
I am trying to update my Xserve G5 that is currently running 10.3 (Panther) to 10.5 (Leopard). I have tried multiple methods and cannot seem to get it to work.
I have tried to:
Use a USB Optical Drive - I tried using a USB optical drive because the Xserve G5 has a CD drive not a superdrive. It recognizes the Leopard Installation DVD as it pops up on the desktop. I open the installation and click the restart button, but it restarts again and goes to my desktop as if I just turned on the Mac. I have tried doing this in Safe Mode (Holding down Shift on Start Up) and trying to select it from volumes (Holding down Option on Start Up). These two do not work.   I believe it is because I am using a USB optical drive and that it wont recognize the drive unless you are logged on in the OS. Could this be it?
Use FireWire Target Disk Mode - I also tried to use target disk mode by hooking up my Xserve to my MacBook Pro 2009. Everything work fine. I put the Xserve into target disk mode by holding down T on start up and it goes into target disk mode. It pops up on my MacBook Pro desktop as a FireWire external device (I can access all of my files on the Xserve hard drive). My only problem is that I do not know how to run the installation disk of Leopard off of my MacBook Pro so it installs it on my Xserve.
Any Suggestions or Ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
- Ryan

So what should I do since reformatting the HDD through disk utlity on the Xserve is not an option
Why not???
Boot th xSeve using alt key from Install Disc in MBP, then...
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
      *Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.*
   3. Click the Erase tab.
   4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
   5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
   6. Highlight the drive, select Partition Tab, then Format type... MacOS Extended Journalled, APM Partition.
Quit DU which puts you back to the Installer... Install.

Using a MB Pro in target disk mode via USB?

Can a MB Pro be used in target disk mode via USB instead of Firewire?
Thanks!

Perhaps because it's called FireWire Target Disk Mode, and is not designed to be implemented via USB.
Keep in mind that sustained data transfer rates with USB are much lower than FireWire (the 480 mbps for USB2 and 400 mbps for FW400 are max rates, not average sustained rate). Also, USB requires the CPU to manage data flow, while FW does not.
FW400 or FW800 are will work, just not USB.

G4 PM will not boot after using Target Disk mode connected Intel iMac.

Hi,
We have some new Intel iMacs and have transferred some information from our previous G4 PM (one MDD and one Quicksilver) to the new iMacs. For some reason the G4's will now not boot up and kernal panic on the gray Apple boot screen. This has happened to all the G4's we have in our office. They are running OSX 10.2.8 and the iMacs are running OSX 10.4.4. We can still mount the drives from the G4's using FireWire Target Disk mode.
I have tried zapping the PRAM etc but they still wont boot. I have also tried running the OSX 10.2 Installer disks to try and reinstall OSX on the G4's but the installer cannot see the drives?
Anyone have any idea what is wrong. Never had this problem before using the FireWire transfer.
Thanks,
Nick.

I had an experience with a mini mac after booting in target disk mode while connected to a blue and White G3 via Firewire. After attempting a restart, all I got was a blinking ? which usually means the startup disk or system folder can not be found.
I fixed this problem by booting using the originall install CD and then using the startup disk menu to reselect the original system disk/system folder as the startup disk. On reboot. all was good. Only took a couple of minutes.....

Using DVD drive in iMac G4 for iMac G3 in Target Disk Mode-- won't read DVD

Hello,
I have an iMac G3 without a DVD driver. I'm trying to use the DVD driver in my other iMac G4 using the Target Disk Mode feature. But when I start the iMac G3 holding down the option key, it only lists the hard drive of each computer and not the DVD that I'm trying to install.
I have done my best trying to search on here to no avail. I also posted this same topic in the iMac G3 forum without any success. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
AJ Nealey

Hi,
Have you tried doing FTDM with a different DVD/CD in the iMac G4's drive?
Have you ever changed the Optical drive in the iMac G4?
Try disconnecting both machines from the mains power for an hour or so. This has been known to reset the FW ports (I accept that this is probably not the issue as the HDDs are working; no harm in trying though).
mrtotes

How to use a target disk mode to boot my iMac

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