MBP 13" not starting, target disk mode not starting....

My gf's MBP 13" is not healthy, but before we can wipe it and start fresh, we need to get some files off it.
I've just tried the Target Disk Mode to my MBP 15"
Using firewire I hooked up to the powered 13",
Connected to my ON 15"
Turned on the 13" and held down T
The firewire logo and power logo appea and dance around the screen on the 13"
on the 15" nothing appears - not on the desktop or in finder.
I'm able to check the firewire port on the 15" is working, but I can't check the 13" as it's just not working right as a computer right now.
I've also attempted hooking the 13" inch up to a portable HD and then daisy chaining that to the 15" -  HD showed up, but not the other computer.
HELP... 
Thanks everyone
-TfromT

it looks to be a version of mountain lion or snow leopard from the logo that pops up under recovery mode.
FURTTHER - I was able to confirm that the firewire port on the 13" DOES work - in recovery I hooked up a portable harddrive, but there is no way to copy off the files in recovery it would appear. 
ugh.

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