Target mode

I recently bought a mac mini to replace my old imac g5 (17" with ambient light ver. 10.4.11, power pc) that quit on me. I've been reading about target mode to hopefully extract or retrieve files from my old mac. I have not done it yet but the only thing that somewhat confuses my is on start up it says to press the T key during the process... but which side... the target or the host. I am not very good with computers so I would appreciate any other advice as to how to retrieve my files from my g5. Thank you in advance

Start the "source" in target mode to use it like an attached external drive from the "target" system.
or
start the "destination" in target mode to use it like a attached external drive from the "source" system..
Look at -->> http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661
for more information.
Lupunus

Similar Messages

Can't copy files in Target Mode

I'm trying to move applications from my Titanium PowerBook G4 (OS X 10.4.7) to my MacBook by booting the G4 in Target Disk Mode. I can get the icon representing the G4's HDD to appear on the MacBook's desktop, but sometimes when I double-click to open it, I get the beach ball and no window opens for the HDD. Most of the time the window opens, but then I get the beach ball when I try to open the Applications folder. So back on the G4 I tried moving the application's (Photoshop Elements) folder icon out of the Applications folder and into the HDD window. Now in Target Mode, when I drag the Photoshop folder icon out of the G4's window and onto the MacBook desktop, the copying process seems to initiate normally, but then stops. It always stops at the same number of MB copied, and then I get the interminable beach ball.
What's happening and how do I fix it?
--howard

Hard to say. Boot the PB with its Tiger install disk and run Disk Utility, repairing the disk and its permissions. Boot the PB with its Apple Hardware Test disk and run the extended tests. If the PB passes all of those, then repeat the same steps with the MB. Once both pass the tests, retry the TDM hookup, and copying stuff.

Can't Put G4 in TARGET MODE

I sure hope someone can help me. I have a 5-year-old G5. It was the biggest system at the time. I just got a gigantic Mac Pro and I'm trying to EASILY use the Migration Assistant to transfer my data. I started by trying to restart the G4 and holding the T key. The G4 shuts down. I tried resetting the PRAM 3 times and then selecting the Startup Disk in System Preferences and restarting using that as the Target Mode. The G4 shut down. I've switched the firewire cables to different connections...no luck. I've tried to restart the G4 with Option-Apple O + F and typing in target-mode and no luck. The G4 simply WILL NOT go into Target Mode. Has this happened to anyone else? If so, what was the problem and how did you get it to work? Help please!!!

Hi...thanks for the link and info but the computer is set up exactly as it came from Apple computer. Where do I look to find out how it was configured and then, if it's not like you mentioned, what do I do? Will I need to bring it in to an Apple repair place to reconfigure it? It states, below, that all later Macintosh computers come with an ATA hard drive at ATA Bus 0 in their default configurations. What do they mean by "later?" This is a G4, 5 years old.
FireWire Target Disk Mode: Target Computer Shuts Down at Startup
FireWire target disk mode requires the target computer to have an ATA hard drive at ATA bus 0.
Symptom
When you try to start up the target computer, it makes its startup sound, but then shuts down. No video appears on the screen, nor does the FireWire icon. The computer starts up normally without the T key held down.
Products affected
* Macintosh computer with built-in FireWire port
Solution
Make sure the target computer has an ATA hard drive on ATA bus 0. It is normal for a target computer to shut down if it does not detect an ATA hard drive on ATA bus 0.
All later Macintosh computers come with an ATA hard drive at ATA Bus 0 in their default configurations. However, it is possible to custom order (CTO) a Macintosh that does not.

Wrong drive appears in Target mode

Hey guys. I know this is probably something very simple, but I'm trying to restore the drive on my G4. I've previously carbon copied my drive to an extra drive in my G5, as I regularly get weird cache problems on my G4. Now that it's happened again, I want to Carbon copy back from the G5 to the G4, but when I connect in target mode with firewire, I cannot find the primary drive on the G4, only some secondary drive which helps me nothing
Is it as simple as switching the actual harddrives around/changing the jumpers on the actual harddrives; or is there some setting somewhere that I'm missing?

Welcome to the Discussions.
"I regularly get weird cache problems on my G4"
That might be a failing processor. There are Apple Hardware Test disk images here. http://www.info.apple.com/support/aht.html

Booting from firewire target mode on a mac pro with kernel panic?

hello
i am wondering if it is possible to use firewire target mode to boot a mac pro that has never got past a multi language kernel panic on boot?
basically i have tried all the other options and cant get it to open the superdrive to insert my installation disk, as to repair the drivers with my snow leopard disk.
i've tried holding my mouse key down, the paperclip option on the drive itself and the firmware keycombo, so my idea is that the only way to fix it is with target mode. can this be done - and if so - could someone direct me towards a tutorial that will help me do this.
please advise if this is possible or if there is another method i should use? apart from taking it to the applestore (extreme last ditch option) i am quite low on ideas here.
many thanks!
p.s heres the message i wrote for the original problem which caused all the kernel panics;
"i recently bought a mac pro and upon starting it for the first time opted to transfer the all the data i could over via firewire from my macbook pro.
i used the standard 't' command with the firewire symbol.
Somewhere towards the end of the transfer (I am not sure at what pont - I wasnt there for all of it) - , the monitor went blank and the whole thing was unresponsive. my macbook's firewire sign continued to move around the screen.
after leaving it for some time i decided to turn off the macbook and then the mac pro.
i restarted the macbook and got some pretty crazy stuff happening to my calender - but so far everything seems to be fine.
i am more concerned about the "you need to restart your computer" message; this is the dreaded 'kernel panic' right?. i have never actually done anything with this computer yet, and it was purchased new."

"i recently bought a mac pro and upon starting it for the first time opted to transfer the all the data i could over via firewire from my macbook pro.
Never opt to transfer until you have insured it works fine for a couple days, I would never use Setup or Migration Assistant until such time, and I would have a bootable backup clone.
Try pulling all the hard drives from inside your Mac Pro and boot from OS X DVD - latest OS build.

MacBook Pro mid 2010 - iMac late 2012 in target mode?

Can I connect a MacBook Pro mid 2010 with Mini Display Port with a late 1012 iMac in target mode? Thanks.

A 2010 MBP does not support Thunderbolt technology so that is not an avenue for you. A Fire wire with one of these adapters should enable you to connect the two devices:
store.apple.com/us/product/MD464ZM/A/apple-thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter
Ciao.

New iMac Not Recognizing iBook Running In Target Mode

Help!! I am helping a friend transfer all of her files and settings from her old iBook to a new iMac. I have repeatedly followed the instructions for using the Migration Assistant but the new iMac does not recognize the iBook after it is started in Target Mode. I have switched cables, zapped the pram, used the startup disk to repair disks and permissions. I can plug in an external firewire drive and it recognizes it immediately. I was called Apple Support, talked with first layer technician, was put on hold for next level of technician, put phone on speaker, person came back, said they couldn't hear me and hung up. Called back and low and behold it was quitting time. Very, Very frustrated.

bookwiz wrote:
the new iMac does not recognize the iBook after it is started in Target Mode.
Several posters have reported this. A solution that has worked for some is to place a powered firewire hub between the two machines (if you external FW disk is self powered and has two FW ports, that might work).

Target Mode with multiple partitions??? Also file sharing

I am trying to connect my MacBook Pro to my older G4 using a firewire cable. My G4 has 2 hard drives, and one is divided in to 2 partitions. When I restart my G4 in target mode only the drive that is my start-up disk shows up.
Is there any way around this?
I've thought about just connecting my computers through file sharing but it only lets me share files in my public drive. Is there a way to share all of my files?
Thanks,
Justin

Emailing you now...
Lets say the Username on Machine#1 is jk1, Username on Machine #2 is jk2, and is an admin on #2...
Then from Machine#1 use Go>Network, type in the name of Machine #2, (use the actual IP if the name can't find it), it should come up with the Dialog box with jk1 filled in for the name and asking for the password... but you have to change the name to jk2, (the one with permissions on Machine #2 to see everything), then type in the password of jk2.
The only thing I can see why this wouldn't work for you is if Machine #1 can't find #2, or Permissions need Fixing on #2.

I used Target mode to transfer files to a new iMac running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 from an older Dual core Intel machine (EMC 2105) also on 10.6.8. but originally Tiger 10.4. The operation was successful and I ejected the disk icon from the new machine and po

IS THE SITUATION HOPELESS
I used Target mode to transfer files to a new i7 iMac running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 from an older Dual core Intel machine (EMC 2105) also on 10.6.8. but originally Tiger 10.4. The operation was successful and I ejected the disk icon from the new machine and powered down the old machine. When this was restarted the next day there was a grey screen with flashing Mac symbol alternating with a 'no entry' sign and occasionally a question mark.Keyboard and mouse were unusable so k inserted the original instal disc (No.1 for 10.4. with installer 1.0.4) which came with the machine in 2006 in an attempt to boot from this. The ensuing window said this was not possible and now it cannot be ejected.I have tried everything ! It offers Disk Utility and other options like Terminal but that doesn't work either.I 'repaired disk' and that was pronounced o.k. None of the various keystrokes at start up will work, and the computer will only offer the installer disc continually.The only option would seem to be is to erase the hard drive completely from the disc in the machine.I don't want to do this as there is still material which I need to recover. I think the drive has in some way been corrupted by using it in target mode, and I don't know if there are any other options to try.
Please tell me how to get this disc to eject !

Graham Giles wrote:
Have you seen this type of problem before? I think it could be a serious issue for anyone in a similar position.
No; but then, I've not had occasion to use TDM. I've been using firerwire drives for over 10 years, both FW400 and FW800, with no issues except a bit of instability using a B&W G3 machine.
TDM should be safe. Using cautious, manual copying of files from the Target machine to the Host machine should not result in unexpected loss of files or damage to the Target drive's directories. It should behave exactly the same as if it were an external (to the Host) firewire drive.
• I don't suppose there is anything I can do to 'put back' lost items from a separate Time Machine drive which has an up to date backup on it.
There is probably a way to do that - seems to me that's one of the reasons for a Time Machine volume.
On the other hand, if the Time Machine volume is rigidly linked to the now-absent OS on the original drive, there may be no way to effectively access the files in the TM archive.
I know that using a cloned drive would work well in this instance.
I have no experience with Time Machine, so perhaps someone who has will chime in with suggestions.
With the machine in TDM with the other machine, have you tried running Disk Utility to see if you can effect repairs to the drive?

Is it possible to share 1 bluetooth keypad and 1 mouse pad between two computers in target mode?

Is it possible to share 1 bluetooth keypad and 1 mouse pad between two computers in target mode? Grab a drink and let me tell you my story.
I purchased two computers... an iMac 27" i7 3.4 16GB RAM and a Mac mini 2.3 i5 8 GB RAM. Both have Thunderbolt capability and are in fact connected by thunderbolt. I have 3 problems...
1. My Mac mini WILL NOT recognize any bluetooth keyboard. Let me back up for clarification. I set my iMac up first. No problems there. I then went on to set up my mac mini. A couple of interesting things happened concering bluetooth activity. First thing is that the keypad, which was already paired with my iMac wouldn't be recognized by the mac mini, and yet my bluetooth mouse which was paired with my iMac became paired with my mac mini and thus wouldn't be recognized by my iMac anymore. I had to go to my back room and dig out my other bluetooth mouse so that my iMac would at least recognize my second mouse. So now I have two "mice"presently. One for the mac mini, the other for the iMac. Thankfully I also had a USB keypad for my mac mini. My bluetooth keypad is still paired with my iMac but won't pair with my mac mini, which brings me to another question....
2. CAN 1 KEYPAD AND 1 MOUSE PAIR WITH TWO DIFFERENT COMPUTERS SO THAT WHEN I GO INTO TARGET MODE VIA THUNDERBOLT I CAN USE THE SAME KEYPAD AND MOUSE FOR BOTH COMPUTERS? Anybody have some thoughts on that problem?
3. WHY IN THE WORLD IS MY MOUSE CURSOR DISAPPEARING EVERYTIME I EXIT TARGET MODE VIA PASSWORD AND COMMAND F2. I'm using target mode to access my mac mini. But when I exit target mode to get back into my iMac I'm looking at my iMac screen but I can't see the mouse pointer! I can move the pointer around even though I can't see it. Wierd. And this has apparently been going on for some time with other users for over a year. I am presently completely up to date on Lion updates. Both systems are running 10.7.4. Does anyone have a solution or heard a rumor of a solution coming soon regarding the invisible mouse cursor "curse". I hate having to restart my iMac everytime I exit out of target mode just so I can get my mouse cursor visible again.
Food for thought.... Wouldn't it be really cool to have a target mode capability to see your other computers desktops in seperate window screens on your main display. You then could go back and forth from each window by just double clicking or by certain key commands. You could drag and drop from desktop to desktop. Tell me this is coming soon.
Thanks

There was a duplicate post of this question answered at:
http://exchange.ni.com/servlet/ProcessRequest?RHIVEID=101&RPAGEID=135&HExpertOnly=&HFORCEKWTID=8448:5&HOID=50650000000800000065190000&UCATEGORY_0=_26_%24_13_&UCATEGORY_0=_26_%24_13_&UCATEGORY_0=_26_%24_13_&UCATEGORY_S=0

How can I re-activate my creative cloud with a firewire disc in target mode?

I am a hurrricane evacuee. I have lost my home to flooding. It will be months before I get my original internet connection back, if ever. I am staying at a friends and they have wifi, but I am not allowed to reboot their router or their modem. I have an old 7 year old mac book pro that won't run all the CS6 apps, and a mac pro 1.1 that will, but does not have wifi. I tried to tether the mac pro to the laptop and share the wifi to re-activate, but the mac pro is not picking up the connection without rebooting the homeowner's cable modem and router, which I am forbidden to do. So I am considering finding some firewire cable somewhere and trying to run the mac pro in firewire target mode, with the mac book pro connected to wifi internet to try to re-activate. Does anyone know if this will work? Also, is there any way to know which day of the month your subscription has to activate? I am going to be shuttling from one couch to another for some time, and if I am lucky enough to drag my mac pro along, I will have to keep doing this.
Suggestion- Adobe should have a special alternate system for people who lost their internet and homes due to hurricane sandy and do not have wifi machines.

Hi Kay,
Sorry to hear about your difficulties on a lot of different levels . I'm inclined to think the target mode will not work because the activation process is reliant on the OS as part of the way it works. I think the target disk mode just treats the secondary system as an external drive - so the activation would be only affect the old mac book pro and not the apps on the target drive. But I could be wrong, it still might be worth testing given the circumstances. The activation process starts on the 11th of every month for your account.
-Dave

Running a time machine back-up of a HD in target mode

Hi guys
Wondering if anyone can offer me some advice. My macbook pro won't start up and gets stuck in grey screen with apple logo. I have tried various troubleshooting tips as per apple support documents but cannot get it to start. Before I get to install and archive, and then maybe install and erase I wanted to update the time machine backups. I do try and keep on top of it regurlary and did a full time machine back-up end of August, however there are some things that were updated since then, which is why i want to run one now.
I can access the Macbook HD in target mode using my imac but am unsure how to proceed from here. Can I plug-in the external hard-drive which is used for time machine back ups into the imac and then run a full back up on the Macbook in target mode? If so, I'd be grateful if somebody could point me in the right direction of how to do this.
Thanks

Welcome to Apple Support Communities
OS X can only restore data to the drive where Time Machine backed up files from.
If you want to restore files from the Time Machine backup onto an external drive, your only option is to access to the Time Machine drive manually (open a Finder window and choose your Time Machine drive in the Finder sidebar), navigate through its folders and copy the files you want to the external drive

Back up in target mode on time capsule

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.

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.

Invalid record count - grey screen- Target Mode Cures

Hi there,
I have a common problem: I was doing nothing particular that I remember: No fancy file uploads, doanloads, creation, erasing - nothing special:
Anyway after a customary week, or few days of leaving the macbook permanently on, I think "let's give it a rest".
Then switch back on:
- Grey screen, spinning grey progress wheel fine.
- Takes a while. Strange. After say a minute - it just switches off wordlessly.
- Reset PRAM: No solution. Take a look with single-user startup in console: Files are all there, OK. Disk not dead.
- Start up from OS X 10.5 disk:
Permissions repair fine. Good.
Verify disk: FAIL! +*Invalid Record Count.Volume check failed.*+
Next: *Try target disk mode to back up essentials* - that works fine: I now have Time Machine AND a smaller important essentials backup.
But finally, here's the surprise: Just for kicks, I *shut the macbook down, try a reboot - and it works!*
But I note that root system files are unchanged since the problem occurred: ".hotfiles.btree" for example (I don't know what that is but suspect it's relevant).
Then: I tried restarting again - and back to square one, it won't boot.
Do the "Target disk" firewire mode trick again, and browse a few folders: And it boots (slowly).
If I just leave the Macbook on permanently - everything seems fine. Not even sluggish.
So:
- Why can connecting a disk with an incorrect file system in target disk make the system forget about these problems when booting?
- Why does the problem return on a successive reboot?
- Is it related to some system files being ignored if booting straight after a target mode session?
- What is ".hotfiles.btree", and should it not exist ?
And the big one:
- +Can extended Applecare, wot cost me loads of money, help me?+

Hi Cornelius:
Having been a faithful Apple-groupie for a while, and despite some problems over the years (hard drive failing, screen going, etc.) this is the first time I'm disappointed with them, because theor Micromat Applecare deal is a ripoff:
You fork out for Applecare extension: All you get is something that say "Yep, you've got a problem. Now go and buy techtoolpro".
That is, the TechTool Deluxe is practically useless. Argh.
Worse: They keep that rather quiet. If you run TechTool deluxe, and it fails: It points you to the Techtool site to
"download the TechTool Deluxe software with diagnostic and repair capabilities".
You think "Aha, right, I need an update, or a DMG rather than just the executable".
Download another 1.25Gb.
So you try again: Same thing.
The chiselling little crooks, to quote Ken Livingstone, won't even come out and say "Buy TechTool Pro to fix it". The website as reported above is wrong.
Result: I'm not happy with them. And I'll never buy anything off Micromat.
In the meantime, I've got a bootable backup thanks to CC-Cloner (excellent, I'll send him some money), and I'm waiting until I don't have any critical deadlines to allow myself time to restore a daily bootable backup.
The dodgy files seem to be the Sun Developper Java suite according to CC Cloner.

Macbook Pro will not boot up - can't access HD in target mode

I am fairly new to Mac's, so I greatly appreciate the help in advance....
Quick synopsis of problem:
Was using my new Macbook Pro, purchased 6 mos. ago... only had Safari open, Closed lid, went to dinner...when i came back, opened the lid... would not wake up, pressed power button and it went into Disk Utility mode.
What I have tried so far...
I have read several posts and appears I will need to reinstall Mac OSx... I am trying to connect my Macbook Pro to my Macbook Air to access the hard drive and copy/save important files before trying to restore/reinstall OS X....
unfortunately, I do not have a backup... so I need to access the hard drive to save some files.
I have put the Macbook Pro into Target Mode, but the Air will not recognize the drive... I have them connected with a Thunderbolt cable....
I have tried several different methods to connect them... ie... starting both up with cable connected.... both not connected... starting up the Air, then connecting the Pro... then Target mode, etc....
I also booted up the Pro with the Macbook Air in Target mode and it loaded the OSx from the Air, but i still cannot access the Macbook Pro Hard drive....
I feel I'm close, but just can't get it to recognize the Pro's hard drive....
Can you please assist and tell me what i need to do in order to get the Macbook Pro's hard drive to connect so I can access my files?
Thank you..

Let me also add that I just tried to boot the Macbook Pro's OS on the Macbook Air by starting the Air and holding down the 'Option' key.
It showed 2 available bootable volumes:
Macbook Air's HD
it showed the Pro's hard drive labeled: "Recovery - 10.9"
i don't have a good feeling about this..... the Air is obviously communicating with the Pro, but it seems that Pro's Hard Drive might be done...
any thoughts, ideas, solutions...??? thanks again

Using target mode and g4 to restore my time machine on my imac? help

I have a imac 27" intel 10.6 that became stuck on grey screen, Tried everything.
problem dont have original cd install cd snow Leopard 10.6...
so I used target mode from a g4 10.4 mac and erased data on my imac
then went into the disk utility and draged the time machine drive (which was greyed out) into the section that says drive you wish to restore.
I could not run the scan disk image because the time machine drive was not avaliable.
so then i draged my new imac drive to the location to be restored part, hit restore and it says its copying
its been a day and a half and only copied 50g out of 280g
can i safley stop this?
is this even going to work?
Can disk utility restore my time machine back onto my reformatted hfs ext drive on my imac?
Imac 27", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

White screen on startup?
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