Won't boot, recognise superdrive or startup in target disk mode

I've been trying to help a friend with his iMac G4 that crashed. Of course he hasn't backed up his hard drive in years. I've searched the forums and have tried several methods to get his machine running or at least recover his data but with no luck.
Here's what happens:
When I turn on his computer I can hear repeated clicking which eventually stops. The screen comes up grey and eventually a flashing icon appears, alternating between a folder with a Finder icon and a folder with a question mark.
Here's what I've tried:
I've tried booting in target disk mode but that doesn't work.
I've tried booting holding down the mouse button but the superdrive tray doesn't open.
I've booted into Open Firmware and typed "eject cd". The system pauses for a long time then gives me the message "can't OPEN the EJECT device".
I've manually opened the superdrive tray, loaded a disc, then booted while holding down the "c" key. I can hear the drive spin, but the computer doesn't boot from the disk. I've tried loading a Tiger DVD, a DiskWarrior CD and an OS 9 CD.
I've tried removing the Airport card and additional RAM.
I've tried resetting the PRAM.
I've tried resetting the PMU.
I've booted into Open Firmware and typed "reset-nvram" then "reset-all".
Nothing has worked. The computer always returns to the flashing Finder/question mark folder.
I'd really appreciate any suggestions on where to go from here.
Thanks!

When you can't boot from any method it usually signals that one of 2 things (maybe both) have failed:
Motherboard
Hard drive - Some hard drive failures lock up the ATA controller so badly that the Mac can't boot from any device.

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IMac won't boot after transferring info to laptop (Target disk mode)

Hello Mac Gods,
I have an iMac, and it was running great until I started it up in target disk mode to transfer info to my new laptop. Now it won't start up, and when I started it up from the install DVD to repair the disk, the hard drive didn't appear at all (and couldn't be repaired). Any advice? It seems like it must be the result of the target disk startup - the timing is too perfect and I didn't have any problems before.
Any input would be much appreciated.

Hopefully you have AppleCare. If so, call Apple to see if this if you are afflicted with the dreaded motherboard problem.
BTW, this area is for discussing iMac G4s. Since you have an iMac G5 you will probably want to make future posts in the iMac G5 discussion area.

Mac won't startup after Target Disk Mode

Hello all, i recently purchased a G5 Imac and attempted the Target Disk Mode for transferring files from my old G4 PowerPC Quicksilver. It took a very long time to get the disk to mount itself during this process but when it was there i did all my transfers and when done, ejected the disk. Without the firewire attached i have now restarted the PowerPC model and was stuck on the blue screen of death after the usual startup. After doing some CMD+V, CMD+S, CMDOPT+OF, CMDOPT+PR i have now been apparently made it even worse because now it just sits on the gray screen with the Apple. I can't seem to find my original discs for the PowerPC but have the new ones that came with the G5 readily available but doubt they work due to the intel differences but i could be wrong....any help folks? Thank you kindly in advance

i've changed out the battery to no avail. I have always had a secondary HD in my case and i was able to find my disks that originally came with my mac and installed a fresh version of the OS on the secondary. Everything seems to work fine there except now i'm running on a system 7 years old and the auto-updates aren't giving me any options to move closer to today's technology. as far as my main HD, i believe it is dead and that is the problem from the get go so i assume that i'm screwed there and will have to start fresh with this secondary HD now my main.

Can a Mac Pro boot off a MacBook Pro in Target Disk Mode?

Summary: "Are you able to boot a Mac Pro off of a Mac Book Pro in Target Disk Mode?" OR "Will a Mac Pro boot off an OS X install that was made on a MBP?"
Details:
I'm finishing a music project that was created on a PPC G5 Quad computer and going to a studio in Santa Monica to complete the final mixdown. My 3rd party software plug-in configuration is unique, and the studio doesn't have all of the software instruments that I do on their 8 core mac pro. My G5 software installation is mirrored to my MacBook Pro, but the MBP doesn't have enough CPU power to play the project back.
Is it feasible to have the studio's 8 core Mac Pro boot from my MacBook Pros hard drive? Essentially, we'd be using my OS and software on their powerful CPU / hardware. I figure, since they are both Intel builds of OSX, this should be do-able.
I don't have access to the Mac Pro until I show up to start working.
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The MacBook Pro boots fine in 10.5.8, and loads the Logic project without any faults. The only issue is that a CPU shortage occurs when you attempt to play the sequence.
Like you suggested, I performed separate UB installations of all the needed software on the MBP solely so I could move Logic projects from one computer to the next without a hitch. (Actually, DropBox does this for me). Migration assistant was not employed in this process due to the PPC / Intel issues you noted.
I didn't need to mention the G5 as it appears to have caused some confusion based on Kappy's reply, but I did want to explain my work flow thoroughly.
It sounds like booting the MacPro from my MBP is feasible. I'll mark this topic 'solved' and head over to the studio tonight. I'll post here any anomalies from the session (if any).
THANKS~!

Mini won't boot - tried many methods, disk visible in Target Disk Mode

I have a PPC Mac Mini running Leopard. It stopped booting last week. It goes to the point where the Apple appears and then stops. No moving ring at the bottom of the screen.
I've done the following w/ no luck to get it booting.
1) Put it in Target Disk mode and run Disk Utility. Repaired permissions and did a Repair Disk. No issues found.
2) Put it in Target Disk mode and ran Tech Tool Pro. Checked volume/file structures and sectors. Nothing found.
3) Reset PRAM.
In Target Disk Mode, I can see the files. But I want to get it running one last time to archive some program configuration files. I know I can erase and restore from a TM backup but I'm using that as a last resort. Other than trying Spinrite, any other ideas?

You must be very keen on those config files. You are going thru a lot of work to get them. But if you must ...
If you have an extra firwire external drive free, that you can partition with APM (Apple Partition Map) and format, then you could use your original install disc or Leopard install disc to install a bootable version of OSX on that external.
Boot from the external, and then download the latest combo update for Leopard and install it on the internal drive. Hopefully that will fix the the internal enough to make it bootable.
Another approach is to pay $100 for DiskWarrior. Most of the time it can fix a problem like yours ... but no guarantees. It is a worthwhile program to own anyway, however.

Pismo with Tiger won't go into target disk mode

I recently upgraded my Pismo to Tiger and can't seem to boot into firewire target disk mode. The computer restarts and gives me a terminal screen that reads: "can't OPEN DISK" and then goes on to say "Welcome to Open Firmware. To continue booting, type "mac-boot"..."
I tried zapping the pram, but that did nothing. Does anybody have any suggestions?

MacUser,
When booted in 10.4.8, select Target Disk Mode in the System Preferences > Startup Disk and see what happens.
If no success, try resetting Open Firmware (from Apple docs):
Boot into Open Firmware by holding down the 'Command-Option-O-F' keys from a cold start while the chime is being played. You will see a command-line screen...enter these commands:
1. At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-nvram
2. Press Return.
3. At the Open Firmware prompt, type: reset-all
4. Press Return.
Example:
0 > reset-nvram
Press Return
0 > reset-all
Press Return
The reset-all command should cause the computer to restart. If this occurs, you have successfully reset the Open Firmware settings.

Disk startup full- can't boot normally. Now in target disk mode.

Hello all, so here's my dilemma-
My disk startup is full and now I am unable to boot my computer past the apple logo and the loading circle.
Here's what I've tried,
I am now in target disk mode attempting to transfer over my files to an external HD via a good computer and then wipe/restore the OS on my bad computer THEN transfer my files over to the bad(now good) computer however..... some of my files won't transfer, especially in my iphoto library (It's HUGE 82 gigs) & my very elaborate final cut pro projects that have taken me h o u r s to do.... For example, some video icons don't show up with a snapshot of the video as they are suppose to but instead they're shown with a a default video icon which almost makes me think they're damaged files but the thing is- I was just working with these files.. My comp passed all HD tests. I don't think it's damaged...I don't know what's going on. If I could just find a way to delete some files...especially from my trash(30 gigs in there) so I'm able to at least boot properly, that would be great
Is there anyway to retrieve these stubborn files via target disk mode or another option?
Also do you maybe have an easier way for me to go about this entire process instead of transferring 500gb of data back and forth? I tried to access my trashcan via target disk mode and delete the 30 gigs I have in there but I was unable to delete it- and I do have "read and write" switched on.
Thanks in Advance!! ANY help is appreciated. I'm at wits end here.
Details
-I have a mid 2012 macbook pro connected with the mid 2012 imac that I'm running on target disc mode via thunderbolt cable (I also tried a 2013 air- same issues)

Before you spend a lot of money with a professional recovery service, look over these links:
http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201583
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/trash.html
Ciao.

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

Won't boot up, it says "Waiting for local disks"

The other day I got a warning that I was running out of disk space and that I should delete some files off my computer. I was going to do that, but I didn't for some reason and then shut down the computer. Now when I try to start up the computer it will start booting up--but then it gets to, "Waiting for local disks" and won't go past that. Will a 512mb internal memory card solve the problem?

Ridders3425's tip on holding the mouse button down on startup should work fine. You should be aware that when burning a disc, you really need at least as much free space on the hard drive as the size of the disc being burned; e.g., about 640MB for CD-R, 4.7 GB for DVD-R. Allowing a few hundred MB for the system swap files, and you get the rule of thumb to keep 1 to 5 GB free space on the hard drive. That's to allow for creation of the temporary scratch files that are creating durning the burning process. That puts you in a Catch-22 situation when you get the running of of drive space warning: you needd to delete some files to gain space, but you can't really back anything up safely without free space to start with.
Do you have access to another Mac? You could then use a Firewire cable to connect the two and try to boot your eMac as the target disk; refer to How to use FireWire target disk mode. You can then use the other Mac to perform the backup of files and to remove enough unneeded filed from the eMac to permit it to boot.

G5 won't boot but will go to target disk mode

Hi,
Well it started like this: suddenly a dark grey veil lowered across the screen with a notice in several languages saying "you must restart your mac" (or something to that effect). I panicked and pressed the power button, the mac shut down.
I started it again but it only got as far as the grey Apple screen and then sat there for a while until the fans started ramping up in the famous jet engine style. I shut it down again.
I have tried starting it:
In single user mode = no joy, same as above
In safe mode = some text on a black background, keyboard not functional, fans start going crazy again.
In target disk mode = everything exactly as one might expect, all files accessable, fans ticking over normally.
I have attached an ibook to it, booted the G5 in Target disk mode and run disk utility, repair, but it reported the disk "could not be unmounted". There was a lot of clicking from the G5 though so I assume something happened. I then ran "verify" and it reported that everything was fine.
The G5 still won't start, exhibiting the same symtoms as before.
Anyone got any ideas?
Cheers,
Cliff

Hi Cliff, and a warm welcome to the forums!
See if any of this gives us more clues....
How to reset the SMU on a Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) or Power Mac G5 (Late 2005) ...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1436
Earlier G3, G4, G5 models...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1939
PM G5 won't start...
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2173

G4 450 Sawtooth - Won't Boot to FW Target Disk Mode

Running 10.5.8
Upgraded NewerTech 2G Processor
ATI 9800 Pro Video Card
Original WD 20G Drive with 10.5.8 (Back Up Boot Disk)
New Seagate 500G SATA - Primary Boot drive
FirmTech SATA Controller Card
New Seagate 1.5T - Misc Storage
Disk Utility and Disk Warrior both report no problems on either boot drive.
The machine will boot in any form I choose.
Any available boot drive / disk using Start Up > Option key
To the Install DVD using Start Up > C key
Using single user mode - Start Up > Comm and S key
Using USB Thumb Drive (Has 10.5.8 and Disk Warrior)
The machine will not boot to Target Disk Mode using the T key. Before getting beyond the Black screen the computer shuts down.
I've tried:
alternately using each boot drive while the other is disconnected
removing RAM
removing the SATA controller card
checked all connections
Zapped Pram and reset PMU (had to reset Mac OSX Firmware for the NewerTech Processor after pram set)
The only other thing I can find is a reference to Firmware Password Protection, but from what I read the computer should show start up problems beyond just TDM. Additionally, I am not familiar with FPP. All I know is it would be set (reset) from the Install Disk.
Any thoughs please?

Make sure there is a hard drive available as Master on the ATA 0 bus.
FireWire Target Disk Mode: Target Computer Shuts Down at Startup
How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

Mac Mini won't Boot after Target Disk Mode

We just bought a new iMac and used target disk mode via firewire from our older Mac Mini running OSX 10.4 to transfer data. Now when we go to restart the mini, the grey screen appears with apple logo and it seems to try to boot up but after a long time alway just ends up with a blue screen. I don't think I "ejected" the mini properly from the imac after the target disk mode transfer. Could the mini be stuck in target disk mode? I've tried to restart in different modes eg. safe mode, pram by holding down keys on start up but doesnt make a difference at all almost as if the keyboard isn't registering (and its a wired keyboard). Any ideas???
Thanks

Try starting up from the Recovery Partition holding the Option (Alt) key and see if you can Repair your Macintosh HD, as per > OS X: About OS X Recovery

Hard disk not recognised - will not boot from cd & No FW Target Disk mode

hi,
some help would be greatly appreciated.
Some time ago i was switching internal hard drives around and wound up with a kernel panic of some sort (see my previous posts).
following on from this I have tried FW target disk mode with no success, and it will not boot from a retail Tiger install disc (this machine has tiger installed (i think!). I can't force a boot from the optical drive and i also can't even force it to eject the disc inside to try another install DVD/CD (I have panther discs lying around also).
when i start up with the c key nothing happens, but when i start up with the alt/option key i get a closed padlock symbol, password entry field and a "right facing arrow" button.
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Jesse

Hi, Jesse. Remove the hard drive and its cable, then see whether you can start up from a CD or DVD. If that works, replace your hard drive cable.

Old G5 won't start in target disk mode.

I'm trying to migrate from my old G5 (2003) to a 'new' (second-hand) G5. When I run Migration Assisstant on the new one and it asks me to start the old machine in target disk mode the old machine won't boot up. I have wireless keyboard and have tried pressing 't' on start up to no avail so I have also tried rebooting via the 'Start Up' pane of System Preferences. When I do this it boots up to the blue screen with yellow firewire logo then after less than a second it powers down.
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Grateful for anyone who has any ideas.
Matt.

Hi Matt-
No chime is significant.....
It would be best to reset the PRAM on the old G5. This is best done with a wired keyboard, though you can try it with the wireless (may not work). Hold the CommandOption+PR keys and startup. Hold the keys until you hear the second startup chime, then release. The machine should then continue on to boot normally.
After the PRAM reset, the Startup chime should be restored, and, hopefully, so will Firewire Target Disk mode.

I put my macbook into target disk mode and now it won't start up in regular mode

I put my macbook into target disk mode and now it won't start up in OSX. I have used my install disk and repaired the drive. I have held down the option key to choose the system. I have tried to start in safe mode with same result. The apple screen appears, but the gear just keeps turning. I can get it back into target disk mode by connecting it by firewaire to my macbook pro. It will start up in Windows when I choose that system. What can I do to get it to start up with OSX?
Thanks for your help.

Try this from MacFixIt as well:
In the case of drive directory damage or problems with permissions, the solution is usually to use Apple's Disk Utility to repair the disk. Of course, you won't be able to perform this operation normally (simply launching the Disk Utility application, located in Applications/Utilities, and initiating a disk repair) if your system will not startup. So two options exist:
* Insert your Mac OS X 10.4.x (Tiger) media (DVD or CD) and restart the computer while holding down the "C" key. Once the computer has booted from the installation disc, select "Utilities" from the menubar and open Disk Utility. Repair the disk, then quit Disk Utility and restart your system.
* Alternatively, you can repair the disk while booted in single user mode if you do not have access to a retail Mac OS X 10.4.x (Tiger) DVD/CD. To startup in single user mode, hold down the "Command" and "S" keys simultaneously at startup. Once properly booted, type the command fsck at the prompt. Repeat these process until no errors appear.

Won't boot, recognise superdrive or startup in target disk mode

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