HT1661: How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

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scpratherii
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Q: Going into TDM with no OS

I have an imac without an OS that I would like to be able to use as a backup for my other imac's video and music files however I can't seem to get it to go into TDM. I have tried all troubleshooting from support but nothing seems to work. All I have is the flashing folder..... Am I not able to go into TDM without an OS? I thought TDM was a hardware trait not software. Someone please advise.

 

Cheers,

 

Sam

iMac

Posted on Sep 21, 2012 4:47 PM

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scpratherii

Q: Going into TDM with no OS

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  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 21, 2012 5:41 PM in response to scpratherii
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    Sep 21, 2012 5:41 PM in response to scpratherii

    Hi Sam, it should holding the t key at bootup, but you get no big floating FW symbol?

  • by scpratherii,

    scpratherii scpratherii Sep 21, 2012 6:11 PM in response to BDAqua
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    Sep 21, 2012 6:11 PM in response to BDAqua

    Correct. I have made sure that all connections are good. I was able to boot my host computer into it with no problem. I have tried holding the "T" in as well as continusly pressing. I have tried waiting a few seconds after the chime, before the chime and started holding it down before I press the power button. I have tried unpluging all wires waiting and then booting my host, pluging in the firewire to host than target.... then the guided tries of all the "T" 's. I am at my wits end. I truly feel like I have tried every avalible method and can't get anything.

     

    Sam

     

    --And thanks for the fast reply and and all help is truly and greatly appreciated,

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 21, 2012 6:26 PM in response to scpratherii
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    Sep 21, 2012 6:26 PM in response to scpratherii

    What exact mac is this older one without an OS?

     

    Does the drive in it work as far as you know?

     

    A munged drive can prevent t mode, also older IDE Macs need a Master Drive on IDE0 to use t mode.

  • by scpratherii,

    scpratherii scpratherii Sep 22, 2012 7:59 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2012 7:59 AM in response to BDAqua

    I should better phrase it, it is older, in that I have had it longer than the one I use day to day. All of the Apple's I have, I recieved from a friend. They are all dated from 2007, some early and some late. I am sure all works fine with the HD. My friend works a surplus warehouse for a large corp. He knew I wanted to learn about macs and gave me every piece of Apple equipment I own, with exception to our iPhones. I have 2 PPC Powerbooks, 3 Imacs, 2 PPC G5's. I continued the use of my PC as I got my Powerbooks and could only get limited updates becouse of the PPC. He then got these intel iMacs. One has a badly scratched screen and loud fan but everything else is to be in fine working order. The other has a smaller hard drive then that one I currently use. I used it before I got the one I have now. I wiped the HD when I got this one as I was going to use the same OS disc and feared I might get an email or communication from Apple for using a single disc on multiple computers. So that drive, I am certian works. The one that needs work, I can only take his word that it works and he has never failed at his assemenets of any piece that I have recieved.

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 22, 2012 1:41 PM in response to scpratherii
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    Sep 22, 2012 1:41 PM in response to scpratherii

    OK, have you tried putting the Install Disc in the one that does boot into t mode, then booting the one that doesn't using the Option or alt key, to see if the Install Disc in the other one is a Boot choice?

  • by scpratherii,

    scpratherii scpratherii Sep 22, 2012 3:35 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 22, 2012 3:35 PM in response to BDAqua

    No. But let me say I would not have thought to try....however, my option to do that is limited as that boot disk is in a storage unit. (I assume that using this method, I would be connected FireWire?

     

    Hypothetically, if I did that and didn't have the option to boot, what is that telling me? Also, any other options that I might play with until I get to my storage unit, please continue to send my way. At this point I feel it is a challenge I have to win against a machine!

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua Sep 22, 2012 5:08 PM in response to scpratherii
    Level 10 (123,501 points)
    Sep 22, 2012 5:08 PM in response to scpratherii

    I would be connected FireWire

    Correct.

    Hypothetically, if I did that and didn't have the option to boot, what is that telling me.

    Hmmm, most likely something on wring Hardware wise on the non t mode booting Mac.