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ebenmmNYC

Q: target disk mode

I am trying to make a back up of a MacPro to my iMac, with the Mac Pro in Target Mode, using Time Machine. I want to just back up the MacPro, nothing else. Then wipe the Mac Pro, and restore it and the OS from the Back up. Is that possible.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Feb 21, 2013 3:45 AM

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Q: target disk mode

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  • by Eric Ross,

    Eric Ross Eric Ross Feb 21, 2013 3:48 AM in response to ebenmmNYC
    Level 6 (11,681 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 3:48 AM in response to ebenmmNYC

    Try backing up the MacPro directly to your external hard drive. 

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Feb 21, 2013 3:55 AM in response to ebenmmNYC
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 3:55 AM in response to ebenmmNYC

    In theory it is possible, check the ML article on Target Disk Mode, and after the connection is made Time Machine can be turned on and pointed at the iMac disk as the place to backup...I would create a partition on that disk, though, so TM can be pointed at a specific partiton so the material is confined to a known location.  This is not the usual practice for using Target Disk Mode and Time Machine backup.  The prefered approach is to use an external hard drive or a second drive inside the MacPro as the TM destination for backup.  Have you checked sources such as OWC to see what drives they have available?

  • by ebenmmNYC,

    ebenmmNYC ebenmmNYC Feb 21, 2013 4:05 AM in response to ebenmmNYC
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 4:05 AM in response to ebenmmNYC

    Eric I would do that, but the only problem is that MacPro is corrupted. I get the Grey screen of death. So I can see the files with it connected to my iMac. I want to back up the MacPro, using Time Machine on my iMac. Wipe, and Restore the MacPro.

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Feb 21, 2013 4:14 AM in response to ebenmmNYC
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 4:14 AM in response to ebenmmNYC

    Another thought, you could connect the two machines via ethernet cable, just a standard and non-cross-over for newer Macs, and then ehen the MacPro HD shoes on the iMac desktop, drage and drop or copy and paste the file systems you want to retain.  The corrupted system files you don't have to worry about...if you do a TM backup you get everything, corrupted and uncorrupted so you don't gain much in the end.

  • by ebenmmNYC,

    ebenmmNYC ebenmmNYC Feb 21, 2013 4:31 AM in response to ebenmmNYC
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 4:31 AM in response to ebenmmNYC

    Understood, but I am going to wipe the Mac Clean anyway. I want to keep the files in total.

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Feb 21, 2013 4:35 AM in response to ebenmmNYC
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 4:35 AM in response to ebenmmNYC

    Yes, but if you backup in total and files are corrupted and then restore you get the corrupted files back again and you are right where you started from...unless you can selectively restore to avoid the corrupted material.

  • by ebenmmNYC,

    ebenmmNYC ebenmmNYC Feb 21, 2013 5:24 AM in response to Ralph Landry1
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 5:24 AM in response to Ralph Landry1

    Well, assuming I want that (which I really don't), how would I go about it

  • by Ralph Landry1,

    Ralph Landry1 Feb 21, 2013 5:44 AM in response to ebenmmNYC
    Level 8 (41,782 points)
    Feb 21, 2013 5:44 AM in response to ebenmmNYC

    If you are talking about using Time Machine, the definitive source of info starts with the Pondini TM Tip and then the links to his website...more info than you will find anywhere else on using TM and what you can and cannot do with it.