HT202910: OS X: Manually migrating data from another Mac

Learn about OS X: Manually migrating data from another Mac
Michael,Michael,Motorcycle

Q: I can't see my 2007 MacBook in Target Disk Mode on the desktop of my mid 2014 13" MacBook Pro Retina running Yosemite 10.10.2.

I am trying to transfer data from my old 2007 13" MacBook running Snow Leopard 10.6.8 to my new mid-2014 13" MacBook Pro Retina  64 Gb RAM running Yosemite 10.10.2. I have set my 2007 MacBook in Target Disk Mode (I can see the FireWire logo drifting around the screen) but it doesn't appear on the desktop of new MacBook Pro. I've connected to 2007 MacBook using a FireWire cable from a WD My Studio Book external drive. It has a 400 connector on one end to my old MacBook and a 800 connector with Thunderbolt adapter on the end to my new MacBook. I've used the cable frequently for routine TimeMachine and it works fine. I've restarted my old MacBook a couple of time both my holding down the T key while restarting and by going to System Preferences/Start up Disk/Target Mode but the result is the same: the old MacBook doesn't appear on the desktop of my new MacBook Pro although the FireWire logo is on the screen of my old MacBook. I would truly appreciate your suggestions.

 

Thank you

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1), null

Posted on Feb 17, 2015 12:25 AM

Close

Q: I can't see my 2007 MacBook in Target Disk Mode on the desktop of my mid 2014 13" MacBook Pro Retina running Yosemite 10.10.2.

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by jeffd55,

    jeffd55 jeffd55 Feb 18, 2015 8:59 AM in response to Michael,Michael,Motorcycle
    Community Specialists
    Feb 18, 2015 8:59 AM in response to Michael,Michael,Motorcycle

    Hey Michael,

     

    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. 

     

    If your 2007 MacBook is going into target disk mode, the cables/adapter have tested good and the 2014 MacBook is not having other problems with the FireWire connections, target disk mode should work. I would suggest taking a look at the following article and make sure the steps are followed closely. Frequently errors are caused by doing steps out of order. 

     

     

    OS X Yosemite: Transfer files between two computers using target disk mode

     

    Regards,
    Jeff D. 

  • by Michael,Michael,Motorcycle,Solvedanswer

    Michael,Michael,Motorcycle Michael,Michael,Motorcycle Feb 19, 2015 8:05 PM in response to jeffd55
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Feb 19, 2015 8:05 PM in response to jeffd55

    Thank you jeffd55,

     

    I followed the steps in the article you attached to your reply and it worked perfectly. I should add that I followed exactly these steps previously EXCEPT that I had a portable 2 Tb USB 3.0 external drive attached to my 2014 MacBook Pro previously, as my new MacBook Pro has a much smaller capacity than my old 2007 MacBook. But today I didn't attach the external drive and the 2007 MacBook's HDD appeared on the 2014 MacBook Pro's desktop as promised. I don't know if or why the external drive should make a difference; I'm just very pleased it worked!

     

    Thank you.

  • by jeffd55,

    jeffd55 jeffd55 Feb 24, 2015 11:22 AM in response to Michael,Michael,Motorcycle
    Community Specialists
    Feb 24, 2015 11:22 AM in response to Michael,Michael,Motorcycle

    Hi Michael,

     

    Hard to say exactly was happening, but sometimes the communications with an external drive could get in the way of Target Disk Mode communications. Glad you got it sorted out and thanks for marking the post as "Solved".

     

    Cheers,

    Jeff D.