Kernel Panic - how can I backup hard drive

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Kernel Panic - how can I backup hard drive

The video RAM on my iMac Flat Panel G4 is faulty. The Genius Bar confirmed this for me. The whole system is now unstable - it "crashes" and shows the multi-language reboot screen within about 5 minutes of powering up. I need to backup my hard drive, but the system won't stay up long enough. It's time for me to buy a new system anyway. But, how can I get my data off the disk drive of the old system and transfer it to a new system?

iMac Flat Panel G4, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Oct 9, 2007 8:46 PM

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Answer 1

mrtotes

Level 6

11,836 points

Oct 10, 2007 3:59 AM in response to LarryO817

Hello and Welcome to Apple Discussions.

If you have another Mac you can use Firewire Target Disk Mode (link) to make the iMac G4 into an external hard drive.

Alternatively purchase an external firewire hard drive. Boot from your Install disc and install OS X on the external drive. Now restart the iMac and book from the external hard disk (press the Option key after the chime). You now have a fresh clean system on the external drive running the computer. Kernel Panics can be software related; a clean install may not Panic.

If you get too many Kernel Panics during the above procedures then the final option would be to install the internal iMac hard disk into an external hard disk enclosure. You could then connect it to another Mac and recover your data.

I'd always to remove all 3rd party peripherals, Airport card, and accessible RAM whilst suffering Kernel Panics as these can all contribute.

Resolving Kernel Panics.

Happy to expand on any of the above if you need clarification.

Good Luck

mrtotes

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