Target disk mode: target disk doesn't show up.

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Target disk mode: target disk doesn't show up.

Is there a solution to the problem of the target disk not showing up on the desktop of the other MacBook Pro?

The problem was earlier mentioned in July.

I am using an old MacBook Pro (mid 2012) running High Sierra with Thunderbolt 1 and a newer MacBook Pro (2019, i9) running Monterey with Thunderbolt 1-4 . To connect I use the Apple adapter.

Three calls to Apple support and a visit to a local Premium Reseller didn't help.

I never had tis problem before - between two earlier Macs and mij MBP 2012 it always worked well.

Could a software bug in Monterey (OSX) be the cause?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.13

Posted on Sep 24, 2022 9:11 AM

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Answer 1

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huib99 Author

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Sep 25, 2022 4:46 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Hi Grant and hello everyone,

I'm sorry. Indeed, it was not logical that a menu in the System info would switch anything. It just shows the status.

So, here is the real solution to my problem:

I cleaned the Thunderbolt 1 port of my ten year old MBP (alcohol, small tweezers and fine cloth) and everything works fine.

The harddisk icon of the old (mid 2012) MBP shows up, transfer of data is successful with any of Thunderbolt ports, both with bus 0 and 1 of the newer 2019 MBP!

Huib

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Answer 2

Sep 24, 2022 10:44 AM in response to huib99

<< Both my MBP's show the Thunderbolt icon (moving around) if in Target mode and on both computers the Thunderbolt bridge shows up in the Network window. In the Network window they are displayed as "not connected" - which is obvious since the network is my home wifi. >>

only the old computer should have the thunderbolt icon floating around to make a transfer, the new computer should be booted up normally.

Network connection has nothing to do with nothing since you will be creating a LOCAL connection via thunderBolt, not a network connection. If you have Thunderbolt in the list of network interfaces available, I suggest you try removing it at each end before doing the experiment again.

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Answer 3

huib99 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 24, 2022 12:23 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Found!

In the System information window under Hardware: select Thunderbolt/USB4.

A menu will appear in which it is possible to select Thunderbolt-bus1 or -bus 0.

Underneath, the connected Mac shows up as connected device to one of the ports .... If already connected in the target mode, of course. And: the harddisk icon of the target disk appears on the desktop as soon as the right bus is chosen!

I haven't checked, but I don't suppose that removing the Thunderbolt bridge from the "Network" window is essential.

Anyway; thanks for your suggestions, Grant! It encouraged me to continue the search ...

Huib

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Answer 4

Sep 24, 2022 10:25 AM in response to huib99

<< Is there a solution to the problem of the target disk not showing up on the desktop of the other MacBook Pro? >>

what shows up on the desktop is configured by:

Finder > preferences

and also here:

.

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Answer 5

huib99 Author

Level 1

5 points

Sep 24, 2022 10:38 AM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

Thank you, Grant.

After studying the Apple Support pages, I was aware of these.

Checking (external) disks or even servers didn't help.

I used the target mode before -albeit with firewire - and never met this problem.

Both my MBP's show the Thunderbolt icon (moving around) if in Target mode and on both computers the Thunderbolt bridge shows up in the Network window. In the Network window they are displayed as "not connected" - which is obvious since the network is my home wifi.

Huib

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Answer 6

Sep 24, 2022 2:36 PM in response to huib99

<< And: the harddisk icon of the target disk appears on the desktop as soon as the right bus is chosen! >>

¿how do you choose the right bus?

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Target disk mode: target disk doesn't show up.

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