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How can I extract data from iMac 2015...

My iMac 2015 is too full to boot properly. Finally got it to boot into Target mode, only to just be told (after Apple said otherwise) my iMac 2021 and MacBook Pro 2020 do NOT support Target mode. (Apple support was not helpful. I was assured if I bought the proper cables I would be able to link the new 2021 to the 2015, boot into Target mode and the 2021 would recognize the 2015 as a device and I could extract data).

How can I get to the data in the 2015 iMac?

iMac 27″, macOS 10.14

Posted on May 31, 2023 1:23 PM

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Servant of Cats

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Posted on May 31, 2023 8:30 PM

According to the article, if either Mac is running macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later, you have to connect the machines using Thunderbolt – not using USB or USB-C.

All of the 2015 iMacs had Thunderbolt 2, which lived on a Mini DisplayPort connector, rather than on a USB-C one. To connect a Thunderbolt-2-equipped Mac (like your 2015 iMac) with a Mac that has Thunderbolt 3 or 4 ports, you'd need to daisy-chain a Thunderbolt 2 cable with Apple's Thunderbolt 3-to-2 adapter.

I don't know why they took away the "plain" USB or USB-C option with Big Sur, but this is what I get out of the support article.

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BDAqua

Level 10

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Jun 3, 2023 6:02 PM in response to lswaterford

See if you can get one of these to test that internal drive...

You can use Drive DX to possibly get a better view of Drive health…

https://binaryfruit.com/drivedx

Thanks to Jack-19…

It may be wise to run SMART Utility to check the drives' health.

lswaterford Author

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May 31, 2023 1:42 PM in response to Keith Barkley

Thanks for the clarification Keith. I have the 2015 iMac in Target Disk Mode but it does not appear on either my 2020 MacBook Pro or my 2021 iMac. (I have tried both) Any suggestions?

May 31, 2023 1:45 PM in response to lswaterford

Are they apple silicon? What OS are they running? both caveats are discussed in the article.

lswaterford Author

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May 31, 2023 1:52 PM in response to Keith Barkley

The 2021 is M1 Monterey, 2020 MBP is i7 Monterey, 2015 Mojave. The article discusses setting the M1 to share, but I need the 2015 to share to the M1.

Old Toad

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May 31, 2023 2:56 PM in response to lswaterford

Did you connect the two Mac by cable before booting the old Mac into Target Disk Mode and the other Mac normally?

lswaterford Author

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May 31, 2023 3:08 PM in response to BDAqua

I cannot get the 2015 to recovery mode to get to the Disk Utility.

lswaterford Author

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May 31, 2023 3:09 PM in response to Old Toad

Yes, I connected before booting. I tried the 2015 with both the 2021 and the 2020MBP.

lswaterford Author

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Jun 1, 2023 8:34 AM in response to Servant of Cats

I used the Thunderbolt as articles discussed. The 2021 iMac nor the 2020 MacBook Pro would not recognize the 2015 iMac that was in Target Disk Mode.

lswaterford Author

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Jun 1, 2023 9:47 AM in response to Servant of Cats

Makes sense. Thanks! Guess I'll try an external HDD I have and see if it works.

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How can I extract data from iMac 2015...