Using Target Mode..iMac & MacBook Pro Retina

Question

Using Target Mode..iMac & MacBook Pro Retina

I have been using target mode to transfer files and photos from my MBP Retina to the iMac. This work ok up to recently. When I now connect the MBP in target mode and click on the icon on the iMac, the MBP HD seems to be only displaying a 'mirror' image of the folder structure on the iMac and not the correct folder structure from the MBP. Both are running OSX 10.8.4 and I have not changed anything on either computer recently.

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)

Posted on Sep 9, 2013 9:18 AM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Sep 9, 2013 10:50 AM in response to michaelpstokes

Hmmm, see if this might be it...

In Finder's Menu, select Go menu>Go to Folder, and go to "/volumes". (no quotes)

Volumes is where an alias to your hard drive ("/" at boot) is placed at startup, and where all the "mount points" for auxiliary drives are created for you to access them. This folder is normally hidden from view.

Drives with an extra 1 on the end have a side-effect of mounting a drive with the same name as the system already think exists. Try trashing the duplicates with a 1 or 2 if there are no real files in them, and reboot.

If it does contain data...

http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2474

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Answer 2

Sep 9, 2013 12:50 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the quick reply. Thus is what appears when I try your suggestion. The second Macintosh HD is the MBP.

Macintosh HD "Size" 1 byte "kind" Alias

Macintosh HD "Size" 261 GB "kind" Volume

Should I trash the 'alias'??

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Answer 3

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,522 points

Sep 9, 2013 1:04 PM in response to michaelpstokes

Michael,

Is there a reason you are not using file sharing? This may be a more simple and much faster approach than using target mode.

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Answer 4

Sep 9, 2013 1:21 PM in response to rkaufmann87

This was recommended in a manual on Lightroom where you are using a laptop and a desktop computer. I load photos after a shoot onto the MBP and edit them in Lightroom. After that I copy over the edited photos and Lighromm catalog to the iMac. it worked perfectly up to recently and I dont recall changing anything.

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Answer 5

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,522 points

Sep 9, 2013 1:23 PM in response to michaelpstokes

That type of work using file sharing would be much more simple. Even if both machines are seperated and on different networks you could using the file sharing function remotely. However if you want to contine using Target Mode try doing both a SMC and PRAM reset on each machine (do 2 or each on each machine to ensure it worked) and then retry target mode.

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Answer 6

Sep 9, 2013 1:47 PM in response to rkaufmann87

They are not on a network, just stand alone at home. I connect them with the Firewire cable when using the target mode. Is it possible to use file sharing with a firewire connection?

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Answer 7

rkaufmann87

Level 10

148,522 points

Sep 9, 2013 3:53 PM in response to michaelpstokes

michaelpstokes wrote:

They are not on a network, just stand alone at home. I connect them with the Firewire cable when using the target mode. Is it possible to use file sharing with a firewire connection?

No, if you don't operate a network at home you are missing some of the best features of owning a Mac. You are losing out on iCloud, file sharing, printer sharing, remote login and the list goes on and on.. All you need is a router which are incredibly simple to install, Apple sells their Airport Express refurbished model for as low as $69. If you are interested at all you can find it at:

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB321LL/A/refurbished-airport-express-base-sta tion-with-80211n-and-airtunes

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Answer 8

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Sep 9, 2013 5:17 PM in response to michaelpstokes

Is it possible to use file sharing with a firewire connection?

Yes.

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Answer 9

Sep 10, 2013 2:40 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Sorry, I misunderstood your question. They are both connected by wifi to the internet and iCloud. However, after two days shooting at the weekend, I am trying to transfer about 20GB of photos between the two computers. On other occations after a long trip it has been nearly 100GB. That is why I have been using the 'target' method with firewire. Is there another method that is equally as fast? Thanks for all you assistance.

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