The4car

Q: Is it possible to connect my old G4 tower to a 2011 IMac and use it as a monitor for the tower?

I no longer have the original monitor.  The G4 is loaded with design software and other files I really would like to access.  Was wondering if there's a way to just plug the G4 into one of the ports on my iMac 27" and then use the iMac as not only a computer but monitor.  Possible to log in and out of the different platforms allowing me to access either computer?

 

Any help is greatly appreciated !

 

Thank you,

 

Trevor

 

<Email Edited By Host>

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Apr 19, 2014 4:58 PM

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Q: Is it possible to connect my old G4 tower to a 2011 IMac and use it as a monitor for the tower?

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Allan Jones,

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Apr 19, 2014 4:58 PM in response to The4car
    Level 8 (35,039 points)
    iPad
    Apr 19, 2014 4:58 PM in response to The4car

    Target Display mode did not exist until after Apple moved to MiniDisplay ports and later Thunderbolt.

     

    You may be able to use network screen sharing:

     

    http://www.screenrecycler.com/download.html

     

    Note there is a version for OS10.4 through 10.6. If the G4 has 10.3 or less I believe you would be out of luck. Be sure to read all teh tech notes by teh download links.

  • by a brody,

    a brody a brody Apr 21, 2014 11:35 AM in response to Allan Jones
    Level 9 (66,781 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 21, 2014 11:35 AM in response to Allan Jones

    Screen Recycler does not work cross Mac CPU platforms of Intel and PowerPC.  VPN solutions are easiler, and there is 10.5 iChat Screen Sharing you could use.

     

    https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6351

  • by countryjack,

    countryjack countryjack Apr 21, 2014 5:47 PM in response to The4car
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 21, 2014 5:47 PM in response to The4car

    If you mostly or only want the data, I'd pull the hard drive out of the g4, put it in one of the external usb cable/converters or usb/drive bay and use it there.  The caution mentioned by others applies...this will not let your new machine run the old PPC programs, but it would let you get the drive on the desktop, and copy off data files to convert to whatever programs you now run on the new machine.  Or if you get the g4 to boot up, you could use ethernet, or other networking solutions.

  • by stevefromashby-de-la-zouch,

    stevefromashby-de-la-zouch stevefromashby-de-la-zouch Apr 28, 2014 3:00 PM in response to The4car
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 28, 2014 3:00 PM in response to The4car

    Depending on the version of OS X you could use the in built screen sharing function. My G5 has no monitor connected to it and I just access it via file sharing and screen sharing when necessary. If your newer machine is on Mavericks it should work well. On the G4 just go to sharing settings and tick screen sharing to on and connect to it through finder on the newer machine.