TorontoTomas

Level 1 (0 points)

Q: MBP 13" not starting, target disk mode not starting....

My gf's MBP 13" is not healthy, but before we can wipe it and start fresh, we need to get some files off it.

I've just tried the Target Disk Mode to my MBP 15"

Using firewire I hooked up to the powered 13",

Connected to my ON 15"

Turned on the 13" and held down T

The firewire logo and power logo appea and dance around the screen on the 13"

on the 15" nothing appears - not on the desktop or in finder.

I'm able to check the firewire port on the 15" is working, but I can't check the 13" as it's just not working right as a computer right now.

I've also attempted hooking the 13" inch up to a portable HD and then daisy chaining that to the 15" - HD showed up, but not the other computer.

HELP...

Thanks everyone

-TfromT

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Apr 29, 2014 6:58 AM

I have this question too

Q: MBP 13" not starting, target disk mode not starting....

All replies

Helpful answers

by sanjampet,

sanjampet Apr 29, 2014 7:08 AM in response to TorontoTomas
Level 5 (7,874 points)

Apr 29, 2014 7:08 AM in response to TorontoTomas

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
Reply options

Link to this post

by TorontoTomas,

TorontoTomas Apr 29, 2014 7:17 AM in response to sanjampet
Level 1 (0 points)

Apr 29, 2014 7:17 AM in response to sanjampet

Thanks Sanjampet,
but I've followed that - that's how I got to where I am now. haha

Sadly, what's happening to me isn't covered in their post.

I've got the firewire logo up on the TARGET computer, it just doesn't want to appear on the up to date HOST.
Reply options

Link to this post

by Melophage,

Melophage Apr 29, 2014 7:57 AM in response to TorontoTomas
Level 5 (7,161 points)

Apr 29, 2014 7:57 AM in response to TorontoTomas

TorontoTomas,

which version of OS X is installed on the 13-inch MacBook Pro?
Reply options

Link to this post

by TorontoTomas,

TorontoTomas Apr 29, 2014 8:06 AM in response to Melophage
Level 1 (0 points)

Apr 29, 2014 8:06 AM in response to Melophage

it looks to be a version of mountain lion or snow leopard from the logo that pops up under recovery mode.

FURTTHER - I was able to confirm that the firewire port on the 13" DOES work - in recovery I hooked up a portable harddrive, but there is no way to copy off the files in recovery it would appear.

ugh.
Reply options

Link to this post

by Melophage,

Melophage Apr 29, 2014 8:08 AM in response to TorontoTomas
Level 5 (7,161 points)

Apr 29, 2014 8:08 AM in response to TorontoTomas

TorontoTomas,

have you tried running Disk Utility in Recovery mode to verify (and possibly repair) the 13-inch MacBook Pro’s disk?
Reply options

Link to this post

by TorontoTomas,

TorontoTomas Apr 29, 2014 8:09 AM in response to Melophage
Level 1 (0 points)

Apr 29, 2014 8:09 AM in response to Melophage

Yes.
It says it needs to be repaired and to copy off as much as you can before rebooting it.
Hence trying to get the Target Disk to work.
Reply options

Link to this post

by Melophage,

Melophage Apr 29, 2014 8:11 AM in response to TorontoTomas
Level 5 (7,161 points)

Apr 29, 2014 8:11 AM in response to TorontoTomas

TorontoTomas,

you might have better luck with the method on this Apple page, in the section titled “Instructions for backing up to an external hard disk via Disk Utility”.
Reply options

Link to this post