vman1027
Level 1 (8 points)

Q: How can I recover files from an iMac 2009 with a broken graphic card.

My old iMac has a broken graphics card. Instead of getting it replaced or fixed I needed a computer quickly. I decided to get a MacPro. I'm able to boot up the old iMac and my MacPro can now read the files in the iMac. I have been transferring files from the old iMac to the MacPro via ethernet connection as the USB to USB was running slow. Is there a faster way to transfer the files between the two?

 

Is there a way I can delete the files on the iMac when I'm done transferring the files I wanna keep? Right now it won't let me delete anything from the iMac hard drive especially the locked Files.

 

Is there a way I can connect another monitor to the iMac if it has a broken graphics card? I'm assuming it's the graphics card cause I researched it on youtube and my iMac has the same screen they're describing when you have a graphics card issue.

 

Thanks.

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Oct 6, 2014 12:30 PM

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vman1027

Q: How can I recover files from an iMac 2009 with a broken graphic card.

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  • by Drew Reece,

    Drew Reece Drew Reece Oct 6, 2014 12:49 PM in response to vman1027
    Level 5 (7,793 points)
    Notebooks
    Oct 6, 2014 12:49 PM in response to vman1027

    What is the iMac model? Does it have Thunderbolt? Do you have Firewire? Can you connect them via any combination of Firewire & Thunderbolt?

     

    Thunderbolt & Firewire support something called 'target disk mode'

    How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

    OS X Mountain Lion: Transfer files between two computers using target disk mode

     

    That will allow you to see the iMac as an 'external hard disk'. They are the fastest way to access the full disk.

    At the moment it sounds like you are using file sharing over ethernet - this is not the way to access everything on the iMac's disk & will result in you failing to copy data that you don't have read permission.

     

    You can also erase the iMacs HD over target disk mode if you really want to remove the OS & data.

     

    I don't believe it is possible to connect up two Macs via USB to USB so please clarify what you used. You may have been doing the right thing before you switched to ethernet.

     

    EDIT:

    Nevermind about the model, 2009 iMacs didn't have Thunderbolt so you will need to use Firewire 800 to Thunderbolt.  

  • by vman1027,

    vman1027 vman1027 Oct 6, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Drew Reece
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Oct 6, 2014 12:52 PM in response to Drew Reece

    Thanks. I'll get the Firewire to Thunderbolt adapter.