franklymac
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: I have an older mac mini, one with a CD Drive. I'm thinking about buying a newer faster mini. How do I hook the old mini to the new mini in such a way that I can use the CD drive and storage space on the old but use all of the features of the new mod

I have an older mac mini, one with a CD Drive. I'm thinking about buying a newer faster mini. How do I hook the old mini to the new mini in such a way that I can use the CD drive and storage space on the old but use all of the features of the new model?

Posted on Oct 16, 2014 10:30 AM

Close
franklymac

Q: I have an older mac mini, one with a CD Drive. I'm thinking about buying a newer faster mini. How do I hook the old mini to the ne ... more

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by lllaass,

    lllaass lllaass Oct 16, 2014 10:39 AM in response to franklymac
    Level 10 (188,027 points)
    Desktops
    Oct 16, 2014 10:39 AM in response to franklymac

    Use file and CD/DVD sharing

    DVD or CD sharing: Using Remote Disc

    Mac Basics: File Sharing

  • by Peter Berglund,Helpful

    Peter Berglund Peter Berglund Oct 16, 2014 10:34 PM in response to franklymac
    Level 1 (45 points)
    Oct 16, 2014 10:34 PM in response to franklymac

    Hooking up a Mac to another Mac such that it can be used as an external drive has been a long-standing feature that goes back to as long as Macs have shipped with Firewire.

    The procedure is called Target Mode and how to use it is outlined by Apple here.

    Basically,  you will connect your old and your new Mac minis using a Firewire cable. Note that  new Mac mini will need the $30 FW-Thunderbolt adapter.

    You will also need to connect a keyboard to your old Mac mini while it starts up (after startup you can remove it). Press and hold the *T' key during startup. It will appear as a mounted volume on your new Mac mini.

    This will also allow you to use the optical drive located in the old mini.