Q: How to do fast file transfers between just 2 Macintoshes

Question

Ziatron

Level 4 (3,931 points)

Apple Watch

Q: How to do fast file transfers between just 2 Macintoshes

I have 2 Macs right next to each other. I need to be able to transfer large files between the 2. I understand I can do this on a network. However, I thought there might be a faster way using USB 3 or FireWire.

I am using a Mac Pro tower (with USB 3 added internally) and a late 2012 Mac mini ( Mac mini has FireWire 800 and USB 3.0).

Thanks

Posted on Oct 24, 2014 7:48 PM

I have this question too

Solved

Niel

Level 10 (314,466 points)

Mac OS X

A:

No.

(115412)

Posted on Oct 25, 2014 7:44 PM

Q: How to do fast file transfers between just 2 Macintoshes

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by Niel,

Niel Oct 24, 2014 7:51 PM in response to Ziatron
Level 10 (314,466 points)

Mac OS X

Oct 24, 2014 7:51 PM in response to Ziatron

Connect them with a FireWire cable and either set up a FireWire network or restart either computer with the T key held down.
USB can’t be used for this purpose.

(115353)
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by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

Grant Bennet-Alder Oct 24, 2014 7:54 PM in response to Ziatron
Level 9 (61,390 points)

Desktops

Oct 24, 2014 7:54 PM in response to Ziatron

For infrequent transfers, you can use target disk mode:

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

Otherwise, File Sharing over Gigabit Ethernet just needs to be enabled:

OS X Mavericks: Connect to shared computers and file servers on a network
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by Kappy,Helpful

Kappy Oct 24, 2014 7:58 PM in response to Ziatron
Level 10 (271,811 points)

Desktops

Oct 24, 2014 7:58 PM in response to Ziatron

If the Mac Pro and the Mini both have Thunderbolt ports then you can use that instead of Firewire (it will be faster) and then use a Thunderbolt network using Network preferences or just use File Sharing and Target Disk Mode.
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by Ziatron,

Ziatron Oct 24, 2014 9:42 PM in response to Kappy
Level 4 (3,931 points)

Apple Watch

Oct 24, 2014 9:42 PM in response to Kappy

or just use File Sharing and Target Disk Mode.

I have used target disk mode many times before, but I thought that required one of the computers to be “inactive”, acting like an external hard drive only.
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by Ziatron,

Ziatron Oct 24, 2014 9:44 PM in response to Niel
Level 4 (3,931 points)

Apple Watch

Oct 24, 2014 9:44 PM in response to Niel

Connect them with a FireWire cable and either set up a FireWire network

I have never heard of a FireWire network. Is that hard to do?
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by Niel,

Niel Oct 24, 2014 9:49 PM in response to Ziatron
Level 10 (314,466 points)

Mac OS X

Oct 24, 2014 9:49 PM in response to Ziatron

Click here and follow the instructions.

(115362)
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by Kappy,

Kappy Oct 25, 2014 8:51 AM in response to Ziatron
Level 10 (271,811 points)

Desktops

Oct 25, 2014 8:51 AM in response to Ziatron

That's correct, but with File Sharing both computers are "active."
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by Ziatron,

Ziatron Oct 25, 2014 7:36 PM in response to Niel
Level 4 (3,931 points)

Apple Watch

Oct 25, 2014 7:36 PM in response to Niel

Click here and follow the instructions.

For the foreseeable future we have some Macs that cannot go beyond Mavericks because they are using iMovie HD.

Looks easy enough. Do you see a problem with one Mac using Yosemite and the other is using Mavericks ?
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by Ziatron,

Ziatron Oct 25, 2014 8:34 PM in response to Niel
Level 4 (3,931 points)

Apple Watch

Oct 25, 2014 8:34 PM in response to Niel

Niel, I should have clicked on your earlier post for “This solved my question”.

>>> Click here and follow the instructions. <<<

Can this be fixed?
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by Niel,

Niel Oct 25, 2014 8:35 PM in response to Ziatron
Level 10 (314,466 points)

Mac OS X

Oct 25, 2014 8:35 PM in response to Ziatron

No. Stars can’t be removed after being awarded.

(115419)
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by Ziatron,

Ziatron Oct 25, 2014 8:50 PM in response to Niel
Level 4 (3,931 points)

Apple Watch

Oct 25, 2014 8:50 PM in response to Niel

No. Stars can’t be removed after being awarded.

Understood, I DID want to award the stars to you, but referencing your earlier post with the link. ( I bet you're getting close to level XI. )

Anyone that trips over this post can surely figure out the answer. ( Thanks to Kappy too ! )
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Accepted Answer · Oct 25, 2014 7:44 PM

Niel

Level 10 (314,466 points)

Mac OS X

Oct 25, 2014 7:44 PM in response to Ziatron

No.

(115412)

Q: How to do fast file transfers between just 2 Macintoshes

All replies Helpful answers

by Niel,

by Grant Bennet-Alder,★Helpful

by Kappy,★Helpful

by Ziatron,

by Ziatron,

by Niel,

by Kappy,

by Ziatron,

by Niel,Solvedanswer

by Ziatron,

by Niel,

by Ziatron,

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Helpful answers

by Grant Bennet-Alder,Helpful

by Kappy,Helpful