Target Disk Mode and OS 10.3 Machines

Question

Level 1

8 points

Target Disk Mode and OS 10.3 Machines

Hi All,

Recently my iBook was taking ages to boot up, and on Monday it stopped doing so completely. I spent some time with AppleCare support and it was determined that the only way to resolve is to erase and restore. It was determined that I should be able to access my HD using target disk mode and setting it as a firewire drive so that I could recover anything I wanted to get off of it before doing so (I have some recent photo's on there that I need to save, but everything else is replaceable).

I have tried to set up the network with a few different machines now, but have been unsuccessful in getting my HD to appear on the desktop of any of them to recover the data. In one instance, I had forgotten that the OS INstall disc was still in the drive, and it was recognized, so I know the cable and connections were working.

The only thing I can think of is that the other machines I was using to host were all running OS' 10.3.1 through 10.3.8. Is this the reason that I can't recover it - does the host have to run the same OS or greater in order to see the HD?

iBook G4 14inch 1.33Mhz, Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Posted on Dec 7, 2006 10:47 AM

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Answer 1

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Dec 7, 2006 11:00 AM in response to CasperTdot

CasperTdot, Welcome to the discussion area!

If your hard drive is malfunctioning badly enough it won't be recognized in FireWire target disk mode.

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Answer 2

CasperTdot Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2006 11:06 AM in response to Duane

I was worried that might be the case...so, it wouldn't matter then that the OS on the host was not at the same level or greater than mine then?

If that is the case, what sort of data recovery service do you recommend before I try to reformat?

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Answer 3

Duane

Level 10

124,293 points

Dec 7, 2006 11:16 AM in response to CasperTdot

...so, it wouldn't matter then that the OS on the host was not at the same level or greater than mine then?

No it shouldn't.

If that is the case, what sort of data recovery service do you recommend before I try to reformat?

At that point, I would replace the hard drive and use the files from my last backup. Services that scrounge data off a dead hard drive are relatively expensive.

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Answer 4

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 7, 2006 11:25 AM in response to CasperTdot

I think you will have trouble trying to "fix" a 10.4.x HD from a 10.3.x machine... not 100% certain, but...

I'd get a cheap FW Drive, (assuming you have FW), install 10.4.x on it and boot the book off of it to try a recovery.

Also, though FWTDM is supposed to be done with the FW cable connected, sometimes it won't work that way, you mught try connecting the FW cable after it boots in FWTDM.

Does it boot into Single User mode?

Data RescueX can be pretty good at recovering data, also, if you can get the HD out, you can put it in an external case to repair on another 10.4.x machine.

Disk Warrior is great at fixing HDs too... the best imo.

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Answer 5

CasperTdot Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2006 11:26 AM in response to Duane

...this is getting worse by the minute!

I am not entirely convinced that this is a hardware issue, at least that is what AppleCare support seemed to think. By any means, if I did need to replace the HD that is covered under warranty, so no big issue there - I know that Apple offer a data backup when they do servicing on a computer, would you even recommend skipping that if they did need to replace the drive?

And thanks for getting back so quickly Duane, it is greatly appreciated!

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Answer 6

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 7, 2006 12:04 PM in response to BDAqua

I think you will have trouble trying to "fix" a 10.4.x HD from a 10.3.x machine... not 100% certain, but...

OOPS! I was wrong, tried it and it worked fine from 10.3.9 fixing a 10.4.7 HD! :-O

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Answer 7

CasperTdot Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 7, 2006 2:31 PM in response to BDAqua

Thanks a lot for checking, that helps me out a bit!

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Answer 8

CasperTdot Author

Level 1

8 points

Dec 12, 2006 2:40 PM in response to CasperTdot

Just an update here - I got my machine back from the Apple repair centre (I took it in to have another seperate cosmetic hardware issue taken care of), and they have determined that it is a software issue.

When I am able to see the drive in TechTools, it is telling me that there are only 2G's of space used, however there was over 40 used before it crashed. Furthermore, it also shows my HD as being named "-216458234", or something to that effect (sorry, I don't have it with me right now). It also reports some problems with the directory structure that it always hangs on when trying to repair. Does anyone think it is worth me trying to recover the data I want saved off of it - do you think DiskWarrior might solve my problem, or am I best to start from scratch.

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Answer 9

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Dec 12, 2006 4:12 PM in response to CasperTdot

DiskWarrior is probably your best option for fixing it, but the more you use the computer, the less chance you'll have.

I think Apple should not buy Alsoft out, but pay them to include a DW CD with every Mac!

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Answer 10

Dec 12, 2006 4:27 PM in response to CasperTdot

I would try Diskwarrior to recover what I could. The software problem, a corrupt HD, may or may not be the result of bad hardware (like, say the HD...). An erase and install would settle that issue, unless of course the corruption was caused by another hardware issue.

In any event, if you have DiskWarrior, you can try to recover files and/or repair the HD. Then do an erase and install. Then, always back up what you consider to be important (sorry, had to say that).

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