iBook G4 target disk mode not showing up in MacBook Pro

moosetim · #1 06-27-2007, 12:57 AM

Hi!

Moths!

I followed directions to boot iBook G4 in Target Disk Mode to transfer files to new MacBook Pro (new to me - originally purchased November 2006).

(With iBook turned off I attached MacBook to iBook via 6-pin firewire cable, then booted iBook while holding down the mystical 'T')

iBook came on in Target Disk Mode with the purple screen and yellow firewire doodie.

Problem:

The iBook is not showing up anywhere in the MacBook - not in the finder window as an external disk, not in the disk utility, not on the desktop, no where. Since I can't find it, I can't transfer stuff, ya know?

After unplugging it once I _did_ get the 'one of your devices was removed illegally' message, so the MacBook at least _thought_ it recognized the disk.

Help?

**Mikef** · #2 06-27-2007, 03:01 AM

Don't know if it makes a difference but I always boot both Macs, one normally the other in Target mode, then connect via Firewire. Secondly, with the Macs connected did you rummage around in Disk Utilities and or About this Mac to see if the external disk was listed.

moosetim · #3 06-27-2007, 03:31 AM

As indicated, I did check in disk utilities.

The official mac directions say to boot the target after connection, but I'll try booting both and then connecting.

moosetim · #4 06-27-2007, 03:50 AM

booted both, then connected - nothing.

Still no trace in disk utility, about this mac, on desktop.

Ideas?

**Mikef** · #5 06-27-2007, 11:52 AM

OK, well with the iMac in Target mode and the MBP in normal this is where I'd run Diskwarrior to repair the iMac's hard disk but I'm guessing you don't have Dsikwarrior ( an essential tool in my opinion).
Soooo with the iMac, visit Apple's site here and download Onyx, install it, run it, and carry out the full maintenance routine. If you're very lucky it will repair the hard disk enough for it to mount on the MBP.

As a final option, how about booting the iMac as normal and putting the MBP in Target mode and mount it on the iMac. This should allow you to transfer the files between the two Macs.

moosetim · #6 06-27-2007, 03:03 PM

Got up this morning and booted the iBook into Target Mode and _then_ turned on the MBP - for some reason it showed up this time.

I think the computing elves were already off for the night when I tried it before, but were at their day's work when I tried it again.

Isn't that how computers work?