Hi Georges and Tim, Tim is correct that Target Disk Mode only works for computers with Firewire connectors. It's a function of the IEEE 1394 standard (popularly known on Apple products as "Firewire"), and is not specific to Apple computers. One of the reasons there was initially a large outcry from Mac users when the first unibody Macbook Pro models were introduced in October 2008, is that there were no Firewire ports. Many users thought that also meant it was impossible to boot the laptop from a cloned backup. This wasn't true; on the Intel Macs, you can boot from a cloned backup drive through a USB 2.0 port connection. It isn't as fast as through a Firewire port connection, but it works. On the old PowerPC Macs it's not possible to boot from a cloned drive through a USB port connection. And in neither case can you use "Target Disk Mode", where you connect to the hard drive of another computer as though its disk were an external hard drive except through Firewire ports.
Target Disk Mode really only applies when you have two computers that each have Firewire ports. You can read more about this in the Apple Knowledge base support article "How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode": http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1661 HTH. Cheers, Esther On Jul 24, 2011, at 19:30, Tim Kilburn wrote: > Hi, > > To boot up in Target mode, hold down the "T" key as the startup chime is > sounding. If you use this method, it will startup the regular way when not > holding down the "T" key or any other boot key combination. If you use the > Startup Disk method, I believe that it will remain in Target Disk mode until > it's told otherwise. > > My understanding is that Target Disk Mode is only for Firewire devices. > Booting from USB is possible but not in Target Disk Mode. As well, you > cannot use USB to Firewire adapters to attempt to trick the computer. > > That's my understanding unless things have changed lately. > > Later… > > On 2011-07-24, at 9:53 PM, Georges Zaynoun wrote: > >> Hello! >> >> What is the command to boot into target mode? >> >> If I do it with that command or from system preferences does the machine >> boot normally on next time when restarting? >> >> Is this mode available only in firewire on both ends or can one use usb to >> usb as well? >> >> >> Thanks. >> >> -- >> Georges Zeinoun >> Timmerv. 6A, SE54163 SKÖVDE >> Tel: +46500201623, +46500482929 >> Mobile: +46707567315 >> E-mail: [email protected] -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en.
