OMG HELP! Target disk mode gone bad, imp data erased!

[Verne]

Hi guys, I just attempted to transfer my files from my old powerbook G4 15" to my iMac 20" using Target disk mode. First I tried to use a firewire cable but it didn't work, I think I was using a 400-400 instead of a 800-400. So I used the option to connect to two computers over a shared internet connection using a password. I thought It would automatically transfer my photos and other files but it just transferred these weird extensions for applications and I don't recognize any of it. To make it worse, I tried to open photoshop on my iMac and now its asking for a password! None of the photoshop series would open, it's asking for a serial number. I had photoshop installed before and the guy doesn't live in my state who installed it for me and I don't have any of the original disks. I know Dell does system restore but Macs work differently. I wish I could undo this whole mess, I need photoshop!!

I dont have the original OS disk either, ughh I should have just splurged on a portable hard drive. Anyone out there got any tips? Thanks..

:(

[MacDawg]

No OSX install discs (not that it would help your situation really)
No Photoshop install discs or serial number
No Time Machine backup or clone (apparently)

Doesn't sound like there isn't much that can be done here

I had photoshop installed before and the guy doesn't live in my state who installed it for me and I don't have any of the original disks.

I am afraid that sounds suspicious enough that it isn't going to win you a lot of support in trying to help
If you really do own your copy of Photoshop, perhaps you can contact Adobe
If you don't own it, well...

[Verne]

No OSX install discs (not that it would help your situation really)
No Photoshop install discs or serial number
No Time Machine backup or clone (apparently)

Doesn't sound like there isn't much that can be done here



I am afraid that sounds suspicious enough that it isn't going to win you a lot of support in trying to help
If you really do own your copy of Photoshop, perhaps you can contact Adobe
If you don't own it, well...



Do you know anyone who actually buys photoshop? It's like $800 or more. Anyway I bought the computer from the guy and HE has photoshop so he copied it onto this computer. But my problem is that the data is erased, I was hoping I can do a system restore or something!

[MacHamster68]

i have said it so often when you buy a mac ..dont buy it if it comes without system discs and without the discs for the apps installed , as if anything goes wrong , and even on mac's thats a possibility ,you got what you have now a big mess and a unusable computer
so your only option now is actually to look ebay , buy osx , buy photoshop , and buy any other apps you might need as long as you cant get them as freeware
it might sound expensive, but at the end of the day its worth it , as you can always reinstall everything at any time if needed
and when you are allready looking at ebay , get a external harddrive to for BACKUP

sorry if i sound harsh ,i have spend loads of money and weeks on ebay to get the apps i wanted , and yes photoshop is not cheap about £180 depending on seller (photoshop cs4 )

i always look ebay and i see it too often ...imac for sale leopard preinstalled and apps for 1000's of £ preinstalled , sorry not system and apps discs, for me a imac sold like that is absolute worthless and only usable for spares so maybe worth £100 if in realy perfect mint condition maybe £150 as i would need to buy all the necessary software

[MacDawg]

Do you know anyone who actually buys photoshop? It's like $800 or more. Anyway I bought the computer from the guy and HE has photoshop so he copied it onto this computer. But my problem is that the data is erased, I was hoping I can do a system restore or something!

Actually, I do know people who buy Photoshop and other software

When you are talking about a "system restore", I assume you are referring to a Mac equivalent of the Windows function
I don't think even on Windows that brings back your data, it just restores your operating system files to a previous state (if I understand correctly)

What you are really wanting is something like restoring from a Time Machine backup, but unfortunately, you have not indicated you have any such backup

If it is data files you are wanting to recover, you might want to consider Data Rescue or File Salvage (you can Google or check MacUpdate or VersionTracker). But if the files have been overwritten, that will be extremely difficult/impossible.

[Verne]

i have said it so often when you buy a mac ..dont buy it if it comes without system discs and without the discs for the apps installed , as if anything goes wrong , and even on mac's thats a possibility ,you got what you have now a big mess and a unusable computer
so your only option now is actually to look ebay , buy osx , buy photoshop , and buy any other apps you might need as long as you cant get them as freeware
it might sound expensive, but at the end of the day its worth it , as you can always reinstall everything at any time if needed
and when you are allready looking at ebay , get a external harddrive to for BACKUP

sorry if i sound harsh ,i have spend loads of money and weeks on ebay to get the apps i wanted , and yes photoshop is not cheap

i always look ebay and i see it too often ...imac for sale leopard preinstalled and apps for 1000's of £ preinstalled , sorry not system and apps discs, for me a imac sold like that is absolute worthless and only usable for spares so maybe worth £50-100

Yeeah I got this off craigslist, and I'm a student I couldnt afford the original disks and I still can't, I'll try to get a hard drive to back up what I can.

[Verne]

Actually, I do know people who buy Photoshop and other software

When you are talking about a "system restore", I assume you are referring to a Mac equivalent of the Windows function
I don't think even on Windows that brings back your data, it just restores your operating system files to a previous state (if I understand correctly)

What you are really wanting is something like restoring from a Time Machine backup, but unfortunately, you have not indicated you have any such backup

If it is data files you are wanting to recover, you might want to consider Data Rescue or File Salvage (you can Google or check MacUpdate or VersionTracker). But if the files have been overwritten, that will be extremely difficult/impossible.


I think in my case everything was overwritten, everything seems the same except I couldnt open photoshop, all the other progs work.

I'll need an external hard drive to xfer files from my powerbook to the iMac, any suggestions?

[MacDawg]

I think in my case everything was overwritten, everything seems the same except I couldnt open photoshop, all the other progs work.

I'll need an external hard drive to xfer files from my powerbook to the iMac, any suggestions?

Hard to tell what happened to your system based on your original post

However, if you are asking for suggestions on an external HDD, I would recommend Western Digital
But that is purely personal preference

As far as Photoshop goes, you might want to consider The Gimp, it is free
Or Pixelmator, which runs about $70 or so I believe
Or even Photoshop Elements which probably contains all you need for less than $100

[Verne]

Hard to tell what happened to your system based on your original post

However, if you are asking for suggestions on an external HDD, I would recommend Western Digital
But that is purely personal preference

As far as Photoshop goes, you might want to consider The Gimp, it is free
Or Pixelmator, which runs about $70 or so I believe
Or even Photoshop Elements which probably contains all you need for less than $100

I'll look into the western digital, I was just worried that since my Powerbook G4 is ancient it would be hard to find the right hard drive to connect to it. I'm looking at Photoshop disks on ebay, what's the difference between the extended version and the other version? Can I start from scratch with the extended version?

[MacDawg]

I'll look into the western digital, I was just worried that since my Powerbook G4 is ancient it would be hard to find the right hard drive to connect to it. I'm looking at Photoshop disks on ebay, what's the difference between the extended version and the other version? Can I start from scratch with the extended version?

Apparently the extended version (http://tryit.adobe.com/us/cs4/photoshopextendedcs4/p/?sdid=ETRXE&) includes this:

Get everything in Adobe Photoshop CS4 plus breakthrough tools for editing 3D models and motion-based content and performing advanced image analysis.

[Verne]

Apparently the extended version (http://tryit.adobe.com/us/cs4/photoshopextendedcs4/p/?sdid=ETRXE&) includes this:

Okay so it's additions, thanks. I'm seeing it for $300 plus on ebay and a guy is selling it for $40 on CL :/

[MacDawg]

Okay so it's additions, thanks. I'm seeing it for $300 plus on ebay and a guy is selling it for $40 on CL :/

When it comes to both eBay and CL, caveat emptor = buyer beware
If it absolutely sounds too good to be true, it is

[Verne]

When it comes to both eBay and CL, caveat emptor = buyer beware
If it absolutely sounds too good to be true, it is

My thought exactly

[Verne]

Dang the WD has many issues with the PB G4, seems as though the PB doesn't have enough power to work the WD. Bumer!

[MacHamster68]

as good as craiglist is , but think about it why would anybody who has software with a pricetag over $1000 new , sell it on craiglist ( even if he doesn't need it any longer) for $40, if he could get easy up to $300 on ebay

i know its tempting if you are short of cash , but why not look for a earlier version of photoshop , they are cheaper , like cs3
ok only limited 3d and the adjustable brush is missing , but for just photo editing it works well enough

[avihappy]

I'm not really sure about this (not enough details), but if you say that the other apps you transferred over work fine, and PS is asking for a serial number, then it just looks like you need to activate PS. It got deactivated (probably b/c it's on new hardware), and so you need the serial to activate it.

If the person who sold you the Mac with PS didn't also give you the key, then I think he might have broken some kind of law. IANAL, but I think that by selling you PS he is required to give you the keys, as well as destroy his own personal copies.

[MacHamster68]

I'm not really sure about this (not enough details), but if you say that the other apps you transferred over work fine, and PS is asking for a serial number, then it just looks like you need to activate PS. It got deactivated (probably b/c it's on new hardware), and so you need the serial to activate it.

If the person who sold you the Mac with PS didn't also give you the key, then I think he might have broken some kind of law. IANAL, but I think that by selling you PS he is required to give you the keys, as well as destroy his own personal copies.

thats the trouble with mac's and i guess its no matter in which country you look at ebay , do it just out of curiosity
..how many eMacs ,imacs ,powermacs ,ibooks, powerbooks .... how many you will find with the little words ....os leopard preinstalled ...no system discs..
by now the majority ,if you are lucky they offer you the original tiger disc /panther discs , depending on which os was originally on that macs ,if you are really lucky you get a copy of the original leopard disc , which is a illegal copy :(
, and a lot of people seem to believe Mac osx is freeware like linux