Getting a MacBook Pro soon, want to save some data from my broken iMac

Alvi · Nov 23, 2009, 06:09 AM

Hi everyone, I'm planning to get a MacBook Pro and i want to know how could i get some data out of my broken iMac which had a graphics card failure which just made the whole reparation process really expansive so i decided to better get a new mac.
Is there a way to read the data from a PC?
Would i have to get a hard drive enclosure?
Or some sort of Fire Wire/USB -> SATA Cable?

sniggles · Nov 23, 2009, 06:38 AM

Hi Alvi, I don't know if it's also available for iMac, but Macbooks are able to go into a slave mode, when they are connected with another mac via firewire. If you have bought your macbook connect it via firewire to the iMac and try holding the "T"-Key while booting your iMac. If it's working, the iMac HD should be mounted on your Macbook like an extern HD.

Alvi · Dec 10, 2009, 09:05 AM

Thanks a lot!

I'll try it once i get the MacBook, i hope it will work, if not i will have to do it the bad way and open the thing, get the HD out and buy a case to connect it to my computer... at least i would have a new hard drive i could use as time machine or something after i transfer the data

mscriv · Dec 10, 2009, 09:56 AM

It's called Target Disk Mode and it's available on any mac with a firewire connection. There is no restriction on the iMac and I have used this mode it past to transfer data from on old iMac to a new one. If your iMac will boot up then using this method should give you access to the drive.

Sythas · Dec 10, 2009, 10:10 AM

When my white imac had a graphic card failure I've used the Target mode with a firewire cable and it work whitout a problem. BTW with my broken imac I have plug a second display to it and it works flawlessly... it's just the connection to the main display that is broken for me

Alvi · Dec 10, 2009, 02:03 PM

That means that it's more like a display failure, i tried to connect an external display and nothing...

Nov 23, 2009, 06:09 AM	#1
Alvi macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mexico	Getting a MacBook Pro soon, want to save some data from my broken iMac Hi everyone, I'm planning to get a MacBook Pro and i want to know how could i get some data out of my broken iMac which had a graphics card failure which just made the whole reparation process really expansive so i decided to better get a new mac. Is there a way to read the data from a PC? Would i have to get a hard drive enclosure? Or some sort of Fire Wire/USB -> SATA Cable? __________________ iPhone 3GS 32GB White iPod Touch Gen.1 - 8GB (Buying Soon) MacBook Pro - 13" Core i5?

Nov 23, 2009, 06:38 AM	#2
sniggles macrumors newbie Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: berlin	try the slave mode... Hi Alvi, I don't know if it's also available for iMac, but Macbooks are able to go into a slave mode, when they are connected with another mac via firewire. If you have bought your macbook connect it via firewire to the iMac and try holding the "T"-Key while booting your iMac. If it's working, the iMac HD should be mounted on your Macbook like an extern HD.

Dec 10, 2009, 09:05 AM	#3
Alvi Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mexico	Thanks a lot! I'll try it once i get the MacBook, i hope it will work, if not i will have to do it the bad way and open the thing, get the HD out and buy a case to connect it to my computer... at least i would have a new hard drive i could use as time machine or something after i transfer the data __________________ iPhone 3GS 32GB White iPod Touch Gen.1 - 8GB (Buying Soon) MacBook Pro - 13" Core i5?

Dec 10, 2009, 09:56 AM	#4
mscriv macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Dallas, Texas	It's called Target Disk Mode and it's available on any mac with a firewire connection. There is no restriction on the iMac and I have used this mode it past to transfer data from on old iMac to a new one. If your iMac will boot up then using this method should give you access to the drive. __________________ I'm a professional counselor. If I deem our forum interaction to be professional in nature then I will bill you. Prompt payment is expected.

Dec 10, 2009, 10:10 AM	#5
Sythas macrumors newbie Join Date: Oct 2009	When my white imac had a graphic card failure I've used the Target mode with a firewire cable and it work whitout a problem. BTW with my broken imac I have plug a second display to it and it works flawlessly... it's just the connection to the main display that is broken for me __________________ 20" Alu iMac - 17" white intel iMac - Tangerine Clamshell 300Mhz - Nikon D5000 - 18-55mm VR - 55-200mm VR - Oh and I'm french, so sorry if I melt your brain with my posts...

Dec 10, 2009, 02:03 PM	#6
Alvi Thread Starter macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Mexico	That means that it's more like a display failure, i tried to connect an external display and nothing... __________________ iPhone 3GS 32GB White iPod Touch Gen.1 - 8GB (Buying Soon) MacBook Pro - 13" Core i5?

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