Can I use target disk mode on an iMac that has a black screen?

[dennis59]

I have an interesting problem. I recently had to replace a 12- or 13-year-old iMac because the screen suddenly went black (and remained so). The folks at my local Apple store said that they would not be able to migrate my stuff to the new iMac for me. Basically, I need to know if it would be possible to use Migration Assistant when one of the Macs has a black screen. The old Mac powers up, but I can't log in. The info on the Apple website seems to suggest that the new Mac should recognize the old one anyway, if I boot up the old one in target disk mode. Is this true? If not, is there some other way to transfer that info?

 

[cltd]

I can boot via target mode into my iMac with dead GPU. Even more - I can 1) boot into target mode 2) and then use targeted iMac drive as startup drive in my Macbook.

Don't worry about login - target mode will ask for password on that working Mac, so You'll see it.

Target mode works with firewire, even mixed with thunderbolt adapter. I opened target mode using mix of 3 cables: thunderbolt fo firewire, firewire 800-firewire800, firewire to thunderbolt. And that works!

 

[Fishrrman]

OP wrote:
"If not, is there some other way to transfer that info?"

It sure helps if you tell us:
- WHICH YEAR the iMac was made, and what ports are available
- WHICH new MacBook you have.

It's worth trying target disk mode to see if works, even if you can't see the display on the old iMac.

You just have to "get the connections right" between the two Macs, IF it's possible to connect them. I'm thinking that an old iMac will have firewire (either 400 or 800), and a new MacBook Pro will have thunderbolt (either tbolt2 or tbolt3). You have to know "what you have", before you can go further. Be aware that you might need TWO thunderbolt adapters (tbolt2 to firewire, and tbolt2 to tbolt3).

Having said that, if you CAN'T use target disk mode, or don't want to, your other option is to:
- open up the old iMac
- physically remove the internal drive (should be 3.5" platter-based hard drive)
- get a USB3/SATA docking station (these are cheap and there are many out there)
- put the bare drive into the dock, connect the dock to the new Mac, and see if it mounts on the desktop.

If it DOES, then do this:
- let the drive icon mount on the desktop
- click on it ONE TIME to select it
- bring up the "get info" box (type command-i)
- at the bottom of get info, click the lock and enter your (MacBook) password
- put a checkmark into "ignore ownership on this volume" (sharing and permissions)
- close get info
(We do this to avoid permissions problems between the two accounts on different Macs.)

You can now "copy stuff" from the drive to the Macbook, and items that you copy will "come under the ownership" of your NEW account on the MacBook.
BE AWARE that you cannot copy the "top level" folders in your home folder (the ones named music, movies, documents, pictures, etc.).
BUT -- you CAN copy folders and files that are INSIDE OF these folders.
Just work carefully and I suggest you keep some handwritten notes ...

 

[dennis59]

I forget the exact year of the old iMac because I bought it refurbished, from the Apple Store. I bought it in 2009, so it's probably a 2007 or 2008, definitely firewire. The new iMac does have the thunderbolt 3. I'll try Target Disk Mode first before I resort to having the old drive removed.

It's been years since I've used Migration Assistant, and that was between two fully functioning Macs. Should I be trying that, or do I skip that step and go to Target Disk Mode after I've set up the new iMac?

BTW, the way 2020 has gone, I'm tempted to hold off on trying the transfer until January.

Thanks for the options and the thorough instructions.