Question on use of very old PowerMac G4

[dblissmn]

I'm looking to ensure I've truly recovered all remaining data from a PowerMac G4 early 2001 with twin 400GB hard drives plus the OEM one that I think is something like 120GB, 1.2GHz upgraded processor, 1.5GB RAM that I've not used in several years. Any precautions I should take? And does this machine still serve any purpose other than recycling? System has Leopard installed.

 

[juanstdio]

With a machine like that, the sky is the limit..
Just make sure the internal battery hasn't leak over the years...

 

[!!!]

For the hard drives, take them out and put them in an external enclosure, connected to linux or a Mac with writing disabled for newly mounted drives, then use ddrescue to image them. DDresuce is designed to skip over potentially bad sectors and recover as much as it can, before retrying problem sectors.

And does this machine still serve any purpose other than recycling?

Plenty of people will buy it. If you're absolutely not interested in dealing with selling it, give it to goodwill or some other thrift store. It's a retro computer, not garbage. Even if it doesn't work, the parts may be useful for helping someone else get their machine to work again.

 

[dblissmn]

For the hard drives, take them out and put them in an external enclosure, connected to linux or a Mac with writing disabled for newly mounted drives, then use ddrescue to image them. DDresuce is designed to skip over potentially bad sectors and recover as much as it can, before retrying problem sectors.

Plenty of people will buy it. If you're absolutely not interested in dealing with selling it, give it to goodwill or some other thrift store. It's a retro computer, not garbage. Even if it doesn't work, the parts may be useful for helping someone else get their machine to work again.

Is it possible to extract the data in Firewire target mode? I would rather not buy a new HD enclosure.....

 

[!!!]

Is it possible to extract the data in Firewire target mode? I would rather not buy a new HD enclosure.....

Yes, as long as it boots up and you have the right FW cables.

 

[TheShortTimer]

Is it possible to extract the data in Firewire target mode? I would rather not buy a new HD enclosure.....

@!!! Has already answered this but to add, I've routinely cloned drives, extracted/rescued data and set-up Macs for use via FireWire Target Disk Mode. If a Mac possesses FireWire then this is my default route for data extraction.

Also, remove or replace the PRAM battery to be on the safe side.