Problem with Target Disk Mode iMac -> MacBook

[edalzell]

I have an old iMac (Summer 2001) with 10.3.9 and a MacBook with 10.4.9 on it.

I want to mount the MB HD on the iMac, so I start the MB in target disk mode. When the iMac attempts to recognize it, I get an error along the lines of, "Disk not recognizable, Initialize, Ignore or Eject".

I can put the iMac into target disk mode and have the MacBook mount it properly, just not the other way round.

Any ideas?

[tlarkin]

I can only assume that Tiger is backwards compatible with Panther but not vice versa. I assume the hardware and software changes in the newer mac make it harder to properly work in TDM.

Now, one thing you can try is to run some disk repair on the iMac. Perhaps there is some corruption somewhere or a glitch causing it not to mount properly.

[edalzell]

This will make it hard to install Tiger on my iMac in the way I want. Hmmm...

[chabig]

The problem is probably that the MacBook HD is partitioned using the newer GUID scheme that all Intel-based Macs use. Panther probably can't read that type of drive. I doubt there is a workaround.

[tlarkin]

turn off journaling, and run a fsck then retry TDM

[edalzell]

turn off journaling, and run a fsck then retry TDM

On which machine?

[tlarkin]

the one that won't mount properly. turn off journaling and run fsck on it then try to mount it again.

[edalzell]

my MB is not journaled.

[chabig]

Your MacBook is journaled by default, and there is no reason to turn it off. If you want to check the disk structure, boot to single user mode and type:

fsck -fy

While this may give you peace of mind, it won't solve your problem, which is that Panther can't read GUID partitioned disks. Here is the relevant Apple document:

http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn2006/tn2166.html

Note the statement under the heading "Apple's Support for GPT":

Any Macintosh computer running Mac OS X 10.4 and later can mount GPT-partitioned disks.

Right there, that pretty much tells you that 10.3 can't mount GPT partitioned disks, which is exactly what you have in your MacBook.

Now, please tell us what you're trying to do and perhaps we can help find a workaround...

Chris

[macosnoob]

Apple's simpler statement on 'Intel-based Macs: 'You have inserted a disk containing no volumes that Mac OS X can read' alert message"

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303118

[edalzell]

Your MacBook is journaled by default, and there is no reason to turn it off.

Well, it is off and I don't recall turning it off.


Now, please tell us what you're trying to do and perhaps we can help find a workaround...

I am planning on installing Tiger on my iMac, so I would like to put the DVD into my MacBook then start it in target disk mode, then mount it on my iMac so I can install it.

[edalzell]

Apple's simpler statement on 'Intel-based Macs: 'You have inserted a disk containing no volumes that Mac OS X can read' alert message"

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303118

Ah, OK, so I am SOL then.

Thanks for finding that.

[chabig]

I am planning on installing Tiger on my iMac, so I would like to put the DVD into my MacBook then start it in target disk mode, then mount it on my iMac so I can install it.

So you don't really need to mount the MacBook hard drive on the iMac. All you need to mount is the Tiger Install DVD. You ought to be able to do that in target disk mode just fine. Try it...

[edalzell]

By golly you're right, that DOES work!

Thanks a whole bunch!!

Now, does anyone have a Tiger DVD they don't need?

[chabig]

I'm glad you discovered that it works as I described. But I see now that I didn't explain it very well, so for the benefit of those reading this thread in the future--when the Mac is in target disk mode, not only does it function as an external hard drive, but it also operates as an external optical drive.