Using An Older Mac For Backup

rentadrummer · Post by **rentadrummer** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 6:59 am

I have an old G4 with two drives in it, and it's been sitting unused for several months since I replaced it with a new Mac. I was thinking that I could use it as an extra backup via Target Mode with Firewire, but didn't know if the two drives in the G4 must have a system on them, or if I can wipe both the drives and they will still boot into Target Mode. I would assume it would work because you can access a failing drive, or one with a bad system via Target Mode, but I can't find the answer anyplace, and hoped that someone here might know. I don't have space to hook up a second monitor, and didn't know any other way to still get use from the older Mac.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:11 pm

I think this answers your question, Ron:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

rentadrummer · Post by **rentadrummer** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:01 pm

Jim wrote:I think this answers your question, Ron:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661

Thanks, Jim.

I'm familiar with that page, but for some reason I couldn't interpret the information to determine whether the drive needs a system or not. So I experimented and discovered that only the start up drive appears in Target Mode, and it requires a system. Otherwise there would be no way to switch between it and the back up drive, which also requires a system. Even so, the switching can't be done in Target Mode, or at least I can't figure out how it would be done, because you don't get access to the System Prefs for the other computer. In any case, it's good enough for my purposes, and gives me some additional backup options.