Re: 2 Macs: FW Target DM questions

So I've got 2 Minis......1 PPC, 1 Intel. The PPC Mini is working fine
and I want to transfer all my data to the Intel one which currently
doesn't have an operating system on it. I'm wondering if this is
possible somehow using Firewire Target Disk Mode. From what I've read
it appears that FWTDM requires both computers to have operating
systems of some sort installed.

An OS must be installed on both compuers if you want to migrate data
from one system to another.
You can put the Intel Mini into target mode and copy data onto its hard
drive without it having any operating system installed, but you would
still have to install the operating system to use that data on the Intel
Mini.

That's great news. I just want to get it initially up and running
with the DVD drive.

The PPC Mini's OS will not work on the Intel Mini.

Right. Could I copy the DVD's contents onto the Intel Mini's drive
and install from there or will it only install from a DVD?

In this case, what you should do is use the DVDs supplied with the Intel
Mini to reinstall its operating system.

At the end of the installation, it will ask if you want to migrate data
from an existing machine. If you answer yes, this will use Migration
Assistant, which involves putting the other computer into Firewire
Target Disk Mode. Migration Assistant can then copy applications, user
accounts and other folders from the PPC Mini.

There can be some problems with migrating applicatons in this manner, so
you might need to reinstall a few of them from the original source. I
did this transition from my PowerBook G4 to MacBook Pro and only needed
to reinstall one application.

I was wondering about booting off an iPod but apparently the large
workload can fry the iPod. My 2 gb memory card from my camera is too
small I think. (Perhaps not if I removed the printer drivers, fonts,
non-English languages, etc ??)

Boot what off a memory card? You would need to install an OS
installed on it, which you would have to do using the Intel Mini.

I'm not understanding the "need to install an OS installed on it" part
:)
I wanted to copy the contents of the DVD install disc on to the memory
card and boot from it.

I agree that it isn't a good idea to use an iPod with a hard drive as a
boot device, because it isn't designed for that function. It should be
OK for a one-off use, but can wear out the iPod's hard drive if you use
it too often for this sort of heavy task.

Well I've got a 2gb memory card. I wonder if it can damage the card
in some way if I use it many times? Is it different from storing data
from pictures or videos?

And of course I could boot off the DVD drive, but currently its not
installed and as I rarely use it

You will need to boot from the DVD to install the operating system on
the Intel Mini, so you either need to reinstall the internal DVD drive
or connect an external one.

You shouldn't disconnect the drive in the first place. You need to be
able to boot from the DVD in order to run some repair operations on the
hard drive.

Ah...right. To repair before the computer enters the operating sytem?

There are technical issues with the type of partitioning on the hard
drive which might complicate things. PPC Macs can only boot from an
"Apple Partition Map" drive, while Intel Macs officially only boot from
a "GUID Partition Table" drive, but can boot from an APM drive if you
jump through some extra hoops to install the operating system.

Leopard can't introduce GUID Partition Table boot support for PPC Mac
models (unless Apple does a firwmare update for them) but it might relax
the restriction on requiring GUID Partition Table when installing
Leopard on an Intel Mac. (I doubt it.)

If I'm right and they don't make this easier, then you would be able to
install Leopard on an Intel Mini via Firwire Target Mode from any other
Intel Mac, but it might be tricky to do it from a PowerPC Mac.

If the operating system installed is fully universal on both PowerPC and
Intel Macs, then it should be possible to clone it across platforms
using an updated version of a tool like SuperDuper! (which might need to
do some extra steps to make the clone bootable on the other processor
type).

Lots to consider. Thanks for the quick reply.
.

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