Installing OS X via the Target Disk Mode

Many people are wondering how to install Leopard from the Target Disk Mode, so I’m going to write this tutorial for them (because it worked for me).
Let’s meet after the jump…

First thing to do is to repair your disk permissions, and verify if your disk needs to be repaired with the disk utility. I also advise everybody to do a Zap PRAM and to reset SMU.
I did an install of Leopard from a MacBook Pro (Intel Processor) to a G5 iMac (PPC Processor).
Let’s start the install now! (The 2 Macs are shut down)

Connect the two Mac with a firewire cable.
Start the (source Mac) by holding the “T” button.
Insert the DVD in the source Mac
Start the “destination Mac” (the one you want to install Leopard to) and hold down the option key (alt).
Then, you’ll have a menu in which you’ll be able to select the start up drive, pick the “Mac OS X Install DVD”, here’s a video I made to illustrate this step)

Find more videos like this on MacAmour Network

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Posted in Leopard, Mac OS X, Macintosh Tips & Help

craig5678

Thank you so much for your help. I've been trying to get this done for several hours and couldn't figure it out until I stumbled across your post.

Reza

This is an amazingly easy process, thank you so much.
After spending many hours online trying to find out ways to install leopard I finally got it done with this simple way and it worked the first time with no hassle.
Great jon Hedi,

Christopher

Genius!

Such a simple but useful guide, worked perfectly the first time.

Cheers

mac fanatic

Kofi Blades,

The Install disc will install the version of Leopard that is correct for the machine that is running the install disc.

So if you try it your way, you will get a Intel Leopard version installed on a PPC. And it won't boot.

buddha429

will this work if i'm tring to install os x 10.3.7 from a ibook G4 to a Ibook G3 clamshell

mr inge j.clausen

great advice. sending you good vibes from oslo. inge

bkb

bregreta - backup to the start of the installer process (before you have to choose install location). open disk utility (from the utilities menu). erase the macintosh hd partition on the disk you wish to install the new OS. make sure you erase the partition and not the entire disk, otherwise it will say "resource busy". once this is done quit disk utility and go back to the installer. the location will now show up in target install locations.

Bregeta

Hey! I'm using this method to get OS X from my imac onto my powerbook G4 (dead optical drive). All works well until i come to the stage of having to select a hard-drive for 10.4 to install on. For some reason the only hard-drive that appears is that of the imac's, no sign of the powerbook? Is this the case of a dead hard-drive in the powerbook, or something software based. My powerbook OS at the moment is corrupt so i cannot change any settings here. By the way, i have reset PMU, and other recommended tests have been taken out. Thanks! Bregeta, x

Ivor

I've heard that the reason for not starting the destination computer in Target Disk Mode is that when you install OS X from retail DVDs, that OS X will be configured to its host computer, and not it's destination computer. For instance, I'm about to install 10.3 onto my iBook G3 500 by using my eMac's DVD drive. If I started my iBook in Target mode, then a system which was configured for an eMac would be installed on it. If I were installing from one iBook G3 to another one, it wouldn't be a problem.

Hedi

Not sure but maybe the OS 9 drive is set as a master while the other one is set as the slave drive. You will maybe need to fix that on the hardware itself not from the software (OS X).

Melody

I am trying to install Tiger on a power pc G4. The G4 has two hard drives... One that has OS9 and one that has OSX 10.3.9. The only hard drive that comes up as the target drive on the desktop is the OS9. I've tried fixing the OSX drive as a startup drive in system prefs but I cannot get it to come up.

Any suggestions?

Simon

Kofi is right.... you need to start the "destination msc" as TARGET.....

Hedi

Apple states the following basic Leopard system requirements, although, for some specific applications and actions (such as iChat backdrops) an Intel processor is required:
Processor must be any Intel, PowerPC G5 or G4 (at least 867 MHz or faster)
DVD drive (for installation of the operating system)
At least 512 MB of RAM (additional RAM (1 GB) is recommended for development purposes)
At least 9 GB of disk space available
Leopard was not released in separate versions for each type of processor, but instead consists of one universal release that can run on both PowerPC and Intel processors. Leopard drops support for slower G4 and all G3 processors.

David

Is there any reason that this technique won't work on a G4 PowerBook (an early 500mHz version)? Other than trial-and-error is there a compatibility chart for hardware and software anywhere? Thanks. Great site! David

Karey

I'm working towards installing Tiger, from a retail DVD, via a G4 Powerbook, onto an iMac G3 with a CD drive.

Upgraded iMac from OS 9.0.4 to 9.1, installed Firmware 4.1.9, then OS 9.2.1 via install files transferred via the Firewire cable. Zapped PRAM in both computers just in case (hold down the CMD+OPT+P+R keys until you get at least two bongs). Verified the disks, no repairs needed.

With the PB up and the iMac screen showing the Firewire icon, selectively installed OS 10.4 onto the iMac HD, and all looked great from the PB screen. When both were shut down & disconnected, the iMac would not start without an OS 9 restore disc, would not restart with its own OS 9 or 10, would not restart with the PB, and could not see the DVD.

I restored OS 9 to the iMac, cleaned out the OS X files, shut 'em both down, reconnected Firewire, set the PB screen to show the Firewire logo as you suggested, and started up the iMac with Option down, to restart from the PB's DVD - but it did not show up as a restart option, only the iMac's OS 9 and the PB's os X.

So I've done it both ways & neither works; is there anything else I should be looking into as a toe-stubbing point for these hard-working computers? Somewhere there was a mention of resetting SMU but no directions for doing so.

Thanks,
Karey

Hedi

Awww thank you Jason!
I had that boot icon when I was trying to install OS X from my external DVD drive from the Firewire port. And after contacting LaCie's support, we arrived to the conclusion that the Drive's Firewire port was dead..
I won't repeat what you have probably read at the Apple's support you gave but, I think (but I'm not sure) there is a defective Firewire port. First thing to do in that case is to do a reset SMU (or PMU), perform a search on Mac Amour you'll find the how to.
You should also try an Apple Hardware Diagnostics to be sure.

Jason Allen

Finally, a simple well written guide for how to do this. Thanks!

The problem I'm having is after the drive selection choice is made. I'm trying to install OS X on a macbook from another macbook in target disk mode. I can get the drives to appear on the macbook that I'm trying to install to, but after it tries to boot for a while I get the broken icon described at http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=...

I've tried clearing the PRAM but the same thing happens. I was just wondering if you knew if that icon appearing is a normal part of the boot process when using this type of mode or if I have another problem to deal with here. Please send me an email if you can. I greatly appreciate any help/info you can provide.

Hedi

That's a good question, but all I wanted is to use the MBP's DVD drive, I don't know the answer though...

Kofi Blades

Now I am curious. Why would you do it this way and not start the destination mac in target mode to show up on the source mac as a drive and install Leopard on the destination mac that has been mounted there?
By doing this, would you have all the features available, such as the new Front Row, or is that installed by defaultand the system runs checks for the IR receiver everytime before it starts? But this is good work by the way.

Hedi

Thanks for the "idea" :p

DBless

Auhhhhh~! Great idea~! Target disk mode~! Who would of though... :)