Firewire Says Mac OS X Not Seen on Old Computer

Posted:
in Genius Bar edited January 2014
When we connected Firewire we got the message like



"Mac OS X Not Seen on Old Computer"



Then nothing more can be done, it freezes. Yet the old computer (about 8 years old, a blue G3 iMac) does have OS X.



???

Dr. Ledgard

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 9
    mr. hmr. h Posts: 4,870member
    You need to provide waaaaaaaaaaay more information before anyone can help you.



    Connected what Mac (specifications, OS X version etc.) to what (again, be specific), via Firewire?



    What is it that you are trying to ultimately achieve?
  • Reply 2 of 9
    The old computer is an Imac G3, 400 MHz, running OS 10.3.



    The new compuiter is an iMac G5 running OS X 10.4.8.



    Thanks!
  • Reply 3 of 9
    mr. hmr. h Posts: 4,870member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hledgard


    The old computer is an Imac G3, 400 MHz, running OS 10.3.



    The new compuiter is an iMac G5 running OS X 10.4.8.



    Thanks!



    Still not enough info!



    Are you trying to connect one machine to the other using "firewire target disk mode"? If so, which one are you using in target mode, and how are you going about it?



    Why are you linking the two together? Which machine is reporting the error message?



    And a separate question: do you have any other firewire devices to hand, such as a 4th gen or older iPod, external HDD or camcorder?
  • Reply 4 of 9
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Mr. H


    Still not enough info!



    Are you trying to connect one machine to the other using "firewire target disk mode"? If so, which one are you using in target mode, and how are you going about it?



    Why are you linking the two together? Which machine is reporting the error message?



    And a separate question: do you have any other firewire devices to hand, such as a 4th gen or older iPod, external HDD or camcorder?



    The Imac G5 is new, and we were trying to transfer everything from the G3 to the G5. We started the old computer (G3) pressing the T down, and got the "Floating Y" on the screen. It all seemed fine. Then the new computer gave the error message.



    Merci!
  • Reply 5 of 9
    mr. hmr. h Posts: 4,870member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by hledgard


    The Imac G5 is new, and we were trying to transfer everything from the G3 to the G5. We started the old computer (G3) pressing the T down, and got the "Floating Y" on the screen. It all seemed fine. Then the new computer gave the error message.



    Merci!



    O.K.



    So are you trying to use the OS X built-in migration tool? Sounds like you might have to do things manually instead. Do you live near an Apple Store?
  • Reply 6 of 9
    Thanks Mr. H!



    Indeed, we have been doing things manually with a flash drive. We have not been able to get the (email) address book from the G3 to the G5.



    Unfortunately, we do not live near an Apple store.



    Dr. Ledgard
  • Reply 7 of 9
    Which version of OS X were you using on the old G3? 10.4 or 10.3? Are you using Apple Mail on both computers?



    For AppleMail in OS X 10.4, the address book information is in ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook/ (which means the library folder in your user folder, not the one the the first level on your hard drive). I would guess the address book information is stored on the same place in earlier versions of OS X (can't check that out since I don't use 10.3 any more for a long time now).



    Be cautious, though, you can replace the address information files only when you're using the same version of the OS and Apple Mail. When using different versions, you have to export all the address entries from Address Book on the old computer to your memory stick (in vCard format) and then import them into your new computer's address book application.
  • Reply 8 of 9
    mr. hmr. h Posts: 4,870member
    You shouldn't need to use the flash drive. You should still be able to use firewire target disk mode, but instead of using the migration assistant, just copy stuff over manually.



    1.) Boot the G5.



    2.) Shutdown the G3 if it's on.



    3.) Turn on the G3 and immediately hold down the "T" key, until the firewire symbol appears.



    4.) Attach firewire cable to G3 and G5.



    5.) A hard-drive icon should appear on the G5's desktop. This is the G3 hard drive.
  • Reply 9 of 9
    Thanks to both of you, Mr. H and gwoodpecker.



    The transfer is more or less complete. We were close on both the firewire issue (tried many alternative sequences, just not the one above) and the mail issue (again, tried alternatives, just not the one above).



    I appreciate your effort to help us and your Apple expertise.



    Sincerely,

    Dr. Ledgard
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