“I used to access my Apple PowerBook via SCSI from my desktop computer. Is there a way to do this with current Apple PowerBooks since SCSI is no longer on board?”
You bet! FireWire target disk mode allows a Macintosh computer with a FireWire port (the target computer) to be used as an external hard disk connected to another computer (the host). Once a target computer is started up as a FireWire hard disk and is available to the host computer, you can copy files to or from that volume.
To use FireWire target disk mode:
1. Make sure that the target computer is turned off. If you are using a PowerBook computer or iBook computer as the target computer, you should also plug in its AC power supply.
2. Use a FireWire cable (6-pin to 6-pin) to connect the target computer to a host computer. The host computer does not need to be turned off.
3. Start up the target computer and immediately press and hold down the T key until the FireWire icon appears. The hard disk of the target computer should become available to the host computer and will likely appear on desktop.
4. When you are finished copying files, drag the target computer’s hard disk icon to the Trash or select Put Away from the File menu (Mac OS 9) or Eject from the File menu (Mac OS X).
5. Press the target computer’s power button to turn it off.
6. Unplug the FireWire cable.
Remember to unplug all other FireWire devices from both computers prior to using FireWire target disk mode. Do not plug in any FireWire devices until after you have disconnected the two computers from each other, or have stopped using target disk mode.
Host computers must meet the following requirements:
• Built-in FireWire port, or a FireWire port on a PC card
• FireWire 2.3.3 or later
• Mac OS 8.6 or later