What to do if your Mac doesn't enter FireWire Target Disk Mode
Symptoms
This document provides troubleshooting steps when a Macintosh computer does not enter into FireWire target disk mode even though you hold down the T key at startup.
The computer does not enter FireWire target disk mode when you hold down the T key at startup, and instead starts up into Mac OS.
Products Affected
PowerBook G4 (DVI), PowerBook G4 (1GHZ/867MHZ), PowerBook G4 (17-inch), PowerBook G4 (17-inch Double-Layer SD), PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.67GHZ), PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.5GHZ), PowerBook G4 (17-inch 1.33GHZ), PowerBook G4 (15-inch FW800), PowerBook G4 (15-Inch Double-Layer SD), PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.67/1.5GHZ), PowerBook G4 (15-inch 1.5/1.33GHZ), PowerBook G4 (12-inch), PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI), PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.5GHZ), PowerBook G4 (12-inch 1.33GHZ), iBook (Firewire), iBook G4 (Early 2004), iBook G4 (14-inch), iBook G4 (14-inch Mid 2005), iBook G4 (14-inch Late 2004), iBook G4 (14-inch Early 2004), iBook G4 (12-inch Mid 2005), iBook G4 (12-inch Late 2004), iBook G4, iBook (Opaque 16VRAM), Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002ED), Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver 2002), Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Doors), Power Mac G4 (Mirrored Drive Door 2003), Power Mac G4 (FW 800), Power Mac G4 (Digital Audio), Power Mac G5 (Late 2005), Power Mac G5 (Late 2004), Power Mac G5 (June 2004), Power Mac G5 (Early 2005), Power Mac G5, MacBook Pro, MacBook, Mac mini, iMac, eMac, PowerBook G4, PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet), PowerBook (FireWire), Power Mac G4 (QuickSilver), Power Mac G4 (Cube), Power Mac G4 (Gigabit Ethernet), Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics), Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics), PowerBook G3 Series (Bronze Keyboard), PowerBook G3, iBook (Late 2001)
Resolution
1. Make sure the FireWire cable is good, and check the connection.
2. Use Apple System Profiler to verify the host computer has FireWire 2.3 or later installed.
3. Make sure no other FireWire devices are connected.
4. Make sure you are starting up the computer by holding the T key.
5. Check the keyboard connection. Make sure you are using an Apple keyboard. If you are using the Apple Wireless Keyboard, make sure you are using a compatible Bluetooth adapter with the most recent Bluetooth update.
6. Make sure that Open Firmware Password has not been enabled on this computer.
If necessary, download
software and make sure the computer does not require a password.
Additional Information
See document 58583, "Macintosh: How to Use FireWire Target Disk Mode", for a list of FireWire Target Disk Mode enabled computers.