How to Use a Computer As an External Hard Drive

You can use your computer as an external Hard Drive.

A computer can be "slaved" to another computer to function as an external hard drive. The procedure requires that both computers are using the same operating system and have similar input ports to one another. Unlike accessing a computer's hard drive directly, a computer used as an external hard drive can be accessed completely, making it possible to copy, move or delete files that otherwise refuse to budge. The computer can be restored to its normal functionality without suffering any ill effects from having been used as an external hard drive.

Things You'll Need

• Firewire cable

Instructions

Using Mac as External Hard Drive With A Mac

1. Plug one end of a Firewire cable into a Firewire port on the Mac that will serve as the "external hard drive." Plug the other end of the Firewire cable into the Firewire port on the Mac that will control the "external hard drive." Turn on the Mac that will control the "external hard drive." Wait for the desktop to appear.

2. Press and hold the "T" button on the keyboard on the Mac that is to be the "external hard drive." Turn on the Mac. Release the "T" key when a "Firewire" logo appears on the Mac's screen.

3. Double-click on the icon of the Mac that is serving as the "external hard drive" and which is now on the desktop of the other Mac. Copy, move, delete or perform any other functions you choose with the data that is inside of the Mac's hard drive.

4. Drag the icon of the Mac's hard drive to the Trash when you are done using it. Press and hold the power button on the Mac that was serving as an "external hard drive." Release the power button when the Mac's screen goes black. Remove the Firewire cable from both Macs.

Using Mac as External Hard Drive With A PC

1. Plug one end of a Firewire cable into a Firewire port on the Mac that will serve as the "external hard drive." Plug the other end of the Firewire cable into the Firewire port on the PC.

2. Turn on the PC. Wait for the desktop to appear. Press and hold the "T" button on the keyboard on the Mac. Turn on the Mac. Release the "T" key when a "Firewire" logo appears on the Mac's screen.

3. Go to "Start," "My Computer," "Devices" on the PC. Locate the Mac's hard drive which is now an icon beneath "Removable Devices & storage" in the window that appears.

4. Double-click on the icon of the Mac's hard drive to open its contents for viewing. Right-click on the icon of the Mac's hard drive when you are done. Select "Eject" from the pop-up menu.

5. Press and hold the power button on the Mac. Release the power button when the Mac's screen goes black. Remove the Firewire cable from the Mac and from the PC.

Tips & Warnings

• You will need to use a Mac-compatible file program in the PC in order to be able to do more than just view the Mac's hard drive.

References

• Apple Support: How to use and troubleshoot FireWire target disk mode

Resources

• The History of IEEE 1394 (Firewire)