Reminder:Firewire Target Disk mode won't copy desktop items

[MacTV]

I've got a g3 ibook - still on OS 9 - that I was backing up to a g4 via Firewire target disk mode.

If you drag the disk to another disk - it does the alias thing.

If you drag the contents - it copies them - but does not copy the desktop folder contents.

I had 1.5 gigs of stuff it didn't copy - so I rebooted, put everything but the trash and hard drive into a folder called "desktopstuff", then moved it to the root - rebooted it in Firewire target mode and then recopied.

I know people that would lose stuff copying disks in OS 9 - because they would open up the hard drive and select the contents - again you won't get the desktop folder.

I suppose I should be better about keeping everything in folders on the root of the drive and only use aliases on the desktop.

 

[equill]

You are right. You should. Not only in TDM but also in archiving by copy. Placing your desktop aliases in a folder at root level saves the day, as you wrote.

It is disconcerting the first time that you have that happen, but it never happens again thereafter, does it ...

de

 

[Christopher]

Or if you transfer files over ethernet from OS 9 to OS X, it limits the length of the name of the file. It refuses to copy files with long names, like 3 words or over.

 

[alk]

The desktop folder is invisible in OS 9. But it should copy if you drag the disk icon to the destination and hold down option. This forces the Mac to do a copy instead of make an alias.

There's no technical reason (aesthetic ones abound, though) for why you shouldn't keep files in your desktop folder.

Peace,

Drew

 

[madmax_2069]

yea as alk said hold the option key when you drop the file/s to where you want them to make a actual copy of the file/s