Target disc mode for the iPad. How?

serr · 02-03-2013, 02:56 PM

I want to back up my iPad by cloning the disc image like I do with Carbon Copy Cloner for the Mac. How do you bring up the iPad in target disc mode (or whatever term is used for it if different)?

Apparently most Apple forum 'power users' don't even know there's a hard drive in their computer (emphasis on 'users' I guess) so it's just not possible to even get this question across on that forum. Frustrating...

DeltaMac · 02-03-2013, 04:32 PM

Ipads (and other iOS devices) don't have a "disk mode", per se.
You can get access to the file system, with an app that does that, such as DiskAid, or iExplorer.

Why not just use Apple's backup method for your iPad, as with other iOS devices?
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766?viewlocale=en_US
AFAIK, iTunes is the only way to do full backups of an iPad (or any iOS device).

Short statement about backing up iOS devices from Carbon Copy Cloner:
http://help.bombich.com/discussions/...9-ccc-and-ipad

anthlover · 02-03-2013, 04:39 PM

As delta indicated Itunes already offers a back up and restore option. Also if your needs are light (under 5gb) you can use I cloud.

I have used the back up and restore many times. Most recently to move from an Iphone 4 to 5.

There are tools Apple provides that are like CCC for setting up Iphones and iPads a certain way for say company that had to make a bunch of them.

serr · 02-03-2013, 07:41 PM

I thought restoring the OS was missing from the iTunes system.

Maybe I'm not paying attention?

Can I for example:
Do a backup of iOS 4 and all apps and settings (server or host IP addresses and so forth).
Install iOS 5 and some new app requiring it.
Play around and find out there's a conflict that broke an older functionality I used.
Reinstall the old system (iOS 4 and everything else in the condition it was left in). And without doing any setup or configuration to get back to anything.

I want something analogous to my method for a Mac with OSX.
Like this for example:
Clone system with 10.6 and everything else.
Install 10.7 to try out.
Discover that the windows are no longer shown to fit the screen in show all spaces view and the unmodifiable small size of the other spaces doesn't work for me. They broke it!
Clone my entire old system back (with incremental backup) in 5 minutes.

Putting that old system back together from the ground up could take 12 hours!

anthlover · 02-03-2013, 08:32 PM

Are u really on IOS 4? IOS is fundamrntally different then a Mac and OSX. I do not believe there is true drive imaging. And there is not usually a need of thr sort of incremental back up you speak off though there is icloud and network attached storage that can work with mobile devices such as IOS for that. IOS 5 and later i believe also supports wifi based iTunes syncing. Remember also that app store lets u automatically or manually re-download apps you paid for free.

Yes Itunes backs up everything, data and settings to the extent that as i mentioned i could throw my phone away or loose it and restore to a new phone which is what i did when my work replaced my 4 with a 5. Apple does not make it easy/support rolling backwards from say ios 6.1 to 6 or 6 to 5, or in your example 5 to 4. It supports wiping the phone back to a base os build that was the same as you had and restoring your data and settings.

Note that there are non Apple software ways to downgrade ios but I am not really sure that would be worth it for most. Generally IOS has gotten faster and better with every iteration even for older devices.

DeltaMac · 02-03-2013, 08:39 PM

A Mac with OS X is much more versatile to do what you state - as you could simply boot to an external volume with the "new" system. No need to do a clone, except as a help to setup your external. You don't even need to change anything on the internal drive.

No way to do an external for an iPad - the internal needs to be backed up, then you restore to the newer system (Did you mean iOS 6?)
So, the iPad is completely changed when you update.
I don't think it's possible to restore to iOS 4 after updating to iOS 5 - unless you do some type of jailbreak before you begin the update process.
I'd say that you need to take some time at some of the jailbreak sites.

serr · 02-03-2013, 08:58 PM

'Jailbreaking' seems to be the recommendation that keeps coming up. (Odd term for a purchased device as opposed to something rented but anywho...)

No arguments with the above comments really. It's a moot point for me though. Cloning my various system drives gives me a comfort zone. If there's work to be done and absolutely anything happens, I know that I can restore absolutely any system of mine in 5 to 30 minutes with absolutely no thinking or remembering procedures required. I like my comfort zone and would like to extend it to the iPad.

The above is an arbitrary example. Not trying to debate different OS's here.

anthlover · 02-03-2013, 09:20 PM

Well you can think of the official method of a base reset from 6.1 to 6.1 or what ever version your on with your Data. The safe trick as always is do not upgrade on day 1. Wait a week or a few. And if there are Key Apps check that they still work prior.

The older IOS system blobs if they have been saved or obtained elsewhere can be used with jailbreaking I believe to downgrade. The Process is PIA.

Glad you keep back ups on the desktop.

Also there is sort of a Sane way to do a related job externally (testing a new IOS). Sign up for a IOS developer account and run the IOS emulator for the device in question on your mac. At one point the developer accounts were free. I have played with it. Never loaded any apps on it.

02-03-2013, 02:56 PM	#1
serr Prospect Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 39	Target disc mode for the iPad. How? I want to back up my iPad by cloning the disc image like I do with Carbon Copy Cloner for the Mac. How do you bring up the iPad in target disc mode (or whatever term is used for it if different)? Apparently most Apple forum 'power users' don't even know there's a hard drive in their computer (emphasis on 'users' I guess) so it's just not possible to even get this question across on that forum. Frustrating...

02-03-2013, 04:32 PM	#2
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,998	Ipads (and other iOS devices) don't have a "disk mode", per se. You can get access to the file system, with an app that does that, such as DiskAid, or iExplorer. Why not just use Apple's backup method for your iPad, as with other iOS devices? http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1766?viewlocale=en_US AFAIK, iTunes is the only way to do full backups of an iPad (or any iOS device). Short statement about backing up iOS devices from Carbon Copy Cloner: http://help.bombich.com/discussions/...9-ccc-and-ipad Last edited by DeltaMac; 02-03-2013 at 04:35 PM. Reason: added info from carbon copy cloner

02-03-2013, 08:32 PM	#5
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,703	Are u really on IOS 4? IOS is fundamrntally different then a Mac and OSX. I do not believe there is true drive imaging. And there is not usually a need of thr sort of incremental back up you speak off though there is icloud and network attached storage that can work with mobile devices such as IOS for that. IOS 5 and later i believe also supports wifi based iTunes syncing. Remember also that app store lets u automatically or manually re-download apps you paid for free. Yes Itunes backs up everything, data and settings to the extent that as i mentioned i could throw my phone away or loose it and restore to a new phone which is what i did when my work replaced my 4 with a 5. Apple does not make it easy/support rolling backwards from say ios 6.1 to 6 or 6 to 5, or in your example 5 to 4. It supports wiping the phone back to a base os build that was the same as you had and restoring your data and settings. Note that there are non Apple software ways to downgrade ios but I am not really sure that would be worth it for most. Generally IOS has gotten faster and better with every iteration even for older devices. Last edited by anthlover; 02-03-2013 at 08:42 PM.

02-03-2013, 09:20 PM	#8
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,703	Well you can think of the official method of a base reset from 6.1 to 6.1 or what ever version your on with your Data. The safe trick as always is do not upgrade on day 1. Wait a week or a few. And if there are Key Apps check that they still work prior. The older IOS system blobs if they have been saved or obtained elsewhere can be used with jailbreaking I believe to downgrade. The Process is PIA. Glad you keep back ups on the desktop. Also there is sort of a Sane way to do a related job externally (testing a new IOS). Sign up for a IOS developer account and run the IOS emulator for the device in question on your mac. At one point the developer accounts were free. I have played with it. Never loaded any apps on it. Last edited by anthlover; 02-03-2013 at 09:40 PM.

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02-03-2013, 04:39 PM	#3
anthlover Hall of Famer Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,703	As delta indicated Itunes already offers a back up and restore option. Also if your needs are light (under 5gb) you can use I cloud. I have used the back up and restore many times. Most recently to move from an Iphone 4 to 5. There are tools Apple provides that are like CCC for setting up Iphones and iPads a certain way for say company that had to make a bunch of them.

02-03-2013, 07:41 PM	#4
serr Prospect Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 39	I thought restoring the OS was missing from the iTunes system. Maybe I'm not paying attention? Can I for example: Do a backup of iOS 4 and all apps and settings (server or host IP addresses and so forth). Install iOS 5 and some new app requiring it. Play around and find out there's a conflict that broke an older functionality I used. Reinstall the old system (iOS 4 and everything else in the condition it was left in). And without doing any setup or configuration to get back to anything. I want something analogous to my method for a Mac with OSX. Like this for example: Clone system with 10.6 and everything else. Install 10.7 to try out. Discover that the windows are no longer shown to fit the screen in show all spaces view and the unmodifiable small size of the other spaces doesn't work for me. They broke it! Clone my entire old system back (with incremental backup) in 5 minutes. Putting that old system back together from the ground up could take 12 hours!

02-03-2013, 08:39 PM	#6
DeltaMac League Commissioner Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 7,998	A Mac with OS X is much more versatile to do what you state - as you could simply boot to an external volume with the "new" system. No need to do a clone, except as a help to setup your external. You don't even need to change anything on the internal drive. No way to do an external for an iPad - the internal needs to be backed up, then you restore to the newer system (Did you mean iOS 6?) So, the iPad is completely changed when you update. I don't think it's possible to restore to iOS 4 after updating to iOS 5 - unless you do some type of jailbreak before you begin the update process. I'd say that you need to take some time at some of the jailbreak sites.

02-03-2013, 08:58 PM	#7
serr Prospect Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 39	'Jailbreaking' seems to be the recommendation that keeps coming up. (Odd term for a purchased device as opposed to something rented but anywho...) No arguments with the above comments really. It's a moot point for me though. Cloning my various system drives gives me a comfort zone. If there's work to be done and absolutely anything happens, I know that I can restore absolutely any system of mine in 5 to 30 minutes with absolutely no thinking or remembering procedures required. I like my comfort zone and would like to extend it to the iPad. The above is an arbitrary example. Not trying to debate different OS's here.