iMac in the bin at this rate!

Decaf · Decaf #1 (**permalink**)

04-10-2010, 08:18 PM

Good evening all,

I was in love with my new iMac until I discovered how it was difficult it was to connect it to a PC to transfer files. I even bought a crossover ethernet cable.

However no matter what I do, I get the message "The server may not exist or it is unavailable at this time. Check the server name or IP address, check your network connection, and then try again."

The Laptop and iMac are directly connected why can it not just be simple and they recognise each other?

Any help would be so very much appreciated!

Many thanks

Slydude · Slydude #2 (**permalink**)

04-10-2010, 09:52 PM

I am sure some of our smarter members will be able to solve this problem. But solving the problem requires a bit more information:

1. Which operating systems are involved here (on both the Mac and PC).
2. Do you have the firewall software turned on on either of the machines?
3. Have you tried this with a regular ethernet cable? If I am not mistaken the network hardware in the iMac is auto sensing so a crossover cable would likely be unnecessary.
4. Is file-sharing turned on for both the Mac and PC?

Nethfel · Nethfel #3 (**permalink**)

04-10-2010, 10:52 PM

For that matter - have you even setup IP addresses and/or confirmed that you can ping either system from the other?

blackmac11 · blackmac11 #4 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 02:09 AM

I know it's kind of irrelevant, but if you have an external hard drive, it would be much easier to use that instead. What you're doing can get a little complicated sometimes, as the post's above already depict.

mikesmith2 · mikesmith2 #5 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 06:05 AM

You could use Microsofts files and settings transfer wizard to copy them to an external disk.

I assume you are running Windows on the iMac and that's the reason for the transfer.

Oneironaut · Oneironaut #6 (**permalink**)

04-11-2010, 11:38 AM

This is tricky. I know I've done it and it worked flawlessly, but the set up with the IP addresses and firewalls was really byzantine and I couldn't do it again now. I did it wirelessly. I know you said you are doing it with a cable, but here are some pretty clear instructions connecting the two computers by creating a network.

How to connect to a Windows PC from Mac in a Network | PushkarArora.com

chas_m · chas_m #7 (**permalink**)

04-12-2010, 09:36 AM

Two words:

Thumb. Drive.

the8thark · the8thark #8 (**permalink**)

04-12-2010, 09:52 AM

+1 to the thumb drive if you have all day to go back and forward with the thumb drive. Not the best method by far but that works.

Or you could buy an external hard drive, format it PC and use that to transfer all the files over then reformat it Mac and use it for Time Machine or soemthing else.

Davanw · Davanw #9 (**permalink**)

04-12-2010, 11:36 AM

forget the crossover cable. use regular cat5 network patch cables, and network the two computers via a network switch. then drag and drop to your heart's desire!

toMACsh · toMACsh #10 (**permalink**)

04-12-2010, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decaf

I was in love with my new iMac until I discovered how it was difficult it was to connect it to a PC to transfer files. I even bought a crossover ethernet cable.

Maybe the problem is that it's difficult to connect a "PC" to a Mac.

(For a Mac owner who just bought a "PC". It's a matter of perspective!)

T_O_P12 · T_O_P12 #11 (**permalink**)

04-12-2010, 09:40 PM

I second the thumb drive... I just threw all my PC stuff onto a flash drive and slammed it in my iMac and I was good to go.

Slydude #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Nov 15, 2009 Location: North Louisiana, USA Posts: 4,026 Mac Specs: 2.8 GHz MacBook Pro 10.8,3 8 GB mem, 2.66 GHz Mac Pro - Dead, iPhone 4	04-10-2010, 09:52 PM I am sure some of our smarter members will be able to solve this problem. But solving the problem requires a bit more information: 1. Which operating systems are involved here (on both the Mac and PC). 2. Do you have the firewall software turned on on either of the machines? 3. Have you tried this with a regular ethernet cable? If I am not mistaken the network hardware in the iMac is auto sensing so a crossover cable would likely be unnecessary. 4. Is file-sharing turned on for both the Mac and PC? Sylvester Roque Former Contributing Editor About This Particular Macintosh No matter what time it is where I am it's early morning somewhere in the world. At that hour of the morning follow my advice at your own risk. Anything sounds good before your first cup of coffee
	QUOTE Thanks

blackmac11 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 16, 2009 Location: Tecumseh, Ontario Posts: 498 Mac Specs: iMac 20" 2.4 GHz Dual Core 3GB Ram 320GB Hard Drive 10.6.2 :: Ipod Touch 8 GB :: Beastly Gaming PC	04-11-2010, 02:09 AM I know it's kind of irrelevant, but if you have an external hard drive, it would be much easier to use that instead. What you're doing can get a little complicated sometimes, as the post's above already depict. l I’ll keep it short and sweet — Family. Religion. Friendship. These are the three demons you must slay if you wish to succeed in business. -Monty Burns
	QUOTE Thanks

chas_m #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 22, 2010 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 13,807 Mac Specs: 2009 MacBook Pro, Black speakers, Black Benq second monitor, black iPhone 4, Black 2012 iPad, etc.	04-12-2010, 09:36 AM Two words: Thumb. Drive. Cheers, chas_m -- My essay for switchers and newbies
	QUOTE Thanks

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Transferring Ipod music to iMac	tadd5181	Music, Audio, and Podcasting	2	02-07-2010 03:05 PM
24" iMac Aluminum not starting	l33tloser	Apple Desktops	4	09-17-2009 03:44 PM
The New iMac (merged)	EDIT-XTREEM	Apple Desktops	7	07-21-2006 04:29 PM
Imac first impressions -- whoa!	asolo	Switcher Hangout	13	07-11-2006 01:29 PM
Swap a PowerMac for an iMac?	Smileyguy	Apple Desktops	4	12-27-2005 11:17 AM

iMac in the bin at this rate!

Internet Services

Web Development

Digital Marketing

Consumer Tech

Decaf #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 10, 2010 Posts: 1	04-10-2010, 08:18 PM Good evening all, I was in love with my new iMac until I discovered how it was difficult it was to connect it to a PC to transfer files. I even bought a crossover ethernet cable. However no matter what I do, I get the message "The server may not exist or it is unavailable at this time. Check the server name or IP address, check your network connection, and then try again." The Laptop and iMac are directly connected why can it not just be simple and they recognise each other? Any help would be so very much appreciated! Many thanks
	QUOTE Thanks

mikesmith2 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 08, 2007 Location: Reading. UK Posts: 266 Mac Specs: Macbook Pro, White macbook, iMac	04-11-2010, 06:05 AM You could use Microsofts files and settings transfer wizard to copy them to an external disk. I assume you are running Windows on the iMac and that's the reason for the transfer.
	QUOTE Thanks

Oneironaut #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 23, 2009 Posts: 1,262 Mac Specs: 21" iMac * 2.8 Ghz Intel Core i7 * 16GB 1333 Mhz DDR3 * 1TB HD *AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB	04-11-2010, 11:38 AM This is tricky. I know I've done it and it worked flawlessly, but the set up with the IP addresses and firewalls was really byzantine and I couldn't do it again now. I did it wirelessly. I know you said you are doing it with a cable, but here are some pretty clear instructions connecting the two computers by creating a network. How to connect to a Windows PC from Mac in a Network \| PushkarArora.com
	QUOTE Thanks

the8thark #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jan 27, 2007 Location: Brisvegas Posts: 5,658 Mac Specs: 17 inch 2 GHz C2D imac (5,1) with 3GB DDR2 RAM, X1600 (128MB memory) GPU - OSX 10.6.3	04-12-2010, 09:52 AM +1 to the thumb drive if you have all day to go back and forward with the thumb drive. Not the best method by far but that works. Or you could buy an external hard drive, format it PC and use that to transfer all the files over then reformat it Mac and use it for Time Machine or soemthing else.
	QUOTE Thanks

Davanw #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 20, 2009 Location: Calgary Posts: 137 Mac Specs: 15" MBP	04-12-2010, 11:36 AM forget the crossover cable. use regular cat5 network patch cables, and network the two computers via a network switch. then drag and drop to your heart's desire!
	QUOTE Thanks

T_O_P12 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Sep 13, 2009 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 212 Mac Specs: 27" iMac Core 2 Duo, 4GB 1067 MHz RAM, iPhone 4S	04-12-2010, 09:40 PM I second the thumb drive... I just threw all my PC stuff onto a flash drive and slammed it in my iMac and I was good to go.
	QUOTE Thanks

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)