Intel-based Macs: "You have inserted a disk containing no volumes that Mac OS X can read" alert message

Intel-based Mac's volumes don't appear on Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier

If you attempt to mount an Intel-based Mac in Target Disk Mode on a Macintosh running Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier, you'll see an alert message that says "You have inserted a disk containing no volumes that Mac OS X can read."

Click the Eject or Ignore buttons to dismiss the dialog. Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier cannot mount volumes from an Intel-based Mac in Target Disk Mode.

However, if a computer running Mac OS X 10.3.9 or earlier is connected to an Intel-based Mac and started up in Target Disk Mode, its volume(s) appear as expected on the Intel-based Mac.

Format Intel-based Mac's startup volumes only from another Intel-based Mac

If you want to format an Intel-based Mac's volume(s) while it is started in TDM, and you intend to use the formatted volume as a startup volume, be sure that it is connected to another Intel-based Mac, then use Disk Utility to erase the disk before you repartition the drive.

Important: If you format the Intel-based Mac's volume using a PowerPC-based Mac, Disk Utility will successfully format the disk but you will not be able to start the Intel-based Mac from it.