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Ryan Heid · Aug 20, 2004, 10:49 PM

I'm having an interesting problem with my FW bus and an iPod. I just got the iPod today and it wouldn't mount on the desktop, show up in iTunes or show up in the iPod Updater. When I checked the bus with an external 120 GB LaCie HDD, the drive worked fine. When I attached the iPod through one of the extra ports on the back of the HDD the iPod mounted on the desktop and showed up in the Updater, but not in iTunes. I reset the iPod through the updater, and then nothing worked - all the buttons were dim on the updater, but I could still look at the contents of the iPod on the desktop.

I called Apple support and they said they couldn't help me unless I spent $49 because my system is out of warranty (G4/400), however he said it was probably a FW bus problem. I don't think so because the HDD works fine on both FW ports.

Anyone have any suggestions? I want to use my iPod!

JohnM15141 · Aug 21, 2004, 12:04 AM

Plug in your iPod and see if you can see it using the disk utility. If so erase it and then try updating it again witht the ipod updater.

Ryan Heid · Aug 21, 2004, 09:03 AM

Originally posted by JohnM15141:
Plug in your iPod and see if you can see it using the disk utility. If so erase it and then try updating it again witht the ipod updater.

Nope, can't see it with the Disk Utility.

Buck_Naked · Aug 21, 2004, 01:39 PM

Kinda strange that the iPod would mount when connected to an external HD but not directly to your computer.
Have you tried connecting your iPod to a different machine?

hardcat1970 · Aug 21, 2004, 05:44 PM

did you get the new 4g ipod? I heard that Apple has quietly revised the ipod's firewire requirement and it will not work with previous G4 or G3 with built-in firewire port. i don't know if they can fix it with a software update., but i think they are false advertising on their system requirement for the 4g ipod.

I am lucky because i have a usb 2 pci card, and it works great. Perhaps you will have better luck with firewire or a usb2 pci card.

Ryan Heid · Aug 21, 2004, 09:03 PM

Originally posted by Buck_Naked:
Kinda strange that the iPod would mount when connected to an external HD but not directly to your computer.
Have you tried connecting your iPod to a different machine?

Yes, I have - worked flawlessly.

Ryan Heid · Aug 21, 2004, 09:04 PM

Originally posted by hardcat1970:
did you get the new 4g ipod? I heard that Apple has quietly revised the ipod's firewire requirement and it will not work with previous G4 or G3 with built-in firewire port. i don't know if they can fix it with a software update., but i think they are false advertising on their system requirement for the 4g ipod.

I am lucky because i have a usb 2 pci card, and it works great. Perhaps you will have better luck with firewire or a usb2 pci card.

What would a USB 2.0 or FW PCI card set me back?

hardcat1970 · Aug 21, 2004, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by Ryan Heid:
What would a USB 2.0 or FW PCI card set me back?

you can get a cheap usb 2.0 card for under $20, just check out dealmac.com for reference. I got a 3 port usb 2 plus 2 firewire from adaptec for $60