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shreddog · Jan 18, 2005, 08:07 AM

I recently purchased a Seagate 160GB hard drive and put in a Rosewill enclosure. When I plug in the firewire connections, my iMac (G4 800mhz) does not recognize it. It's as if nothing is plugged in. when I plug in the USB, it recognizes it just fine and it shows up with it's full capacity (not the 137GB issue). Does anyone have any clue as to why this would happen? My ipod is recognized just fine through the firewire port. Since my USB ports are 1.1, it would take forever to transfer data. Rosewill tech support doesn't seem to answer the phone nor emails. Did I just get ripped off?

Thanks!

Tee · Jan 18, 2005, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by shreddog:
I recently purchased a Seagate 160GB hard drive and put in a Rosewill enclosure.

Yikes!
I remember your thread from last week when you were trying to decide on the enclosure.

I don't have any advice specific to the Rosewill enclosure (apparently it is a new product for Rosewill).

But...

This may sound like lame level 1 tech support advice but: try shutting down everything and then unplugging the FW cable from both the iMac and the enclosure. Also disconnect the power from the enclosure. Wait a few minutes and hook everything up again.

Also make sure the jumpers on the Seagate are set to "Master". (There might be a diagram printed on the drive label).

Tee

Macola · Jan 18, 2005, 06:04 PM

Do you know what chipset the enclosure uses? I've had a lot of Firewire problems with the Prolific chipset, especially with >120 GB drives.

Tee · Jan 18, 2005, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by Macola:
Do you know what chipset the enclosure uses? I've had a lot of Firewire problems with the Prolific chipset, especially with >120 GB drives.

The website says it is Oxford 911 for FW and CypressAT2 (presumably for USB)

shreddog · Jan 18, 2005, 06:21 PM

I should have the drive set to Master? Even though this will be the "back-up" drive? Will this affect whether or not it is recognized using FW vs USB? It works with USB, I just think it's going to be slow.

Thanks for you help.

Tee · Jan 18, 2005, 07:06 PM

Originally posted by shreddog:
I should have the drive set to Master? Even though this will be the "back-up" drive? Will this affect whether or not it is recognized using FW vs USB? It works with USB, I just think it's going to be slow.

Thanks for you help.

The Seagate jumpers should be set to "master."
This will not affect it's relationship to the drive inside of your iMac - the firewire bridge in the enclosure is totally separate.

Not sure why USB is working and not FW.

Also try that unplugging thing I mentioned. I know it sounds lame but it might work,
I has worked for me in the past when an otherwise normal enclosure stopped working.

Also, I had a look at the Rosewill manual - and it mentions that the enclosure decides what interface to use based on which cable (USB or FW) is plugged in when it is turned on. You don't happen to have the USB cable connected to the enclosure while you are using the FW connection do you?

shreddog · Jan 18, 2005, 08:04 PM

Thanks! I'll give it a try.

shreddog · Jan 20, 2005, 08:10 PM

Justed wanted to thank Tee for the advice. Setting the jumper to "Master" worked perfectly!

Tee · Jan 20, 2005, 09:07 PM

Originally posted by shreddog:
Justed wanted to thank Tee for the advice. Setting the jumper to "Master" worked perfectly!

I'm so glad the enclosure is working for you!

I'm considering getting one now...

shreddog · Jan 21, 2005, 12:14 PM

It looks really nice. If you have a G5, even better! Matches the new look really well.

MikeD · Jul 25, 2005, 01:48 AM

Also, I found this on new egg reviews that may help this problem as well. It seems like you can update the firmware on the oxford chips which may resolve some firewire issues as well...

Mike