[FrankLW]

Hi all, my iMac g3 400 Mhz seems not to recognise FireWire. My iPod only charges when it's connected through FireWire. When I use the terrible slow usb 1.1, it works fine. Any way to fix this problem? Or can I update in any way my usb to 2.0?

[shifuimam]

What model iPod do you have?

Since the iPod Video (fifth generation) line, the iPod has not supported syncing via FireWire.

[FrankLW]

Yeah, I have the the iPod Classic, sixth generation.No way to make this work?

[Spheric Harlot]

Edit: You said the iPod you have ONLY charges through Firewire. This was the case up until the 3G and 1st-gen iPod mini.

The whole write-up below is completely irrelevant to your situation (except the bit about not being upgradeable to USB 2.0), because your iPod will ONLY work through USB - 2.0.

Duh. Wasted effort. I'll let it stand for reference to future forum searches:



It's fairly likely that the iMac's Firewire port is shot. My iMac had the port fry TWICE (didn't bother fixing it the second time, as it requires a main logic board replacement).

Do other Firewire devices work?

Restart the machine in verbose mode (hold down the "v" key on startup).

Watch carefully what it says - near the start of the boot sequence, it will mention a Firewire chipset.

If it says "broken Firewire Phy" at the end of a line, then the chipset itself is fried, and there is nothing you can do (including upgrading to USB 2.0, which is impossible).

If it doesn't say that, then it's possible you might resuscitate it by resetting the NV-RAM.

To do this, restart the box and hold down Cmd-Opt-O-F all at the same time to boot it into Open Firmware. This is the bare-bones hardware level interaction screen, so don't be alarmed if all you see is a blank screen with some nondescript text.

now type

reset-nvram
set-defaults
reset-all

EXACTLY as written, separating each line by hitting return.

This will reset all your ports.

[CreepDogg]

He said he's got an iPod classic (6th gen). FrankLW - is this a new iPod?

It should have never worked through FireWire - that iPod does not support FireWire in any way (including, I think, charging with the latest 120GB model).

It will sync and charge through your USB 1.1 port, but will be quite slow in syncing.

If you want faster syncing, unfortunately your only options are to get a newer Mac with USB 2.0, or to get an older iPod (4G, mini) that still supports FireWire. Good luck.

[Spheric Harlot]

I'm fairly certain that a couple of newer iPod models won't charge via 1.1, but I could be wrong.