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powerduck · Sep 7, 2003, 06:16 PM

Out of the blue, my pismo quit detecting any firewire devices. I tried various combinations of unplugging/replugging, resetting vram + pram without any success. The ports are still powered (will charge ipod) but otherwise quite dead. What's going on?

stevesnj · Sep 7, 2003, 10:12 PM

Sounds like a BUS scan issue....try unplugging the PB and any other device and remove the battery and the CD module then restart it without the battery or CD module then try it again. I did this when my USB went nuts and this seemed to work for some reason. This is unusual for a Pismo's FW to just up and die....good luck.

chabig · Sep 7, 2003, 10:45 PM

If you're running OS 9, make sure the Firewire extensions are there. In OS X I have no idea what could be causing that problem.

Chris

powerduck · Sep 9, 2003, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the replies. Nothing helped. I finally called Apple. They asked me to send the PB in without much ado and will repair it under Apple Care. So I assume it's some sort of a known hardware failure.

stevesnj · Sep 9, 2003, 02:14 PM

Post back...this is unusual for a Pismo so it's interesting what they find out...hope it works out...

bmhome1 · Sep 9, 2003, 03:49 PM

Unfortunately, blown firewire ports in Macs, including Pismos, is a disturbing trend for too many owners as reported and thoroughly discussed in a thread at MacinTouch.com several months ago, particularly involving bus-powered firewire devices. Also, an in-depth white paper at WeibeTech's web site provides more information and solutions about the issue.

israces · Sep 9, 2003, 03:51 PM

Links?

rjt1000 · Sep 9, 2003, 03:54 PM

Hi,

Good luck getting your Pismo repaired.

Not sure this has anything to do with your problem, but thought this would be a good place to mention that it is possible to damage your firewire ports/ bus if you do not unmount firewire drives before unplugging.

Just drag em to the trash, or use control-E in OSX /9 or control-Y in OS 9. Then you can safely unplug without fear of damage.

Best wishes,

Rich (Pismo G3 500)

stevesnj · Sep 9, 2003, 05:17 PM

Unfortunately, blown firewire ports in Macs, including Pismos, is a disturbing trend for too many owners as reported and thoroughly discussed [/B]

True but it is usually due to user error as posted below by rjt1000.and spontaneous breakage seems to be less of a happening.

bmhome1 · Sep 9, 2003, 10:29 PM

The early design firewire ports self-destructing are a design flaw in that bus power was never intended to endure the constant surges that emanate from plugging in devices like iPods. Apple also was remiss in beefing up firewire ports to handle those power draws until later model Macs. Additionally, no one ever realized how easy it is to plug in firewire backwards with spreading crimp style socket designs. Add to the mix cheap and poorly made firewire cables. Three or more Macs in a lab have been destroyed with a single defective cable. Its all in the site mentioned above. Its WORTH the read.

powerduck · Sep 18, 2003, 12:05 PM

Got my powerbook back from repair. I assume it must have been the self-destructing port phenomenon. I certainly plugged/unplugged numerous times without even thinking that a plug on a mac might not be designed for just that. Anyway, the logic board (part 661-2286) was replaced and firewire is back to normal. Thanks for all the replies.

madra · Sep 20, 2003, 07:40 AM

any technology that can blow up due to an easily made oversight [ie. unplugging a firewire device and forgetting to unmount it first] is, IMHO bad technology.

apple should design hardware to be used by humans, not robots.