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jinubob81 · Jan 24, 2004, 01:19 AM

ibook G4

Sandisk Cruzer mini 256MB USB memory stick.

There were no problems with the stick: worked on a PowerPC G4, worked on a HP pavilion, worked on countless other computers. All but my ibook G4 which my girlfriend was trying to transfer some illustrator files onto (so she could work on them on my comp).

I plugged the memory stick into the usb port (the other port was being used for an optical mouse, which worked just fine), and NOTHING happened. I tried the mouse with the other port, and that worked fine. I have used both usb ports simultaneously in the past with no problems at all. The drive didnt mount (like it did on the PowerPC), the system profiler didnt even show anything being there. I mean, for gods sake, the HP saw it right away! But nothing with the ibook!

The usb memory stick is rated to be perfectly compatible with OSX and up (as in, panther). No drivers are necessary. Nothing.

tr suggested that i might try using the disk utility to see if it'll mount it. I havent had a chance to try that. But by all rights, it should have just automatically mounted as soon as it was plugged in. It's USB!

frustrating.

can anyone offer some insight on this? I'm stumped.

d4nth3m4n · Jan 24, 2004, 05:52 AM

you missing a driver or something?

might try the site for the reader and see what kinda panther support they have.

what os was the g4 running?

cryon · Jan 24, 2004, 08:28 AM

I got some problems with my USB memory too. A Kingston DataTraveler 2.0, first time i tried it in my new iBook g4 everything worked perfect. but when i removed it and tried again, nothing happened. It only work the first time i plugg it in after a reboot.... really annoying! I'm too looking for some information about this problem.

Arkham_c · Jan 24, 2004, 09:29 AM

You do know you should unmount before removing it, right?

amazing · Jan 24, 2004, 10:20 AM

The only suggestion I can think of is to try it on a powered hub. Who knows?

ravenfan · Jan 24, 2004, 04:53 PM

I have a Sandisk Cruser SD card reader that I use to transfer photos to my 800 iceBook. I'm not sure if it's the same thing you have, though. It looks like this:

I did have major problems with a Dazzle brand SD/MMC reader, though. It would not unmount at all on my iBook (and wound up ruining a MMC crd, too).

None of this helps you, but I thought I'd let you know that my Cruser is working fine.

Good luck.

MartiNZ · Jan 24, 2004, 11:58 PM

I haven't had problems with such USB 'drives' on my iBook, but I have found that they work far slower than on PCs - about the copying speed of a CD, i.e. increasing in .5MB blocks. Is that the way it is for all of them or is it brand-specific?

Ambassadeur · Jan 25, 2004, 05:19 AM

Originally posted by MartiNZ:
I haven't had problems with such USB 'drives' on my iBook, but I have found that they work far slower than on PCs - about the copying speed of a CD, i.e. increasing in .5MB blocks. Is that the way it is for all of them or is it brand-specific?

How fast are the ones you refer to on a PC? AFAIK, USB (USB 1.x at that) sticks were a pain in the ass on macs (when formatted for PCs) until 10.3 came out. My JetFlash was terribly slow under 10.2 - and I mean slow, i.e. 0.1 MB increments - and after updating to 10.3 it was as zippy as to be expected under USB 1.x

chabig · Jan 25, 2004, 10:52 AM

My Sandisk Cruzer 256MB works great with Panther. I would guess a simple restart will resolve your issues.

Chris

tr · Jan 27, 2004, 08:03 AM

Originally posted by chabig:
My Sandisk Cruzer 256MB works great with Panther. I would guess a simple restart will resolve your issues.

Chris

hmmm...yeah, maybe a restart, along with a PRAM zap.

this is strange, because it worked fine on another mac, and a PC.

another thing that can be checked, beside the disk utility thing, is to plug it in, and check Apple System Profiler, and see if it shows up connected to the USB ports.

and Arkham_c brings a up a good tip: if it does mount, make sure you trash it before you physically unplug the drive.

tr

jinubob81 · Jan 28, 2004, 01:27 AM

ohh.. uhh...

well, i tried it again tonight. worked like a charm.

...

so...
uh...

thanks for all the input!

haaaaa....

illustrator is annoying! Whatever happened to cross-version compatibility?!

but that's a different post.

thanks!

mike one · Jan 28, 2004, 03:56 PM

Originally posted by jinubob81:

can anyone offer some insight on this? I'm stumped.

log out and log in, then try it.
if that doesn't work
restart and try it.

no i'm not joking.
those two suggestions have solved countless similar usb and firewire 'problems' in my experience.