[Mojo]

I installed a Western Digital WD 2500 Caviar IDE drive into an IOGEAR 3.5" Combo Enclosure.

I can install an OS and copy files to the drive. But I cannot boot from the drive, period. The screen is blank after a restart.

I spent some time experimenting with jumper settings and nothing changed.

I then tried installing the drive into another enclosure I have. The drive booted immediately with no jumper installed ("Single" mode.)

So apparently the issue is with the IOGEAR enclosure. Does anybody have experience with IOGEAR enclosures or problems like this one? I have e-mailed IOGEAR tech support but will have to wait until Monday for a reply...

[Mojo]

Thanks to a response at Techsurvivors.net I was provided with several links that confirm that IOGEAR Combo enclosures are not bootable when using OS X.

IOGEAR features an OS X logo alongside each product and states that their enclosures are compatible with Macs. Unfortunately, there is no mention anywhere that said enclosures are not bootable. One would think that this information might be important to some Mac users...

[Mojo]

Just an update... IOGEAR graciously swaped my non-bootable enclosure for a new-generation model that does boot. IOGEAR usually does not acccept returns or exchanges of reburbished units. (Defective units are repaired or replaced.) But I believe that I persuaded the tech support representative that Firewire drives are typically bootable and that most enclosure specs don't even address the capability because it is so common. (At least I didn't come across the issue and I looked at quite a few enclosures before selecting IOGEAR.)

The rep conceeded that IOGEAR bore some responsibility for the problem by prominently featuring an OS X logo confirming compatibility but does not provide details anywhere on their web site regarding whether their enclosures are bootable. BTW, the IOGEAR enclosures in question won't boot regardless of the operating system used.

I'm happy with the resolution of my problem. This is an example of what can be accomplished when a tech support person is treated with respect and a company cares about its reputation for customer satisfaction.