Q: can i connect a thunderbold harddrive to either usb 2 or fw 800 via any adaptor?

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Philipp69

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Q: can i connect a thunderbold harddrive to either usb 2 or fw 800 via any adaptor?

I have a space issue on my 1TB internal HDD and I am not ready yet to get a new iMac.

Since I would like to invest step by step I am considering to buy an external thunderbold HDD right now.

Is there any adapter out there to connect such a disc either to my existing FW 800 or USB 2.0 ports? All Thunderbold HDDs I found don't have usb 2 or 3 ports.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.4), 21"

Posted on Jan 30, 2013 3:08 PM

I have this question too

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Kappy

Level 10 (271,096 points)

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A:

Thunderbolt cables have the same plug at both ends of a male to male cable. I don't know if there is a cable that uses male to female. Firewire cables usually have male to male on both ends. The cable I have is male to male. The computers all have female connectors as will external drive boxes. Same for Firewire. I think you're OK, but it never hurts to call and find out for sure.

Posted on Jan 30, 2013 3:33 PM

Q: can i connect a thunderbold harddrive to either usb 2 or fw 800 via any adaptor?

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by Kappy,Helpful

Kappy Jan 30, 2013 3:11 PM in response to Philipp69
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Jan 30, 2013 3:11 PM in response to Philipp69

There is an Apple Thunderbolt to FireWire Adapter adaptor you can obtain from Apple.
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by Philipp69,

Philipp69 Jan 30, 2013 3:18 PM in response to Kappy
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Jan 30, 2013 3:18 PM in response to Kappy

HI Kappy ,

thanks for the reply, I found that adapter you mentioned. I need to call the hotline on this one because the describtion says it converts a thunderbold port into a firewire 800 port. I hope it also works vice versa ...
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by Kappy,Helpful

Kappy Jan 30, 2013 3:20 PM in response to Philipp69
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Jan 30, 2013 3:20 PM in response to Philipp69

It should be two-way or it wouldn't be of much use.
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by Philipp69,

Philipp69 Jan 30, 2013 3:26 PM in response to Kappy
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Jan 30, 2013 3:26 PM in response to Kappy

I am not sure if that works since this adapter needs to go into my FW 800 port on the iMac, and the thunderbold cable from the HDD needs to go into the thunderbold part of that adapter. I never actually saw a TB plug in real life but are there actually "male" and "female" ends on those cables? I hope you know what I mean?
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by Philipp69,

Philipp69 Jan 30, 2013 11:40 PM in response to Kappy
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Jan 30, 2013 11:40 PM in response to Kappy

Hello Kappy,

took a moment but I think I got it now. The adapter goes into the external Hdd and then I have the needed Fw800 plug going into the iMac, since the cable got to be two-way it just has to work.
Thanks
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by Edwartz,

Edwartz Apr 30, 2013 12:16 AM in response to Philipp69
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Apr 30, 2013 12:16 AM in response to Philipp69

Well, did it work??
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by Philipp69,

Philipp69 Apr 30, 2013 2:33 AM in response to Edwartz
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Apr 30, 2013 2:33 AM in response to Edwartz

.... no it did not

But I choose a different approach to my problem. I found an external drive with fw800 (for my present Mac) and usb 3.0.( for my next Mac). So that is my compromise.

I got a good deal for a LaCie d2 3TB.
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by Edwartz,

Edwartz Apr 30, 2013 2:47 AM in response to Philipp69
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Apr 30, 2013 2:47 AM in response to Philipp69

To bad.. It would've been great if it had been working.. You haven't found any drives with fw800 as well as thunderbolt?
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by Philipp69,

Philipp69 Apr 30, 2013 3:42 AM in response to Edwartz
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Apr 30, 2013 3:42 AM in response to Edwartz

nope, I wish I had, but since my drive is only for storage of Aperture and iPhoto it is fast enough
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Accepted Answer · Jan 30, 2013 3:33 PM

Kappy

Level 10 (271,096 points)

Desktops

Jan 30, 2013 3:33 PM in response to Philipp69

Thunderbolt cables have the same plug at both ends of a male to male cable. I don't know if there is a cable that uses male to female. Firewire cables usually have male to male on both ends. The cable I have is male to male. The computers all have female connectors as will external drive boxes. Same for Firewire. I think you're OK, but it never hurts to call and find out for sure.

HT201994: iMac (Late 2009) and iMac (Mid 2010): External features, ports, and connectors

Q: can i connect a thunderbold harddrive to either usb 2 or fw 800 via any adaptor?

All replies

Helpful answers

by Kappy,Helpful

by Philipp69,

by Kappy,Helpful

by Philipp69,

by Kappy,Solvedanswer

by Philipp69,

by Edwartz,

by Philipp69,

by Edwartz,

by Philipp69,

HT201994: iMac (Late 2009) and iMac (Mid 2010): External features, ports, and connectors

Q: can i connect a thunderbold harddrive to either usb 2 or fw 800 via any adaptor?

All replies Helpful answers

by Kappy,★Helpful

by Philipp69,

by Kappy,★Helpful

by Philipp69,

by Kappy,Solvedanswer

by Philipp69,

by Edwartz,

by Philipp69,

by Edwartz,

by Philipp69,

All replies

Helpful answers

by Kappy,Helpful

by Kappy,Helpful