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Boot camp / Firewire 800 / Hard Crashing / Windows

I have a brand new (bought 2 days ago) MacBook Pro 17. 10.5.6 with all updates applied. Using bootcamp assistant, I split the drive into 2 equal partitions and installed Windows XP, Service Pack 3, all current Windows updates applied (Partition formatted as NTFS). In setting up the back up, I'm having trouble with backup programs crashing while backing up to external hard drives (again, formatted as NTFS). The backups will be plugging along and then the system will just freeze completely, no keyboard, no mouse function and the only way to recover is to power off and restart. I've tried 2 different external drives (both LaCie), 2 different firewire 800 cables, 2 different backup programs (Norton Ghost 14 and SecondCopy). If I connect the same drives using USB cables, all works fine, albeit slower than firewire 800. I've even re-formatted both external drives as NTFS directly from Windows running in boot camp.

The same Firewire 800 cables are used to connect to external Mac volumes while backing up the Mac partition via TimeMachine and they work fine

Any ideas?

Thanks!

MacBook Pro, 2.93ghz, 320gb, 4gb, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Apr 11, 2009 9:09 AM

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Dec 13, 2017 12:47 AM in response to mcguirek

I, too, have a problem with a LaCie external hdd. The only reason for buying this was the firewire800 connection, and now it seems it won't work at all.

I've used the firewire 800 connection with a SanDisk CompactFlash reader without any kind of problems, so these problems came as a big surprise.

Win7 ultimate on a mid 2009 mbp 13".
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Apr 11, 2009 2:20 PM in response to mcguirek

i am having a simliar issue with brand new macbook pro 17 unibody with windows vista 32 bit hard freezing in bootcamp - here is a link to a prior forum topic that has been since 'closed' - i called apple on this but nobody can give me an answer as to why the laptop locks up (only when i use the trackpad) - everything is updated - all software (bootcamp, windows, drivers, etc)

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8251373#8251373
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Jun 7, 2009 4:01 AM in response to mcguirek

I too have a problem with Firewire 800 on my Macbook Pro 17" Unibody. I, however, need to use an audio device using Firewire. The device is Presonus Firebox. As soon as I insert the cable XP freezes and power button is the only way out. If I have the cable plugged in upon XP boot, it freezes in the middle of the process, during the Win logo animation screen.

I wonder if there is any patch from MS or Apple for fix this problem.
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Jul 11, 2009 1:02 AM in response to mcguirek

I initially bought a 13.3" Macbook 2.4 only to realize it didn't have FW.

So I sold it after owning it for 5 months and lost $1000 on it.

Just bought a MacBook Pro 15" 2.4 with FW800.

Installed Win XP Pro SP2 to run my Presonus Firepods. Installed the 2.46 driver and the driver sees the Firepods (after a few minutes) but the sync light stays red which means they aren't syncing up (leaving them useless).

So I installed the Microsoft hotfix KB885222 (which I'm sure SP3 has and explains why you guys are having the freezing problem)..... now when I turn my Firepod(s) on, they sync light goes blue, but my whole computer freezes -- same as you guys.

I've tried disabling the bootcamp Wifi, formatting to FAT32, old Firepod drivers, disabling firewalls and all that stuff too.... nothing helps.

So now that I've spent an extra $2000 to use my Firepods with XP on my Macbook(s), I'm still unable to successfully get this system to work. I'm ****** off.

I can't wait till someone figures this out. Until then, I'm not so sure that I'm a fan of Apple anymore....
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Jul 30, 2009 10:47 AM in response to Gregwor

I'm in Italy and I have the same problem: Windows Xp freezes when I plug in a Firewire device (Mini dv). I brought Mac 15 day ago hoping to have two coputers in one and less problems but... I'm going crazy with all the problems I get with Bootcamp. It is a lie you can have both systems on the same machine!!!
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Sep 23, 2009 2:36 PM in response to mcguirek

I have the SAME problem here, but a variant..

The Firewire 400 port on my Macbook Pro doesn't works on Windows XP running under Boot Camp, it works flawlessly on Mac Os, but windows just doesn't...

I recently bought an Audio Interface (Edirol FA 66) which i actually need to use in both operating systems and i've tried so far EVERYTHING that i've been reading on forums and it appears that we're all FuC@#3# Up...

Same as everyone, the driver installed properly, everything went well, but i just can't set the interface as my main audio device, it doesn't recognizes Asio, nor Direct Sound or anything... but windows tells me "The device is working properly"

Damm i never had trouble before with my Macbook pro, but know is starting to be a pain with this Firewire trouble that no one has found a solution yet.
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Sep 24, 2009 10:27 PM in response to OXXO

Fix option 1:

I've installed the unibrain drivers as they offer full support in windows. I've had quirks with the default drivers and the unibrain ones allow full speed and I've never had a problem.

http://www.unibrain.com/download/thanks.asp

Use only the free version. I hope this solves your problems.
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Oct 20, 2009 3:10 PM in response to mcguirek

Yea, same problem... what a bunch of crappola! Shoulda kept my old macbook pro.
I also had a struggle to get my expressport eSata card working, I can only use windows xp 32 bit...
Hope they fix this soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Either presonus or Apple... you'd think with 34 billion dollars they could at least please a few customers
Make something happen!
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Boot camp / Firewire 800 / Hard Crashing / Windows

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