Q: External iSight not working on iMac, works on Macbook despite same software

Hello, macboyme

Consider the following in any order you find relevant for your system:

(0) You write that you are using a 4pin to 8pin adapter. However, I think you mean 6pin to 9pin adapter.

External iSight is a Firewire device that uses a 6pin Firewire 400 connector. 

Newer Macs have only 9pin Firewire 800 connectors, so it is common to use 6pin to 9pin adapters similar to the one I normally use:

  http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Newer%20Technology/FIR1369AD/

The only 8 pin cables and adapters I could find were USB. They won't work on Firewire devices.

4pin Firewire is a mini connection that I have only seen in cameras. If you really are using a 4 and/or 8 pin cable, I suggest you try a different Firewire adapter method.

My suggestions below are based on using a 6pin to 9pin adapter like that mentioned above or cable like this one I have also successfully used:

  http://store.apple.com/us/product/TP320LL/A

(1) Test in another User Account on your iMac. Be sure to also consider all the other suggestions for external iSight from:

  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090

You do not say which of your Macs has only FW800 ports that require a Firewire adapter. To remove as many variables as possible, test the same cables and Firewire 400-800 adapter on both Macs if it is possible to do so. If you only use the adapter on one Mac, it is possible that the adapter is the cause of your trouble. If one of your Macs has only FW400 and the other has only FW800, test with a different adapter or use a 6pin-9pin cable to test both your Firewire iSight. Also, test another Firewire 400 device to eliminate the possibility that your problem is caused by one of your connections.

(2) For additional ideas on how to test external iSight, consider the additional suggestions here:

  http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html

Unless the software and connected peripherals are EXACTLY the same on both your iMac and your MacBook, be sure to consider possible hardware or software conflicts with something else installed in or connected to your iMac. A link to more info about conflicts is included in the "How to test..." page.

(3) If you can rule out both possible conflicts and connection problems in the iMac, the problem must be either in your iMac's user account or in the system software used to operate your external iSight.

You can rule out problems with the user account by testing in several different accounts.

If the problem is EXACTLY the same in any user account you test on your iMac, your system software is suspect. Backup all your important files, repair permissions, and apply the 10.6.4 Combo Update:

  http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1048

Follow the restart that completes the Combo Update with another permissions repair. Then test iSight again.

(4) Once your external iSight works correctly with your iMac's QuickTimeX, iChat, etc., it will work as well with Flash video websites as it does when you are running it from your MacBook.

EZ Jim



Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)

LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook  1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

macboyme wrote:
Hi EZ Jim,

Thank you for your reply: I can't wait to get home and troubleshoot using your suggestions. I hope I can switch my question to ANSWERED shortly thereafter...

To clarify, YES, I am connecting the External iSight using FireWire 800-400 Adapter. It is my iMac that had a FW800 port.

Thanks a million!
-macboyme

You're welcome, -macboyme.

Thanks for the clarification. Hopefully, you can find the problem without too much connection testing. However, if your troubleshooting indicates that the problem might be in connections, you may need to get creative.

If your MacBook has FW 800, too, you can test the cable/adaptor combination on both Macs, but if your MacBook is FW400 only, you will need to test your adapter some other way. Try connecting another FW400 device connected to your iMac via your iSight's cable/adapter. Alternatively, try your Firewire iSight using its cable/adapter on somebody else's FW800 Mac to be sure it works somewhere. If it doesn't work anywhere, get a different adapter or try a 6pin to 9pin Firewire cable.

We will watch for your status update.

Cheers,
EZ Jim



Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)

LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook  1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

macboyme wrote:
Bad news:... I am going to mark this issue as SOLVED, however... Thanks REGARDLESS, JIM!!!

You're welcome.

Thanks for letting us know.

EZ Jim



Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz w/Mac OS X (10.6.4)  MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)

LED Cinema Display  G4 PowerBook  1.67GHz (10.4.11)  iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9)  External iSight

It won't help... but i have the same problem. Changed my Mac Mini 2006 for a Mac Mini 2009 and my isight does not work anymore. I tried with an FW800->FW400 adapter and with the FW400 hub of the Lacie Mini Companion... When i plug the iSight, the green light becomes green for 2 or 3 second and the shuts down with a "bzzzrrr" noise.

Tried all the tricks given on this post ... with no success !

I'll check by a friend on his old macbook if my iSight is still functionnal...

I'll keep you posted.

macboyme wrote:
Bad news:... I am going to mark this issue as SOLVED, however because I currently made a posting in another forum to try and connect a camcorder to my iMac...

I want a high quality webcam for Adobe Flash Plugin webcamming and have been EXTREMELY disappointed with what's available. In me purchasing an external iSight lately, I've just been skirting my real issue, esp. since the iSight doesn't work on my main Mac. LOL

Thanks REGARDLESS, JIM!!!

Thanks for letting us know. I am uncertain how many options you have considered that make you "EXTREMELY disappointed with what's available."

Other camera choices: http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2018211

If you want the highest quality video, a _high-quality compatible camcorder_ will give the best picture. However, if you do not already have one, I can understand not wanting to spend about $1,000 US just for web camera images. (The low-priced camcorders or camcorder/webcam/still cams that sell for as much as a few hundred US$ will give no better images than a good quality UVC webcam, which usually sell for about a hundred US$.)





Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.4); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod touch 4.1

Well, my firewire iSight seems to be dead... It's not working anymore and encounters the same issue on an old iMac G5 running Tiger... even if the system prefs detects it under firewire devices...

Gavroche1973 wrote:
Well, my firewire iSight seems to be dead... It's not working anymore and encounters the same issue on an old iMac G5 running Tiger... even if the system prefs detects it under firewire devices...

(1) If you want to try to repair your external iSight and have no access to local Apple Service:

  http://www.apple.com/support/isight/service/

(2) If you still need a webcam but your external iSight is not repairable or if repairs are too costly:

  http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/




Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.4)
MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)
iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod touch 4.1