john cummin1

Q: pb g3 firewire not working with dvd writers but ok with firewire hd

Hello,

I plugged in and tried to use a DVD writer on my PowerBook with the firewire cable in the wrong way round in the writer a while ago. Crashed the computer then seemingly entirely broke the firewire on the PB and the writer. I tried a firewire HD attached to the PB, didn't work. I tried the DVD writer with another computer (G3 iMac), didn't work.

I then found out about turning off the PB for 30 minutes or so to let the firewire sort itself out. I did this and was then able to use a firewire HD attached to my PB. The writer remained non-working. So at this point it seemed that the computer had been saved by the turning off for a while trick, but the DVD writer's firewire was broken (I was and am able to use it via USB but on these computers it's USB 1 so far too slow for DVD reading and writing).

I've bought a new (new-ish off ebay) DVD writer - LaCied D2 firewire and USB. It's apparently, just having got it today, in very good condition and according the seller nothing wrong with it. It doesn't work via firewire with my PB. And, it doesn't work via firewire with the other computer (G3 iMac).

By "doesn't work" for all the previous uses of it above, I mean Toast says no writer found -- the computer doesn't see it. And putting in an already written CD or DVD does not appear on the desktop. So there's an entire lack of communication between computer and writer via firewire. USB is OK on both computers. But way too slow.

What's particularly odd here to me is the second computer (iMac G3) failing to see the new DVD writer via firewire. It's as if (possibly?) any computer I tried the (apparently) broken DVD writer, also broke the firewire of the computer. But, only so far as DVD writers go?! As both computer are able to connect to two different external firewire HD's fine. Is it possible for (a) a computer's firewire to be broken slightly, in such a way to allow HD's to work fine, but not writers, and (b) a DVD writer, with assumed broken firewire, break the firewire of any computer it attaches to? All seems a bit unlikely to me, but that's what seems to have happened. Of course there's assumptions here and maybe some false ones.

Anyone have any suggestions as to what might have happened and how to be able to use a DVD writer via firewire?

Thanks.

500mhz firewire g3 powerbook

Posted on Feb 9, 2011 7:31 AM