Firmtek eSATA card installs correctly, but doesn't see Vantec Enclosure

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merkman2001 Author

Level 1

10 points

Firmtek eSATA card installs correctly, but doesn't see Vantec Enclosure

So obviously I bought the new Firmtek 2SM2-E eSATA video card to work with my MacBook Pro and Vantec eSATA / USB 2.0 enclosure. It's a 500GB Seagate eSATA drive that I've formatted as FAT32. The drive works great via USB 2.0 connection in both Windows and OS X, but the eSATA part has me stumped.

RTM, installed the drivers under OS X first, and after connecting the card under XP. Used the drivers from the correct folders on the disc for each, and both show the correct information and look fine. But the "light" on the Firmtek card has NEVER lit up, and though I've double and triple-checked the eSATA cable that came with the Vantec enclosure, I'm SURE I've connected it correctly. The power for the Vantec is plugged in, and the light on the DRIVE ENCLOSURE is on... but nothing from the Firmtek and the drive does NOT show up.

Looking in Windows, I went to Drive Manager. I couldn't see the drive partition in here, so I knew something was amiss. When I went to click on Removable Drives, I got an error and a red checkbox. It mentioned removable devices might be disabled, and when I went to services that was the case. I set it to automatic, started the service, and rebooted... no change.

In OS X, all I really know to do is look at the new icon at the top of the page. It's there, the correct info shows and the "Power off card" option is there. So it appears to be installed correctly, but again... no luck from the drive.

Maybe the cable that came with the Vantec enclosure is bad? It's all I can come It plugs in solid on both ends... so I can't figure out WHAT the heck is wrong.

Thoughts? Suggestions? There is NO info on FirmTek's site yet, so I guess I'll copy and paste this to them.

15" 2.0GHz MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.4.6), Windows XP MCE

Posted on Jun 14, 2006 8:08 AM

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Answer 1

krypttic

Level 2

480 points

Jun 14, 2006 2:25 PM in response to merkman2001

I'm having the exact same problem with my setup and I purchased the drive enclosure from FirmTek too.

The drive lights power on in the enclosure.
The e-SATA card is recognized in the menu bar.
The e-SATA card does not light up at all.

I think I'll call them and see if they can help...

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Answer 2

krypttic

Level 2

480 points

Jun 14, 2006 2:41 PM in response to krypttic

Just called and was told that the card will only light up when there is disk activity.

As for the hard drives not showing up on the desktop, I was told that their firmware engineer will be calling me

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Answer 3

krypttic

Level 2

480 points

Jun 14, 2006 3:23 PM in response to krypttic

Firmware guy called me back (rather quickly):

1) I didn't install the drivers included on the CD (I'm an idiot)

2) The drives are only recognized if the enclosure is powered on first and I insert the express card second. Othewise, a restart will recongnize the drives.

3) I was told that they are having problems with Seagate drives, which is unfortunate since I just bought two of them to fill this enclosure. I was told they are having mounting and speed issues and Seagate has been unable to give them a solution. It was recommended that I buy Hitachi drives (like the 7K500) instead of the Seagate ones. Unfortunately, I just purchased two 500 GB Seagate drives for $200 each and the Hitachi equivalents run at least $150 more for the pair.

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Answer 4

Jun 15, 2006 1:22 AM in response to merkman2001

Anyone know where to get a eSATA ExpressCard/34 and a eSATA/USB2.0/FireWire enclosure in the UK?

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Answer 5

Jun 17, 2006 8:11 PM in response to merkman2001

I have the Vantec enclosure and the firmtek esata card. I have a western digital 320 GB HD (model number KS ..... something)

they both work fine in osx. Haven't tried it with windows yet.

its gets a little wierd if i don't disconnect it properly. I have to restart the computer if i don't power off the card before I disconnect.

its way fast

sorry to hear you are having trouble. thats lame.

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Answer 6

Jul 5, 2006 6:03 PM in response to captainbrendo

I think I found the solution for the Seagate drives.

I purchased the following:
SeriTek 2SM2-E expresscard34
1 Seagate 7200.10 320GB SATA_II NCQ w/Perpendicular Rec. OEM
2 Seagate 7200.9 500GB SATA_II NCQ Retail Box
AZIO eSATA/USB 2.0 enclosure

I ran some tests and here is what I get:
320GB drive w/1.5Gb/s jumper on ------ works
320GB drive w/1.5Gb/s jumper off ----- doesn't work
500GB drive w/1.5Gb/s jumper on ------ works
500GB drive w/1.5Gb/s jumper off ----- doesn't work

My 320GB 7200.10 OEM drive came WITH the jumper installed.
My two 500GB 7200.9 Retail drives came with the jumpers OFF and none are included in the box. So I don't know where to get one, I am currently using the one that came on my 320GB drive on the 500GB. A regualar jumper might fit but it will be a tight squeeze getting it on there.

To limit your drive to 1.5Gb/s so they will work with the SeriTek, simply place the small jumper so that it covers the farthest 2 pins to the right (when looking at the back, power/sata connectors). There also should be a pic of the jumper installation on the sticker on the top of the drive.

Also, those worried about the performance hit from running your drives at the slower SATA-150 speed, DON'T.

This SeriTek express card has 2 eSATA ports and even if you RAID them to 2 eSATA II drives you will not even reach 150MB/sec combined for the two drives. Check out barefeat's review of this card w/ two SATAII drives http://www.barefeats.com/hard71.html

Notice even the new 10Krpm Raptors (I run 2xRAID-0 in my desktop) are still using the older SATA-150 b/c that is not the bottleneck, the drive is.

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Answer 7

Jul 14, 2006 8:17 AM in response to thefunkymunky

The FirmTek products are available in the UK from WTS (they're in Barking). Give them a call at: 020-8594-3336

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Answer 8

Jul 14, 2006 12:45 PM in response to merkman2001

When I used a Seagate 7200.9 neither my MBP nor my Compaq could see the drive. When I used an Hitachi Deskstar both computers saw the drive instantly. This looks pretty straightforward to me. Don't use a Seagate drive.

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Answer 9

Jul 14, 2006 6:22 PM in response to captainbrendo

You want to have the drive connected and on when you boot Windows. You will see a brief black screen that mentions the SATA controller and another that mentions the external hard drive. You may also see a screen with colored lines (not to worry). Then Windows will boot normally.

The drive can be used either for data or as a Windows boot drive. I partitioned with the Mac Disk Utility. Use the GUID option in the DU. The Windows volume will be FAT. Format it NTFS.

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Answer 10

Jul 15, 2006 5:47 PM in response to Colin Barnhorst

Actually Seagate drives work fine, they just need the SATA-150 jumper installed, read my post above, did you try the jumper option on the drive?
If you did put on the jumper and it still didn't work that would be good to know so please post your results.

MB Pro Mac OS X (10.4.7) Dual Boot w/MCE 2005

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Answer 11

Jul 15, 2006 8:05 PM in response to Altimeter88

Thank you for your post. I am set up now and am not going to pull the Seagate from another machine to try the jumper. It is academic for me now, but thank you anyway.

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Answer 12

Jul 15, 2006 8:27 PM in response to Colin Barnhorst

captinbrendo and others:

do your sata drives mount like firewire drives when waking your macbook pro from sleep? or must you reinsert the card?

also, have any of you used the sata express card with a 17" macbook pro, if so how did it work?

thanks!

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Answer 13

Jul 15, 2006 9:09 PM in response to Rick Faulkner

I haven't used firewire drives w/my MBP, but it still stays mounted if I wake it up. Unfortunately, my MBP is kinda slow to wake if I have anything plugged into the USB or express card slots. I have the 15, so can't help w/the 17!

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Answer 14

Jul 15, 2006 9:16 PM in response to Rick Faulkner

I don't use Firewire drives so I don't know quite what you mean, but the drive is autodetected when you turn on the MBP with the card inserted. You do not remove, start up, and then reinsert the card.

If the external enclosures power is off when you start up the MBP, powering on the enclosure will detect the drive. Removal and reinsertion of the card is not required.

It is to all intents and purposes handled as though it were an internal drive. If you dual boot with XP, it is also seen by XP as an internal drive.

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Answer 15

krypttic

Level 2

480 points

Jul 16, 2006 5:30 PM in response to Colin Barnhorst

I've got two Seagate 500 GB drives (7200.9) in my Firmtek eSATA enclosure and they work fine without the jumpers installed. I have to turn power on on the enclosure before I insert the eSATA card or the drives aren't recognized though.

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