How to test FireWire 800 port

Insert your Install DVD #1, reboot and hold down the d key to run the hardware diagnostics.

Try a different FW800 drive or try the drive on a different computer. Does the drive work with a 800-->400 cable?

hi,

1. sorry for my bad english 😉

2. had a similar problem: both ports (800 + 400) worked fine until - I think problem started at this point - I recorded some dv-material from my camera via fw 400 to external hd connected to fw 800

from next system start on the external fw 800 hd was not mounted anymore.

just solved the problem by resetting MacBook Pro System Management Controller (SMC):

MacBook, MacBook Pro

- If the computer is on, turn it off.
- Disconnect the AC Adapter and remove the computer's battery.
- Press and hold down the power button for 5 seconds and then release the button.
- Reconnect the battery and AC Adapter.
- Press the Power button to restart the computer.

hope this helps...
greets
ccp

G4 · G5 · MBP C2D Mac OS X (10.4.9)

hi NutsySquirrel,

By the way, your English is just fine - better than
many native English-speakers I know!

Danke!

==>> thanks a lot 😉

& good luck
ccp

G4 · G5 · MBP C2D · Mac OS X (10.4.9)

I have had 2 new logic boards so far!! In my case Apple HQ told the local service:-

"If you connect a bus powered firewire device (Firelite) in my case. You MUST NOT connect any other firewire drive EVEN IF POWERED in either the 800 or the 400 port"

(I had a MyBook500 and a Firelite plugged in to backup movie files - worked fine on a Powerbook)

I find this a great pain - can anyone else confirm this advice?

Does Apple ever answer these forum questions - I see no way to talk to them after 90 days.

What is the legal position re returning a Mac for cash refund? I bought 7 Apples over the years - this one is different - hot/white screen of death etc all experienced my me!!

(New Intel MacBook Pro 17" replacing a [cracked screen] G4 Powerbook that was always rock solid)

MacBookPro 17" Mac OS X (10.4.9)

hi fgm14,

"If you connect a bus powered firewire device
(Firelite) in my case. You MUST NOT connect any other
firewire drive EVEN IF POWERED in either the 800 or
the 400 port"

I found this info too. I think it was the reason for "killing" the 800 port temporarily (see my post above).
In fact both, hd and camera were self-powered during capturing. In my Case there is one special aspect which MAY have caused the port-killing: I think - I'm not sure - that I disconnected the camera's power plug after capturing but let the camera-fw-400-port connected. Maybe the mbp thought (so far it is able to do? 😉 from now on the fw-400-unit is to be bus powered.

At the moment I solved it this way:
- external hd connected to the 800 port of the mbp c2d
- camera connected to 400 port of the external hd

So far it works: capturing dv-material with final cut pro to the external hd.

I find this a great pain - can anyone else confirm
this advice?

In fact it IS a great pain having 2 ports one cannot use simultanously without paying a lot of attention on how the parts are powered. Is this apple-like? I think we have to consider: it is - as the myth of apple products reliability is only a myth! I had 2 logic boards to be replaced (G4, G5; in both cases one of the two processors didn't work right from the start), three 23'' acd's were returned because low color and lightning quality before I bought a even cheaper eizo-model.
I love the apple hard- and software-designs and maybe on windows its much more trouble with the system, but is it satisfying enough?

Does Apple ever answer these forum questions - I see
no way to talk to them after 90 days.

My experience: the only way is to buy an apple care protection plan to reduce your efforts and costs for a time. Normally phone support ends up in "Please contact your local apple service provider."

Good luck
ccp

G4 · G5 · MBP C2D Mac OS X (10.4.9)

My "work around" is to buy a Belkin firewire 400 (2 port) Express card - it is on order.

I suppose this will draw power from a different circuit and bus power my Firelite while I plug the MyBook into the Apple's own 800 port.

I can self power the Firelite when at home but I may forget and pull the plug - then oops and a new logic board (again again). Has anyone seen Apple instructions to NOT plug in a second Firewire device while one is being bus powered? - I want to use a Movie camera AND a bus powered Firelite when on the road - anyone done that????

I dare not plug a Firelite in with bus power - The MacBook Pro has seen no use yet since purchase!!!

Has anyone any experience with one or more Firelites? I often bus powered 2 of them on my PowerBook

MacBookPro 17" Mac OS X (10.4.9)

I bought a Belkin Express card FW400 so I can plug more than one FW device into my MacBookPro without blowing the motherboard for the 3rd time.

But the saga continues. It works but - with just the Express card plugged in on its own - or with a FW drive plugged into it - the computer will not wake from sleep.

So what comes next? A Dell?!?

I too, have had the FW 800 port die. My external HD still works on the USB and FW 400 ports, and on the FW 800 ports on two other machines, so the drive is OK. But the FW 800 port on my MBP will no longer mount the drive.

I've kept up with security updates, rebooted, fixed permissions, zapped the PRAM, run the extended Apple Hardware test, and still the FW 800 port seems dead.

Suggestions?

Now the FW800 port is working again. I have no idea what changed. The only thing that happened was that I let the computer sleep overnight. Hardware voodoo?