'06 Mini-Which would be the best option to figure how my FW400 port & Airport issues?

[OverSpun]

I have an early '06 Mini that worked well since I also switched over to ethernet because it was slightly faster until I realized that the airport will not connect to my 4th generation (latest version) and it won't take the correct passwords since I cleared it on the mini but I couldnt figure it if its something simple that I cant understand it, yet.


Next- I had kept external drives connected to my Mini since day 1 for backups and eventually time machine but it won't boot up the externals and I first bought another external at the store to test it if maybe the exteral failed, but it was no chance. Now I run the mac mini on USB 2.0 now, too. Same thing about the airport since I couldnt figure it.


I'm also planning to replace my DVD-RW optical until after I open up the mini to make sure there isnt just a bunch dust in it or anything or maybe one of those laser cleaner discs unless anyone has any ideas. I honestly didn't use the dvd optical that often until I needed to burn a dvd for data, and thats a bit frustrating. I made the mistake by not taking time to drop off my mini before applecare ran when I reminded myself that I missed that chance more than a year when it ended.

Thanks!

 

[paulrbeers]

I have an early '06 Mini that worked well since I also switched over to ethernet because it was slightly faster until I realized that the airport will not connect to my 4th generation (latest version) and it won't take the correct passwords since I cleared it on the mini but I couldnt figure it if its something simple that I cant understand it, yet.

Your 4th generation what? Aiport? Are you saying you forgot the password to the wifi of the Airport therefore you can not connect to it? Or is it that the stored password for your wifi is wrong, and you can't figure out how to change it?

Next- I had kept external drives connected to my Mini since day 1 for backups and eventually time machine but it won't boot up the externals and I first bought another external at the store to test it if maybe the exteral failed, but it was no chance. Now I run the mac mini on USB 2.0 now, too. Same thing about the airport since I couldnt figure it.

When you say "it won't boot up the externals", you don't actually mean you are trying to boot from the externals, but rather either A. the drive is on but it is not showing up within OSX or B. You aren't hearing the drives spin up (i.e. they aren't booting) so they aren't showing in OSX.

Need some clarification before we can help you.... Seems like there's a lot of missing information....

 

[OverSpun]

Your 4th generation what? Aiport? Are you saying you forgot the password to the wifi of the Airport therefore you can not connect to it? Or is it that the stored password for your wifi is wrong, and you can't figure out how to change it?

Well- I have a unibody macbook pro, an ipad 2, and my iphone and they connect to my Airport Gen. 3 (Version 7.6) Sorry with the mistake that its the one previous model. Given the info that all devices connect with the proper passwords for the Airport extreme base. The reason is that somehow the Mac Mini will not connect to the AEBS. It says this-

However- I removed the network and cleared the passwords, but it didnt change anything. Its fairly odd since many more current computers and devices that havent had a single issue but this old mac mini. I can use ethernet for internet without a single issue, so its strange to reset the wireless.

When you say "it won't boot up the externals", you don't actually mean you are trying to boot from the externals, but rather either A. the drive is on but it is not showing up within OSX or B. You aren't hearing the drives spin up (i.e. they aren't booting) so they aren't showing in OSX.

Need some clarification before we can help you.... Seems like there's a lot of missing information....

Yes- The external firewire will not load at all after trying 3 different ones that work on my laptop but they wont load in the mac mini. I eventually gave up and started using the USB 2.0 port on the back of my external drive for that computer since thats the only option now.

However- The Mac Mini seems to be working properly with everything besides the external drive loading issues and the airport card issues and of course the combo optical that doesnt work at all.


The Mac Mini is running- OSX 10.6.8 1.66Ghz @ 2gb Ram. I basically just use this old machine as a little media center on a tv that would be helpful if it actually worked properly still.