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drumminskillz

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Apr 15, 2011
8
0
Hey, first post on here... I've connected multiple firewire devices to my mac pro, and none are working. Usb devices work fine. I'm assuming its a hardware issue. Does anyone have a solution I haven't thought of? And if it is a hardware issue, do I have to replace the entire logic board? Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Its an older computer, '06 I believe. I've daisy chained a couple I/O boxes for recording, but it worked fine for a couple years. And I have used both multiple devices and multiple cables. An ipod for example, works when plugged into the usb port, but not the firewire port.
 
I'll have to check that out. Not sure if it matters, but both the front port and the rear port aren't working.
 
I checked it out, and I have a few PCIe slots open. I believe I'll need a firewire 400 card though. Do you have any that you would recommend?
 
Before buying stuff, I'd recommend resetting PRAM etc. first and maybe install OS X on a spare drive to see if this is a software problem.
 
I've already tried resetting the PRAM and reinstalling OSX. My best guess is that its not a software issue.
 
I've already tried resetting the PRAM and reinstalling OSX. My best guess is that its not a software issue.

Did you try the Apple Hardware test (somewhere on the installation discs) as well?

If that shows that the FW module failed (which would explain that none of the ports work any more), then yes, a third party FW card will do the job.
 
I ran the hardware test a while ago and it did fail. I probably should have mentioned that from the beginning (oops).

I'm thinking of getting this: http://www.frys.com/product/5209047 simply because I'll be able to drive 20 minutes to get it rather than sitting around and waiting for it to be delivered. That one should work, right?
 
I installed that card, and its showing up on my computer, but the firewire devices still aren't being recognized.
 
I have no answers, but there are a couple of troubleshooting things I would try in order to get more information.

The first is to boot off the OS X DVD and see if disk utility can see the FW drives.

The second would be to remove all hardware that isn't absolutely necessary to boot up from the OS X DVD and try the above again. Extra video cards, extra memory, third party cards, USB devices, USB hubs, etc etc
 
to chime in can you test fw400 units on other gear.

and can you test the fw400 cable.

you just may have a bad cable. or one bad fw400 unit and the daisy chain drops all of them out.

as of now you are not sure of the cables of the cases or the mac pro. if I am reading this correctly. and maybe some usb piece of gear is the problem. the pci e should have gone around the problem. so i think a bad cable a bad fw400 case or a conflicting piece of other gear.
 
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