Trouble recognizing external HDD

Joined
Jun 15, 2006
Messages
103
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
New York, NY
Your Mac's Specs
15" PBook G4 1.67/1.5GB
I've been exploring upgrading my Powerbook to a 120gig HDD and using the original 80gig HDD as extra storage - or even vice versa. My notebook seems to be having trouble driving my firewire or usb HDD-cases.

My mom's Mac-mini (g4) and Macbook have had no problem mounting and driving both external cases; in fact, I used the mac-mini to facilitate the HDD upgrade with the Powerbook in Firewire Target Mode.

Does anyone have any clue as to why the Powerbook isn't able to drive the HDD cases? Any suggestions as to a solution?

Thanks! Jeff
 
H

helduck

Guest
slyseeker said:
I've been exploring upgrading my Powerbook to a 120gig HDD and using the original 80gig HDD as extra storage - or even vice versa. My notebook seems to be having trouble driving my firewire or usb HDD-cases.

My mom's Mac-mini (g4) and Macbook have had no problem mounting and driving both external cases; in fact, I used the mac-mini to facilitate the HDD upgrade with the Powerbook in Firewire Target Mode.

Does anyone have any clue as to why the Powerbook isn't able to drive the HDD cases? Any suggestions as to a solution?

Thanks! Jeff

the exact problem with powerbooks including mine, as i found out couple weeks ago, is that the USB doesn't give out enough juice to power the HDD EVEN when plugged in. ibooks work, imacs work, just not powerbooks. you maybe want to try and plug in a direct powersource to your drive and see if that works.

I have a latest revision g4 15" powerbook btw.
 
OP
slyseeker
Joined
Jun 15, 2006
Messages
103
Reaction score
3
Points
18
Location
New York, NY
Your Mac's Specs
15" PBook G4 1.67/1.5GB
Thanks for the extra info, it really clears up a lot of the confusion! Nevertheless, needing that extra power cord truly defeats the purpose of having a portable drive. Looks like it might be time to upgrade.

Do you know if MBPs have the same problem?
 
H

helduck

Guest
slyseeker said:
Thanks for the extra info, it really clears up a lot of the confusion! Nevertheless, needing that extra power cord truly defeats the purpose of having a portable drive. Looks like it might be time to upgrade.

Do you know if MBPs have the same problem?

don't have a macbook pro but best bet is to ask when you pass through an Apple retail shop :) its kind of those things they don't tell you unless you ask :black:
 
Joined
Mar 9, 2004
Messages
9,065
Reaction score
331
Points
83
Location
Munich
Your Mac's Specs
Aluminium Macbook 2.4 Ghz 4GB RAM, SSD 24" Samsung Display, iPhone 4, iPad 2
My portable USB case has a little adapter that lets you plug a 2nd USB port into the power connector, so that both combined can deliver the power to the case...

But Firewire should work?
 

Shop Amazon


Shop for your Apple, Mac, iPhone and other computer products on Amazon.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Top