Firewire Not Working on WD My Book Premium

out2lnch · 06-18-2007, 10:35 PM

I connected the hard drive to my power mac dual G5 )S 10.4.9 with the firewire cable and got nothing. So I tried the USB cable and the hard drive was recognized. I used disk first aid to check out the drive and it was fine. I reformatted it and partitioned it to the Mac system to see if that would correct the problem. Still nothing via firewire. Rechecked with USB and it again worked fine. Am I missing something? Or does it need to be returned? Thanks!
-S

trevor · 06-18-2007, 11:09 PM

First, try a new FireWire cable.

Also, try another FireWire peripheral with your computer to insure that the FireWire port on your computer is working correctly.

Also, try to connect the FW hard drive to a different computer to make sure that the FireWire port on the device is working correctly.

Let us know the results of these tests.

Trevor

out2lnch · 06-18-2007, 11:31 PM

Thanks for the reply. I hooked up a firewire printer to the PowerMac and it worked fine. I hooked up the hard drive to my iBook (G3 running OS 10.3.9) and it performed the same - worked with a USB connection, but not Firewire. I've tried powering down and rebooting and that didn't help either. Any other ideas? Thanks again!
-S

out2lnch · 06-18-2007, 11:34 PM

Sorry - Re-read your note. I also did try a different cable without success.
-S

Coluch · 06-19-2007, 03:36 AM

Definitely seems like a problem with the external drive's firewire.

I've seen a firewire 400 interface get toasted when the cable was accidentally plugged-in backwards. This was also on an external HD. There was no visible sign that damage had occurred, but the firewire port shorted out and stopped working permanently. The drive was unaffected, and the USB ports still worked fine though. I'm not saying this is what happened to you of course. Just that it could very well be a problem with only the firewire port on the drive.

I'd take it back if it's new enough to do so.

out2lnch · 06-19-2007, 09:15 AM

Bought yesterday. Will return today. Any thoughts about whether this is a Western Digital problem? Should I be looking at another brand? Thanks!
-S

rootie · 08-13-2007, 11:45 AM

out2Inch,
I'm having the same problem. Other firewire drives work on my iMac and the USB connection works fine with the new My Book. But I just can't get the drive to connect via firewire.
rootie

tigdragon · 08-27-2007, 02:04 PM

Hi, me too. I have a 250GB WD My Book Premium, and USB works fine but not Firewire. I connected it to my mac and PC, and it just won't work. Is the port broken? Have you two figured out what was wrong or gotten a new unit to test with? Thanks in advance for any help.

trevor · 08-27-2007, 08:37 PM

Here's some information that you might find helpful:
FireWire Port Failures in Host Computers and Peripheral Devices

Repairing a faulty Firewire Port

Trevor

Reacher · 08-30-2007, 01:52 AM

Hi, I just bought a 500GB Western Digital My Book Premium hard drive on the weekend. The firewire interface works fine. I haven't tried USB.

Having said all that, there is a firmware update available for the My Book Premium hard drives that is supposed to fix firewire-related issues. From the Western Digital website:

Quote:


	This firmware resolves an issue with the FireWire Unique Identifier. When connecting multiple MyBook Premium or My Book Pro hard drives to a computer, the system will not recognize these devices due to a duplicated hardware Identifier.

The firmware update is available here.

Now, having said all that, I downloaded and unzipped the above firmware updater -- when I ran the AppleScript therein, it failed with an error. Sorry, I'll have to post the specific error message another time. If anyone else gets a chance to try out the updater I'd like to learn about their experience with it.

Reacher · 08-30-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reacher


	Now, having said all that, I downloaded and unzipped the above firmware updater -- when I ran the AppleScript therein, it failed with an error. Sorry, I'll have to post the specific error message another time. If anyone else gets a chance to try out the updater I'd like to learn about their experience with it.

I've since tried to update the firmware again using the download. In my case there's a disk image that contains an AppleScript app called "FirmwareUpgrade" and a file called "MyBookFirmwareUpgrade.tar.gz".

When I launch the AppleScript, the dialog box (attached) appears.

I've submitted a help request to Western Digital; I'll post any response here.

Ginny1L · 09-01-2007, 08:38 PM

I am glad to see that I am not the only one having this issue. (Well, not glad as it is extremely frustrating).

I performed the upgrade that was suggested, and my MyBook will no longer work on the USB. I had the same issues you all are having. I was on the phone with Apple for 1 hour today, they say it is on Western Digital's side. I also submitted a question.

Word of WARNING: Don't download the upgrade, you won't be able to use the MyBook at all.

Also, whatever the upgrade did to my specific HD may be duplicated with any future MyBook program.

I will update you with any answers from WD.

girtnomis · 09-08-2007, 04:52 PM

I was led to this forum to find answers, and did. So, I owe you my input about the FW on MyBook problem.
I too lost a whole project on my first MyBook when I tried to plug in a second one. FW didn't work on my MacPro, and only one FW worked on my G4. After the firmware, nothing worked.
But, I kept trying, and re-updating until, bam! everything works fine. So, don't give up. Use Disk Utility to repair the disk first, then re-upgrade with the firmware. Make sure you use the right icon. In my case, it said 'Intel', so I used that one. But after fixing the drive, it worked on my G4 too.

Trig

06-18-2007, 10:35 PM	#1
out2lnch Prospect Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4	Firewire Not Working on WD My Book Premium I connected the hard drive to my power mac dual G5 )S 10.4.9 with the firewire cable and got nothing. So I tried the USB cable and the hard drive was recognized. I used disk first aid to check out the drive and it was fine. I reformatted it and partitioned it to the Mac system to see if that would correct the problem. Still nothing via firewire. Rechecked with USB and it again worked fine. Am I missing something? Or does it need to be returned? Thanks! -S

06-18-2007, 11:09 PM	#2
trevor Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO USA Posts: 19,854	First, try a new FireWire cable. Also, try another FireWire peripheral with your computer to insure that the FireWire port on your computer is working correctly. Also, try to connect the FW hard drive to a different computer to make sure that the FireWire port on the device is working correctly. Let us know the results of these tests. Trevor __________________ How to ask questions the smart way \| Pssst. Wanna play some FuMafia?

08-13-2007, 11:45 AM	#7
rootie Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1	How did you fix the probelm? out2Inch, I'm having the same problem. Other firewire drives work on my iMac and the USB connection works fine with the new My Book. But I just can't get the drive to connect via firewire. rootie

08-27-2007, 08:37 PM	#9
trevor Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Boulder, CO USA Posts: 19,854	Here's some information that you might find helpful: FireWire Port Failures in Host Computers and Peripheral Devices Repairing a faulty Firewire Port Trevor __________________ How to ask questions the smart way \| Pssst. Wanna play some FuMafia? Last edited by trevor; 08-27-2007 at 08:40 PM.

09-01-2007, 08:38 PM	#12
Ginny1L Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1	MyBook Upgrade Disabled My USB Port Connection I am glad to see that I am not the only one having this issue. (Well, not glad as it is extremely frustrating). I performed the upgrade that was suggested, and my MyBook will no longer work on the USB. I had the same issues you all are having. I was on the phone with Apple for 1 hour today, they say it is on Western Digital's side. I also submitted a question. Word of WARNING: Don't download the upgrade, you won't be able to use the MyBook at all. Also, whatever the upgrade did to my specific HD may be duplicated with any future MyBook program. I will update you with any answers from WD.

06-18-2007, 11:31 PM	#3
out2lnch Prospect Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4	Thanks for the reply. I hooked up a firewire printer to the PowerMac and it worked fine. I hooked up the hard drive to my iBook (G3 running OS 10.3.9) and it performed the same - worked with a USB connection, but not Firewire. I've tried powering down and rebooting and that didn't help either. Any other ideas? Thanks again! -S

06-18-2007, 11:34 PM	#4
out2lnch Prospect Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4	Sorry - Re-read your note. I also did try a different cable without success. -S

06-19-2007, 03:36 AM	#5
Coluch Prospect Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2	Definitely seems like a problem with the external drive's firewire. I've seen a firewire 400 interface get toasted when the cable was accidentally plugged-in backwards. This was also on an external HD. There was no visible sign that damage had occurred, but the firewire port shorted out and stopped working permanently. The drive was unaffected, and the USB ports still worked fine though. I'm not saying this is what happened to you of course. Just that it could very well be a problem with only the firewire port on the drive. I'd take it back if it's new enough to do so.

06-19-2007, 09:15 AM	#6
out2lnch Prospect Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 4	Bought yesterday. Will return today. Any thoughts about whether this is a Western Digital problem? Should I be looking at another brand? Thanks! -S

08-27-2007, 02:04 PM	#8
tigdragon Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1	Hi, me too. I have a 250GB WD My Book Premium, and USB works fine but not Firewire. I connected it to my mac and PC, and it just won't work. Is the port broken? Have you two figured out what was wrong or gotten a new unit to test with? Thanks in advance for any help.

09-08-2007, 04:52 PM	#13
girtnomis Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1	I was led to this forum to find answers, and did. So, I owe you my input about the FW on MyBook problem. I too lost a whole project on my first MyBook when I tried to plug in a second one. FW didn't work on my MacPro, and only one FW worked on my G4. After the firmware, nothing worked. But, I kept trying, and re-updating until, bam! everything works fine. So, don't give up. Use Disk Utility to repair the disk first, then re-upgrade with the firmware. Make sure you use the right icon. In my case, it said 'Intel', so I used that one. But after fixing the drive, it worked on my G4 too. Trig