Author Topic: "Lazy" Ext FireWire Keeps Falling Asleep  (Read 1334 times)

MamaMoose

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"Lazy" Ext FireWire Keeps Falling Asleep
« on: May 13, 2003, 02:20:25 AM »
I have an external FireWire Drive (120GB - Oxford Semiconductor) running under an OS 9.2.2 formatter(Hard Disk Speed Tools 3.5). I formatted it into 5 partitions. I am now running under OS 10.2.6 which certainly "sees" the partitions. However, I have several problems:

1) Even though four partitions are empty and the fifth contains OS 10.2.4, interrmittantly, the FW drive will spin up while I am performing some task. It appears that the drive spins down when not in use.

2) If after applying power, I then turn on the Mac, if I do it too quickly, the FW icons do not appear on the desktop although I can see them in disk utility but I cannot mount them. I have sucessfully mounted them by turning off the FW drive and then turning it back on. The drive does not mount immediately, but a few seconds after turning it back on, the  partitions mount.

My question is how do I keep the FW drive alsways ready. Is it something I dshould have done in foematting the drive or is it something that should be done to the hardware via connecting certain external pins?

I know it would be best to reformat the drive using OS 10..x formatting, but I would then lose OS 10.2.4 which is the only OS 10 version that allows me to use my laser printer.  

Thanks for reading,

MamaMoose

Offline krissel

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"Lazy" Ext FireWire Keeps Falling Asleep
« Reply #1 on: May 13, 2003, 06:42:32 PM »
Tom, I really am just stabbing at thoughts here.

Is there something in Hard Disk tools about mounting drives on startup? Sometimes they give you a choice (ususally when formatting) for that.

I also have occassions when I have to turn off, then on my external firewire drive to have it mount my four partitions. I think I used MountEverything once to get a reluctant partition to show.

I think most firewire drives come set as master and don't need jumper pin settings.
Depending on the age of the drive, there may be a firmware update regarding the drive.
This article, while old, refers to an update of the Oxford bridge a while back.

I wish I had an answer.  unsure.gif


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MamaMoose

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"Lazy" Ext FireWire Keeps Falling Asleep
« Reply #2 on: May 14, 2003, 12:58:57 AM »
Kris,
Thanks for the thoughts. Yep, I too open up with the FW off then I turn on the drive and all the partitions mount. Lately, I have a new problem  - I will be scrolling down a long list, then the scroll will stop and the rotating collored wheel appears followeed by the whine of the FW drive booting up. After which, I continue scrolling.

Since I bought my drive from TransIntl, I will call them tomorrow and ask them what I could do.

Tom

Offline kelly

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"Lazy" Ext FireWire Keeps Falling Asleep
« Reply #3 on: May 15, 2003, 10:19:19 AM »
kelly
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MamaMoose

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"Lazy" Ext FireWire Keeps Falling Asleep
« Reply #4 on: May 15, 2003, 10:32:26 AM »
I talked to Transintl from whom I bought the FW drive. They will send me a new one and I will return the old problem should not occur and they are concerned that the drive may be close to failure.

I will get the new drive tomorrow and we will see what happens.

Thanks all,

MamaMoose