Firewire frustration--is USB 2.0 the answer?

[Jinny]

I have been having problems having my computer recognize my firewire. Long story short, my computer manufacturer said my Leadtek video card has a bug that won't allow any hardware to be installed after it (and I thought I always had to have the last word!).

So my question is: do I absolutely NEED a firewire? Can I survive with a USB 2.0 connection?

[ashawley]

No, you don't need to use firewire. You can use USB. You'll need the USB cable though.

Very sad that your Video card won't allow anything else to be installed. Might want to consider getting a new one of those instead! :D

Adam

[Jinny]

Adam- Thanks for your reply. Would I be able to use the USB cable for both synching and charging? Is the only negative thing about the USB the slower speed?

[ashawley]

USB2.0 won't be slower than firewire. It'll be just as fast if not faster.

And the USB cable that you'll need to by to connect your iPod to a USB port, comes w/a second cable that you connect to the AC Adaptor that came w/your iPod.

So, while not getting powered by USB, it does get powered, you just need to plug in a second cord, but it's fairly simple.

Adam

[scott eagles]

the usb connection is a great answer when you are having firewire problems. I ultimately went with that solution on a laptop and it works no problem. Then I bought a cheap usb 2.0 card for my desktop and that worked as well.

[Jinny]

I can't tell you what a relief this is. I'm going to the Apple store tomorrow to buy the USB cable. Now, I just need to download the required software...is that right?

I'll try it tomorrow and report how it goes. Wish me luck!

[scott eagles]

You do not need to download any software, your windows box should be able to see the iPod via the usb connection no problem. It does not matter whether the iPod is on a firewire or usb connection, windows still sees it an an external hard drive.

Just, open you iPod usb box carfully, just in case it does not work and then you can your $$$ back. :)

good luck

[Jinny]

The frustration level is very high today. I bought the USB 2.0/dock cable and the device manager does not recognize the USB. I looked through alot of other questions about this in the forum so I uninstalled the Apple software, then re-installed. I also shut down several times.

And to make matters worse, my iPod screen is stuck with a largle Apple logo and will not reset. Help!

[scott eagles]

I had the same problem initially with my iPod. Try to reset it, if not, you need to let the iPod battery completely drain to nothing, just let it flash till its dead.

Then plug it into the adapter and give a full charge.

On the usb problem, make sure when you connect the iPod it gets assigned a drive letter by windows. Right click on my computer, select manage. select disk management and you should see your iPod to the right. Right click on the iPod and select change drive letter and path and assign the iPod the letter G:

IF this does not work, I know this goes against your intuition, but trying calling Apple. They were really helpful when I have had problems.

good luck and don't give it, it will work.

[Jinny]

I really don't know how I did it, but after some finagling I got my iPod to work and I love it!

The apple logo went away after I charged it for a few hours so I guess it was due to low battery. As for the USB, I uninstalled the Apple software and then installed it and also made sure I had the latest XP updates.

I hope this information helps if anyone else has this problem, but to tell you the truth I really don't know what made it work, but I'm so happy it does!

Thank you everyone who helped! I really appreciate it!

[scott eagles]

Excellent news! enjoy my friend.

[quantum]

k...so i carefully removed my 15 gb ipod from the box...watta beauty!!. Hooked up the dock to the ALI firewire/usb2 combo card port (I was using the firewire port to connect). Nestled my baby on the dock...nothing happens!!!!. WTF!!!...cant see the disk in MyComputer....questions shoot across my brain like phasors.

is it the ipod?
is the card installed correctly?
is it a faulty cable?
does 1394bus.sys and ohci1394.sys need a version update?
is the ipod not able to provide a FW ID to the system?
am i going to get laid tonite?

Such was the confusion in my brain. Im running a windows 2000 system with 512 ram...xp's crappy( no apple vs. microsoft sermons, please....Ill get me a G5 when I win the lottery..so shut it!)....anyway, after 9 hours of exruciating mental agony, nothing happened so I crashed. I woke up in the middle of the night and just as a whim decided to check if the combo card was WHQL certified....it was not..hmmm..a ray of hope maybe?. The next day I picked up a SIIG 3-port firewire card(WHQL certified) from BestBuy....It worked!!!...just one problem though, everytime I connect the ipod, my computer reboots...after that its smooth sailing...perfect copying and playback from the ipod....any ideas why its rebooting? thanks.:D

[ashawley]

Could be the slot that the PCI card is in. Or it's that crummy iPod software. My recommendation is to uninstall iPod Manager. If that doesn't do it try switching the slot the card is in.

Adam

[quantum]

Adam,
I noticed earlier in the thread that you said the usb2 port can be used for data transfer and the firewire connection can be hooked to the ac adapter for power, this is ofcourse if you have the usb2/firewire cable from apple. In a similar regime, can I use the usb2 for data transfer and the firewire port of a combo card for power..will there be any bus contention issues in windows 2000?...thanks.:confused:

[ashawley]

No, you can't do that. There will be bus contention issues. Some other folks have tried it.

Just get's it going in a loop or something. Makes your PC all confused. :D

Adam

[quantum]

adam,
you were right! it was the ipod manager but re-installing ipod manager did not solve the problem, neither did changing the pci slot for the firewire card. This was my solution...in a hostage situation, shoot the hostage and you've got the kidnapper... :D , so I figured why the hell do I need the manager??...deleted the #### thing from my system. That solved the rebooting problem. If apple does come up with a firmware update in the near future, will install the manager then. But Im cruisin now. Thanks,bro.:cool:

[ashawley]

Cool. Glad it worked. Yes, that crummy software very often causes problems.

There's no need for it either. The only purpose it serves is to help auto-launch MMJB (and who needs that ;)).

My rule of thumb, I alway install the Apple software that comes w/the iPod. It not only causes probles as you've seen but it uses up resources as well. Bleh! :D

Adam

[transdogmifier]

IPod Manager works fine on my system. I don't think it's apples software, I think it's driver (ie, software) issues on the PC before IPod manager gets there. Windows and corruption go hand in hand.

Dan

[quantum]

Dan,
which windows driver files r u refering to...r they the OHCI drivers...maybe I can get a newer version of 1394bus.sys and ohci1394.sys...do you think that will make a difference? :)

[ashawley]

Dan:

Actually, I beg to differ w/you on the quality of Apple's iPod Manager. I've seen it time and again that that program just causes problems. Oh, it works fine on a lot of systems (mine as well), but I'd rather not have it sitting there running in the background when it's not doing anything. Eh? :)


Adam

[transdogmifier]

Originally posted by ashawley
Dan:

Actually, I beg to differ w/you on the quality of Apple's iPod Manager. I've seen it time and again that that program just causes problems. Oh, it works fine on a lot of systems (mine as well), but I'd rather not have it sitting there running in the background when it's not doing anything. Eh? :)


Adam

I don't know Adam...Loaned my Ipod to a friend for a week, left the manager running...No issues. He installed it on his machine...No issues. I still believe it's a windows software (driver) related issue.

As for newer OHCI drviers, I don't think so....You might try a 'repair' on WinXP......

[quantum]

huh?!?!

[ashawley]

trans:

Oh, I'm not saying that the program will always cause problems.

I am saying this:

1. In some situations where users are having problems, uninstalling it resolves those problems.

2. The software doesn't do anything useful.

So, I've no doubt it works for you. In fact I'm pretty sure that it works for the majority of 'podders out there. But for those having problems, it's a good first step to get rid of it.

Adam