External Drive not working with Firewire connection

I just purchased a Western Digital My Book external drive. My Mac recognizes it when I use a USB cable but not a Firewire. I have downloaded all the WD updates and firmware.
Any suggestions?
Thanks

I was thinking it might be an issue with the drive needing too much bus power. On the newer iMacs, USB provides higher bus power than FireWire. That might still be the issue, even if the drives supply their own power.
Just one Firewire port on my iMac.
I think it has two, but one is FireWire 400 and one is FireWire 800. So you only have one device plugged into those two ports?

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xamdu,
I am reading and replying to this post after first replying to your other post, so a few of my previous comments are redundant.
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http://patchburn.de/download.html
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http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20040330171655882
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I have read a few different threads relating to this question, with no real luck of a permanent solution.
I have an external drive that works perfectly on my Macbook Pro. My new iMac will not show the drive though (both with the current software).
The drive itself shows a power light and appears to be running/powered by the USB port.
I have tried several ports.
It does not show in Disk Utility.
The option in settings is set to show the drive in finder and on the desktop (I have checked this).
I have tried restarting the iMac.
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I resolved this issue once by turning off the iMac, removing the power cord for a few minutes, and powering it up again.
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Happy new year!

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External Monitor Not Working With Macbook Pro

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Message was edited by: EZ Jim

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Our (old) external Firewire iSights can be sensitive to dust, shock, vibration, humidity, and other environmental factors in storage. (I store my spare in its original plastic shipping case with a new desiccant pack on a solid shelf - never in a desk drawer or other container that moves.)
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Test in more than one user account and with more than one Apple softwre application.
(2) My expanded suggestions here: http://www.ralphjohns.co.uk/EZJim/EZJimpage4.html
(3) Reset Firewire ports using the info from this old archived Apple article: http://web.archive.org/web/20090331211534/http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1317
(4) If you have no local Apple Authorized service Provider who can help you, other service options are here: http://www.apple.com/support/isight/service/
(5) Consider a new USB cam with current warranty such as one of these: http://www.mac-compatible-web-cam.com/
Message was edited by: EZ Jim

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Is it a firewire ext. HD?
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I have tried:
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If I select Windows it takes me to a black screen that says it doesnt see a boot CD clicking on EFI boot does nothing.
Anyone have any possible solutions into getting this to work?

Valen85 wrote:
I have a memorex external drive that I have been using to install Windows 7 with boot camp and have successfully used it on 2 mac-mini's.
Mac Minis without built-in Optical drives behave differently than iMacs with built-in drives for boot ability,
I am not trying to install Windows 7 boot camp on an iMac that has a broken internal optical drive but the external will not run.
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The Windows and EFI Boot will not work if you try to boot the iMac from the external. Test this from the internal Optical drive as well. If your iMac is a UEFI Mac (2013+) it will let you boot from the DVD directly (without Bootcamp).
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older superdrives were Hitachi mfg, new ones are Panasonic. Since yours is new and panasonic, indications are it wont work thru the enclosure on your NEW macbook, rather as you state on your older Mac.
until you said it worked fine on the old machine, the logical conclusion is a dirty lens on the laser since it reads CDs fine but most DVD not, since the track is much smaller.
Considering a new superdrive is only $48 on ebay ,or $78 for a new superdrive, your frustration might be too much, and just grab a new superdrive.
Your detailed information indicates a firmware incompatibility of the panasonic superdrive thru an enclosure
This is the new superdrive, made by panasonic as you have in your enclosure:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/221280580133?lpid=82
of course thats a lot of trouble buying that AND an enclosure, easier still is just getting a Mac superdrive inside its working enclosure designed for use as such:
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD564ZM/A/apple-usb-superdrive

External Drive not working with Firewire connection

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