G5 iMac can't read to or write from any external HD

I am trying to backup (and also transfer to my MacBook) large files from my parents G5 iMac to a dual interface MyBook HD. I first tried Firewire, then USB, then tried a different external HD altogether, but I keep getting the same results. After a few seconds, a dialogue in the transfer window pops up with error code -36, and says that some data cannot be read from or written to. This happens with every single file on their computer and every external drive I own (its not an issue with the HDs - they work fine on my other 3 Macs). I repaired permissions and verified the iMacs disk, but it found no errors. I also deleted com.apple.recentitems.plist as described in another topic (even though it was a different situation, you never know) but that did no good. Thanks.

I must agree with the previous posting about the number of devices on your FireWire chain. I don't encounter this error when only the target hard drive (WD My Book FireWire 400/800/USB2.0 external HDD) is connected to my iMac G5's FireWire 400 port. When an iSight is plugged into one port and the external HDD into the other, reads and writes are slow. Writes fail with Error -36.
The last time this occurred, the iMac G5 required replacement of the Main Logic Board. I suspect you may have this problem. After the repairs were completed, the iSight and the External FireWire (400) HDD worked as expected. No error messages and normal (fast) reads and writes.
I'd take your iMac G5 in for repair as there probably a hardware problem. My main logic board was repaired out of warranty.

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