G-Drive Issues with MacBook Pro & FCP at DVinfo.net

Em Malden · December 31st, 2008, 07:21 AM

Hello all,

Just bought a 500gb G-Drive and have connected it to my MacBook Pro (2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) via FireWire 400 cable. Since then everything has been going a bit wierd - I sometimes cant see CD's & DVD's and FCP is crashing on render and sometimes before I've even got that far. I've trashed preferences to no avail. Also left the computer for 20 mins and came back to a totally unresponsive blank screen (nonetheless 'on' but none-responsive)

Anyone got any ideas?

I'm a bit new to these forums so apologies if this has been posted before (i did do a few searches for it) or if I havent specified enough info.

Thanks in advance
Em

Paul Cronin · December 31st, 2008, 09:09 AM

I had similar problems while using my MacBook Pro and FC with FW400. When I switched to FW800 the problems went away.

Noah Kadner · December 31st, 2008, 09:47 AM

Yeah I'd try the FW800 port and also are you plugging anything else into FW400? Like a camera for example?

-Noah

Em Malden · December 31st, 2008, 10:32 AM

Unfortunately I have a drive with only FW400 ports...

Bummer.

Any other solutions?

Phillip Palacios · January 2nd, 2009, 02:16 PM

try a 9to6 pin cable? or a card adapter?
I don't have a laptop, so these are just guesses

Em Malden · January 2nd, 2009, 04:38 PM

Thanks Phillip,

It seems to be an issue with the drive powering down randomly when not being used, i have the option to shut down hard disks checked off in system prefs and found an old bit of software on the web that seems to stop it doing so. But not ideal...

Also laptop has a tendancy hangs when they've both been on for longer than a day.
May just have to send it back and get a fw800 connection - that seems to be a common solution.

Em

Paul E. Coleman · January 7th, 2009, 10:04 PM

Free... possibly newer more recent software

Freeware | Digital Heaven - The Hottest Tools for the Coolest Apps

Keeps HD's spinning only when FCP is open.

Greg Patch · January 14th, 2009, 04:18 PM

Did you format the drive or just hook it up out of the box. I have the same problem with the drive turning off. I've set all the preferences to no avail. I asked a tech at the Mac Store and he suggested that I format the drive to Mac Extended Journaled in the settings. Just a shot in the dark. I haven't tried it yet because I have too much stuff on it right now..

December 31st, 2008, 07:21 AM	#1
Em Malden New Boot Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 10	G-Drive Issues with MacBook Pro & FCP Hello all, Just bought a 500gb G-Drive and have connected it to my MacBook Pro (2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo) via FireWire 400 cable. Since then everything has been going a bit wierd - I sometimes cant see CD's & DVD's and FCP is crashing on render and sometimes before I've even got that far. I've trashed preferences to no avail. Also left the computer for 20 mins and came back to a totally unresponsive blank screen (nonetheless 'on' but none-responsive) Anyone got any ideas? I'm a bit new to these forums so apologies if this has been posted before (i did do a few searches for it) or if I havent specified enough info. Thanks in advance Em

December 31st, 2008, 09:09 AM	#2
Paul Cronin Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 4,048	I had similar problems while using my MacBook Pro and FC with FW400. When I switched to FW800 the problems went away. __________________ Paul Cronin www.paulcroninstudios.com

January 2nd, 2009, 02:16 PM	#5
Phillip Palacios Major Player Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 233	try a 9to6 pin cable? or a card adapter? I don't have a laptop, so these are just guesses __________________ always learning www.phillippalacios.com

January 7th, 2009, 10:04 PM	#7
Paul E. Coleman Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: 42º 12' N, 72º 32' W Posts: 88	try disksomnia Free... possibly newer more recent software Freeware \| Digital Heaven - The Hottest Tools for the Coolest Apps Keeps HD's spinning only when FCP is open.

December 31st, 2008, 09:47 AM	#3
Noah Kadner Better than Halle Berry Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 435	Yeah I'd try the FW800 port and also are you plugging anything else into FW400? Like a camera for example? -Noah

December 31st, 2008, 10:32 AM	#4
Em Malden New Boot Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 10	Unfortunately I have a drive with only FW400 ports... Bummer. Any other solutions?

January 2nd, 2009, 04:38 PM	#6
Em Malden New Boot Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 10	Thanks Phillip, It seems to be an issue with the drive powering down randomly when not being used, i have the option to shut down hard disks checked off in system prefs and found an old bit of software on the web that seems to stop it doing so. But not ideal... Also laptop has a tendancy hangs when they've both been on for longer than a day. May just have to send it back and get a fw800 connection - that seems to be a common solution. Em

January 14th, 2009, 04:18 PM	#8
Greg Patch Regular Crew Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Huntsville, Alabama Posts: 181	Did you format the drive or just hook it up out of the box. I have the same problem with the drive turning off. I've set all the preferences to no avail. I asked a tech at the Mac Store and he suggested that I format the drive to Mac Extended Journaled in the settings. Just a shot in the dark. I haven't tried it yet because I have too much stuff on it right now..