USB Ports

P

pejota

Registered
Hi

I just got a PBG4 and it seems that the USB not provide enough energy to external devices as a hard disc. I tried in others freinds MAC (Ibook, and older PBG4), and it worked perfectly.

It just my computer that is not working properly or is the last model of the Powerbooks?

Thanks in advance

Pedro-Jose
 
wow! Last night, I tried to run an external HDD -- had the same problem.

However, I don't know if it was the HDD. USB ports have been OK for external headset/mic, and for compact flash, and for USB key (but they likely don't draw as much energy).

Yup, I too would *really* like to know more in order to diagnose this problem. Mine is PB G4, 1.67 GHz, OSX 10.4.5
 
Are you running on battery power when you're trying to run the external hard drives?

If so, is the behavior the same if you run on AC power instead of battery?
 
Hi

I came to the genius bar in Apple store in London, and it seems that the PBG4 15" has not been design to provide extra power. We tried my external disc in PBG4 12"- 17" and also in Ibooks and no problem, so it´s not my machine, is how the system is design
So, just used with external power
 
I think that they just told you that to get you out of there. There is no reason that they would cripple the 15" model that way. The mind boggles.
 
Frig.
I think we are likely SOL with regards to USB HDD. I just finished reading/scanning most of
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=227325&tstart=30

It seems that the USB ports on 15" Al PB don't regularly have enough snort to start up external HDD. The common solutions are:
1. Use a wye USB cable. That is, your single USB drive plugs into both PB USB ports.
2. Use firewire.
3. Use external power.

My PB is still under warranty. I will contacting apple for support next week -- I'll post my findings here. Unfortunately, I don't expect much.

The info posted at that link is quite disappointing.

Take care.
 
USB 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0 state each USB port, of a computer (ignoring the first iMacs) or powered hub, is to supply up to 500 mA of current at 5 VDC. Some devices, such as external hard disk drives, may require greater than a USB port's limited 500 mA; thus, the need for an external power supply.

The FireWire specifications call for a powered port to deliver 8 to 40 Vdc, at 1.5 A maximum. Therefore, there are external FireWire devices, such as hard disk drives, that may also require an external power supply.
 
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