Help! Windows + eSata card on 2009 Mac Pro

[greenex]

Ok, here's the deal. I can't find an eSata card that works with OSX, Windows, and a 2009 Mac Pro.

I need to have eSata capabilities in both Windows 7 and OSX. However, no matter which eSata card I install, Windows will not boot. Just hangs at a black screen. I've gone through 3 cards now. Everything works fine in OSX, but I have some programs that are Windows-only that I am dependent on, and VMWare/Parallels is not an option.

So far, I have figured it out to be a problem between the card BIOS and the legacy/emulated BIOS that Apple uses for Windows. That's my best guess.

I've used older Mac Pro's like this before, but now I have 10 brand new Mac Pro's that need eSata and still be able to run Windows and OSX.

HELP!

 

[greenex]

Also to note, I don't need RAID or any special features. Just eSata ports.

 

[dbculp]

eSATA card and Bootcamp

My setup is different, MacPro 1,1; I have a Sonnet eSATA card with Silicon Image 64-bit driver downloaded from SI site. I can boot Windows XP using Bootcamp with no problems.

 

[greenex]

I think I figured out the problem, and it's with Apple's latest version of the BootRom in their firmware. But, I'll wait till next week when I talk to the Sr. Apple support specialist to confirm it.

 

[greenex]

Good news!! I have a contact at Apple who is working on this. They just released an update for MacBook Pros and will be / already are working on a fix for the Mac Pros. No ETA yet, but its in the pipes!

 

[greenex]

Still no updates. My contact at Apple hasn't gotten back to me.

On a side note, anybody notice this problem with the newest line of Mac Pro's?

 

[mvasilakis]

Still no updates. My contact at Apple hasn't gotten back to me.

On a side note, anybody notice this problem with the newest line of Mac Pro's?

YES! I have the same problem. Did Apple ever get back to you?

 

[greenex]

YES! I have the same problem. Did Apple ever get back to you?

No, the are no longer returning my calls or emails.

Basically, I have the MP41.0081.B08 firmware, which WAS listed as the latest version of firmware for the 2009 Mac Pros. The MP41.0081.B07 firmware, as I and others have tested, will allow OS X + Win/Lin + eSata card to work.

Its funny how Apple now lists MP41.0081.B07 as the latest firmware version. I wonder why they changed back to the old firmware version?

And why they won't help me restore the B07 firmware to my Mac Pros?

I will be calling them soon when I get some time, just too busy now. But I doubt they will fix anything. Apple loves to screw people after they buy their products.


Check out my other thread on the Apple forum.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2502591&start=0&tstart=0

 

[mvasilakis]

No, the are no longer returning my calls or emails.

Basically, I have the MP41.0081.B08 firmware, which WAS listed as the latest version of firmware for the 2009 Mac Pros. The MP41.0081.B07 firmware, as I and others have tested, will allow OS X + Win/Lin + eSata card to work.

Its funny how Apple now lists MP41.0081.B07 as the latest firmware version. I wonder why they changed back to the old firmware version?

And why they won't help me restore the B07 firmware to my Mac Pros?

I will be calling them soon when I get some time, just too busy now. But I doubt they will fix anything. Apple loves to screw people after they buy their products.


Check out my other thread on the Apple forum.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2502591&start=0&tstart=0

Funny I replied to that post also. Too bad. It would probably be a simple fix too. (for them) Anyway I'm just going to take the esata card, box and drives to work and use it as extra storage for my video server there. I'll just spring for 2 2tb drives and see if that solves my problem. The really sad thing is that ive spend $800 on enclosures and drives for this computer and none of it works right. One enclosure cost $200, was firewire and eSata but the data kept getting corrupted. The other cost $100 (on sale) and is eSata only but I cant use that because I cant find a card that works w/ bootcamp. The drives cost me ~$400 for 4 1TB drives.

I own about 10 macs bet my business and home. I'm really disappointed in Apple in regards to this issue.