Should a Firewire Drive Mount Automatically?

[mactastic]

Some quick advice would be helpful on this.

I just ordered a new 300gb Seagate external hard drive, with both Firewire 400 and USB 2.0 ports. However, when I plug in via Firewire, no drive mounts. No drive shows in Disk Utility. When I plug in via USB the drive mounts normally and shows in Disk Utility.

My feeling is that the Firewire ports on the drive are not working properly and that I will have to ship the HD back to the supplier, in this case Amazon.

I just thought I'd post here and see if I'm overlooking anything, since I've never used a Firewire drive before.

 

[TheAnswer]

As long as it's plugged in and connected properly, it should mount automatically.

 

[mactastic]

That's what I figured. Guess I'll fill out the return forms...

 

[Ubuntu]

My 250GB firewire HD mounts automatically. Different brand, but still, looks like you have a problem there.

 

[Viremia]

It's most likely one of three things:

1) bad FW port on computer
2) bad FW cable
3) bad FW chip/port on hard drive enclosure

Have you tried any other FW devices with that computer? Have you tried a different cable?

That will help you determine if it's the hard drive enclosure or not.

 

[skwij]

Is the drive powered on and connected BEFORe you boot the mac? That's the only way my external shows properly when not plugged in via USB.

I find that USB is plug/n/play, but not necessarily eSata or Firewire.