Issue with P2 and Powerbook

[sick boy]

Hey all,

Curious if anyone has a cure for this or has come along this issue.

After starting my powerbook g4 1.5 ghz with 1gb memory for the first time, I do dump of a p2 card for the first time with no issues. I use P2 Genie and things are smooth all the way to ejecting (I use P2 Genie to format and eject, I also just in case power down the card through the panasonic driver).

When I come back to do a second dump, the instant I put the card in, things lock up but I can move the cursor. Usually, if I hit the power button, randomly click on windows and even hit the space bar a few times (originally this was random frustration but it seems to work, so I keep doing it) and finally the p2 card mounts and I can continue on with my business, dump it, format it and eject.

On the third dump, either two things happen. The entire system freezes, or the card never mounts (even if I look at the disc utility) and I must reboot. If it does not mount, the P2 driver utility drop down menu does show up though as though as it was mounted, but I still cannot do anything.

I have tried this all both with and without the lock on the P2 on. I try and keep the system very clean, with only P2 Genie, Raylight and FCP 6 on there (with a few other things like office just to have).

Any ideas or help would be great. For now, I have been doing shoots where I only dump about 2-4 times a day, so rebooting has not been that bad, but I have a huge conference for next october and I will probably have 4 or more P2 cards over 2 cameras being used over a 5 day period, so I am now starting to attack this problem since that is not that far away.

Thanks guys!
Tim

[n8ture]

I had the same issue with my 17" 1.67GHz G4 Powerbook I upgraded to OS 10.4.10 and the problems went away.

At the same time I reinstalled the drivers just in case but now I can run P2 cards one after another and I have never had another freeze again.

[sick boy]

I am up to date with 10.4.10, I have not tried reinstalling the drivers since last weekend, when I will try tonight. I may also try installing leopard this friday (got the family editing coming) to see if that helps.

The tough thing is this a grooling problem since I have to do it all 3 times to replicate the issues, which takes a lot of time.

I forgot to mention, when I am dumping, I dump to two external 2.5" drives, one main and one redundant, both connect through P2 Genie.

Thanks!

[sick boy]

The thing I have debated for a month or so is should I sell my mac and by a pc laptop? It seems like everyone has had better success and less problems on that end. I am sure I could get about $900 for my powerbook and use that to get a decent laptop from lets say sony (Barry said his sony dumps much faster than his Dell) and I bet I would have a few bucks left over.

The other option is mabook pro with the duel, which I could get for I would say about $1400-$1500 on ebay and add the duel for $130. But that is a chunk of money.

I like the pc route cause it puts more money in my pocket. That or get a P2 Store, but that sucks cause then I cant watch my footage.

Also what blows is I have raylight and P2 Genie for this mac, if I get a pc, that is a chunk of cash lost (unless someone on here buys them).

Later.

[n8ture]

The only things I changed was upgrading OS, upgrading to FCSP2, reinstalling the drivers and adding the drivers that came with my P2 Store.

I use both P2 Log Pro and P2 Genie.

But I couldn't get more than three cards transferred before it locked up. Now I can do dozens of cards with no problem.

I transfer via P2 Genie or the demo version of HD Log to both the internal drive as well as external Firewire 400, 800 and USB2 drives. Don't have any issues with any of that now.

Before that after the 2nd card I just reboot my Powerbook to avoid the freeze.

BTW, I love the P2 Store. Just wish they'd have a larger drive version come out.

I take it with me everywhere and it works great.

[sick boy]

The only things I changed was upgrading OS, upgrading to FCSP2, reinstalling the drivers and adding the drivers that came with my P2 Store.

I will check this all tonight. What do you mean FCSP2? Final Cut Studio 2?

I have FCP 6+ on the laptop with 10.4.10, but have not tried the p2 store drivers.

Curious, is there any way to uninstall the p2 driver before installing, or is reinstalling the best way?

I almost have though of just getting the p2 store. I mean, it is expensive, but at least it works. The only draw back is if I want to view footage, I need a laptop anyway.

Have you ever used the p2 viewer for pcs? does it do the job to just at least view the footage?

Thanks!