10.6 Mac Mini not recognizing usb drives or devices besides my mouse/keyboard

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
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Anything I can do to get these to work? I have ran system update as well

when I plug in a usb drive, phone or whatever they do not show up
 
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Feb 25, 2011
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Well... reinstall the 10.5.8 combo update.

Then "sudo periodic daily weekly monthly" at the CLI.

Follow directions for a PMU/SMC reset.

Then reboot twice and dance naked around the room while chanting the Apple Prayer. (Should have come on a little card with the Mini.)

Then make sure the USB devices in question work with other computers. (Flash drives fail all the time, and phones sometimes need to be set to USB Mass Storage Mode, so it could just be a coincidence.)
 
Feb 25, 2011
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It shouldn't do that. Let it run for a bit to see if it's just calibrating the temp sensor.

How about the combo update? (That was the first item I mentioned for a reason.)
 

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
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I had just ran all the updates after a restore yesterday, the fan is still running fast. I also hooked an iphone 4 up to it, when the mini is booting up the iphone shows it is connected but as soon as it gets to the desktop nothing
 

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
16,742
42
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I typed that in terminal and gives me a warning about data loss and asks for my password to proceed but I dont have a password so I hit enter, doesnt look like anything happens. I reset the smc and the fan is back to normal. I also created a snow leapord usb drive with transmac on my pc and when I boot I can see it and boot to it but then I get a circle with a line through it, same thing with a usb dvd drive i have. That is the only times they are visable
 
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Feb 25, 2011
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Why don't you have an admin account/password?

Now it's sounding like a school computer with USB drives disabled in parental controls.
 
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SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
16,742
42
91
I also just formatted my usb flash drive in transmac for a mac and it doesn't show up. When I got the Mac it had been reset so I did the set up, it asked me to choose a password but I never put passwords on my computers so I left it blank
 
Feb 25, 2011
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If the USB drive is visible as a boot selection, but not when you're fully booted, then it's a software glitch. So re-install the combo update, or do an archive & install.

I honestly haven't had much luck with bootable USB sticks on Macs created on PCs. Something about the partition maps always seems to foul it up. Wouldn't worry about Transmac. (You can use Carbon Copy Cloner to copy an iso to a thumb drive on the Mac though - that usually works.)
 

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
16,742
42
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I used ccc and installed a snow leapord dmg to a partition I created. I booted inyo it and it is installing now, hopefully my usb devices show up after this
 

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
16,742
42
91
Snow Leapord is installed and my usb device still do not show up. I can take an iphone 4 and hook it up and nothing, then plug it in to my pc with no issues. Same thing for my usb drive and external had drives
 

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
16,742
42
91
I just wiped the drive and resinstalled OSX with the original restore discs and the usb ports are not working with my stuff
 
Feb 25, 2011
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But the keyboard and mouse work with the same USB ports, and bootable thumb drives show up as available before the OS loads?

Well that's just weird. Apple Store time.
 

SAWYER

Lifer
Apr 27, 2000
16,742
42
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It is a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse and the adapter is usb. If the mac is on and I plug it in I have to restart it then it will work. USB drives will show up when I try to boot+alt. I bought it from a seller here, he said I can return it and if he can't get stuff to work he will refund me
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,123
12
81
It is a Microsoft wireless keyboard and mouse and the adapter is usb. If the mac is on and I plug it in I have to restart it then it will work. USB drives will show up when I try to boot+alt. I bought it from a seller here, he said I can return it and if he can't get stuff to work he will refund me

He sounds like an awesome guy!!!

MotionMan
 

MotionMan

Lifer
Jan 11, 2006
17,123
12
81
I have now re-inherited this problem. All of the USB ports work for standard wired keyboards and mice.

I wonder if the ports are now somehow not putting out enough power to fire up whatever is being plugged into them (beyond a basic keyboard/mouse).

Is there a way to check the power output?

MotionMan
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
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I have now re-inherited this problem. All of the USB ports work for standard wired keyboards and mice.

I wonder if the ports are now somehow not putting out enough power to fire up whatever is being plugged into them (beyond a basic keyboard/mouse).

Is there a way to check the power output?

MotionMan

Plug in a cable with the wires exposed and hook up a multi-meter I guess?

There should be a warning from something if there is not enough power.