Firewire flashmem card reader prevents G4 hardware boot (again)

I have a problem where my G4 Mac (w/dual 867 Mhz CPU's running OS X
10.2.x) won't even start the firmware boot sequence (ie. the very first
grey screen with the apple on it when you power up) if I have my
Microtech "FW CameratMate" firewire based compact flash mem card reader
plugged in.

I can't even boot off of the Apple system diagnostics CD because the
computer hardware doesn't even run the prerequisite firmware boot sequence.

I used to have this problem a while back. I took the whole computer and
card reader into the local Apple store (in Tyson's Corner VA). They
tested the computer with the card reader, and of course, they *didn't*
experience the problem. Did I expect anything else >

Later though, they called me on the phone and said other tests indicated
I have a bad "logic" board (apparently a board that has to do with the
power supply control and the USB Firewire interfaces?). So I had the
board replaced.

Just recently, the problem has popped up again. Now if I boot
with the card reader firewire connection *not* plugged in, the G4 boots
just fine. I can then plug in the card reader and use it, but it
sometimes hangs the G4 (requiring a forced power down). If I let the
Mac go to sleep with the card reader plugged in, it won't wake up
properly (hangs or crashes with cool looking kernel exception messages).
I'm not sure how regular the sleep/wakeup problem is.

Has anybody experienced problems with Firewire gadgets causing boot
problems?

Wild speculation on my part: My firewire card reader has no power
separate supply. Ie. it gets it's power from the firewire interface
itself. Analog power circuitry often has a lower reliability behavior
than digital logic.

I'm wondering if the firewire card reader is causing something in the
G4 firewire interface board to burnout? Maybe when the G4 is in sleep
mode? I wonder if my new "logic" board would test bad again if I
brought it in.

I guess I'll try buying a new Firewire based flash mem card reader, but
maybe one with it's own power supply. Anybody interested in a very
reasonably priced used firewire flash mem card reader? >

I understand the benefit of the firewire hardware/software in the boot
sequence, but highly flexible hardware/software in the critical boot
path makes booting less reliable, IMHO

--
Ben in DC
PublicMailbox@benslade.com (put 030516 anywhere in the subj to get thru)
"Alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems"