X31 firewire port - problems with video capture in WinXP

[nebpehtira]

Hi guys,

Could really use some help here, I feel like I'm beating my head against a brick wall!

I'm using a Canon MD-205 miniDV camcorder, and connecting it to the firewire port on my X31 via firewire 4-pin to 4-pin cable. Camera works fine and exported footage via a PCI card firewire adapter to an old Win2k desktop no problem, so camera is definitely functioning normally.

However, it is not being detected by Windows (XP pro SP3) on my Thinkpad X31. Windows makes no sign of detecting it, and it does not show up anywhere on the system, and cannot be detected by my video editing software (either PowerDirector 7 Deluxe, or Windows MovieMaker).

Here is what I have attempted so far:

* Replacing the following files from SP3 with the SP1 files, which have been rumoured to work more reliably:

1394bus.sys
arp1394.sys
nic1394.sys
ohci1394.sys
enun1394.sys

* Installing windows hotfix 353890 ENU.
* Disabling the 1394 networking function in Network Connections

Is there anything obvious I am missing here? The vid camera has no dedicated drivers, as apparently it's pure standard firewire and doesn't need any, though I have installed the ancillary software for still image editing that was included with it (though quite why, I'm not sure, as it has no still image function)

All advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

[jronald]

Best I recall the Firewire board is separate on the X31, its possible its bad. Shows up in the Hardware profile, does not make it work. have run into a few modems and even more WiFi cards that showed up, but did not work in several machines.

Ron

[topmahof]

The firewire board also houses the security chip. The firewire board "has" to be matched to the system board or you will get a security chip error and the machine won't boot. You can't just stick another firewire board in there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/5-FEET-USB-IEEE-139 ... 158wt_1012

How about something like this? usb to firewire.

[RealBlackStuff]

These tiny FW ports are not powered, you need to supply power in some (unknown to me) way.
Maybe an USB port might help there? I have no idea.

[jronald]

I dont know that I buy a straight usb to firewire cable.....seems like some kind of conversion needs to be done somewhere with the signals.

Ron

[automobus]

These tiny FW ports are not powered, you need to supply power in some (unknown to me) way.

• powered hub
• D.I.Y. power injector
• or buy one (Not an endorsement.)

How about something like this? usb to firewire.

No.

I dont know.....seems like some kind of conversion needs to be done somewhere with the signals.

Correct. IEEE 1394 and USB are totally different. A adapter box exists for using D.V. devices over USB. And a adapter exists for using USB mass storage over IEEE 1394 SBP