firewire pcmcia TI ohci 1394 device mgr code 10 error

[mrb765]

Hi.. This post regards driver problem with a firewire PCMCIA card.

Running T42-2378FVU plus self installed bluetooth upgrade. XP Pro SP2. BIOS 3.21. I need firewire connectivity.

I've been struggling with a Apricorn Dual Ignitor 400 1394 PCMCIA card. Card is brand new, I doubt it is defective. I believe this Apricorn may be the same as the IBM OEM model. I usually don't need help ever, but I am really stumped hard. If anybody knows this card is not compatable, please let me know. I believe it is compatable and this is an OS driver issue with XP SP2.

Cannot get driver to install cleanly. Card is detected and drivers installed. Installed as TI OHCI compliant IEEEE 1394 host controller. Device manager gives yellow exclamation - This device cannot start. (Code 10). Driver are from XP. I have tried many things with no luck such as:

Installing the other driver possible (plain OHCI 1394 host controller).

Disabled power saving mode on PCI devices in BIOS

Removed the other PCMCIA card

Tried loading drivers with ultrabay and other PCMCIA card reader emtpy and no usb mouse.

Uninstalled the driver in safe mode

Reloaded the original OS driver files from the i386 directory by expanding into /windows/system32

Rolled back the OS about a year via Rescue/Recovery just for kicks to try it. I don't want to return the XP OS all the way back to stock OEM configuration since I have so much software installed.

Installed a couple random hotfixes from microsoft to deal with this known problem.

I have done no manual registry editing yet. This is no problem since I can do a complete R&R recovery anytime. I have not flashed the bios to the last update (3.23?). I prefer not since I tried it once and it didn't take, so I don't want to pay for a system board.

This T42 is my pride and joy and I have no intention to dump it. If anybody has any ideas or questions, please advise. If you can help but need to see some registry keys, let me know. Thanks.
Brian

I have scoured around attempting to solve this issue and realize it is not unique to me If this is not the appropriate place to post, let me know, it is my first post.

[mrb765]

Aee responses from manufacturer below (yes it's blank-not even a hello)