1394 EXTERNAL HDD NOT CONNECTING

  • Thread starter Thread starter Willard
  • Start date Start date
W

Willard

WinXPproSP3 on Dell VOSTRO 1510

The MacAlly PHR-S250CC FireWire connection has stopped working..
When plugging in, the light flashes red very briefly, but does not show
up in the device manager..
I downloaded the MS hotfix, but on installation it reported that it was
not needed on my SP3..
MacAlly uses only the WinXP drivers..
This drive and cable still works fine on another old laptop with
WinXPproSP3..

??????
Willard
 
WinXPproSP3 on Dell VOSTRO 1510
The MacAlly PHR-S250CC FireWire connection has stopped working..
When plugging in, the light flashes red very briefly, but does not show
up in the device manager..
I downloaded the MS hotfix, but on installation it reported that it was
not needed on my SP3..
MacAlly uses only the WinXP drivers..
This drive and cable still works fine on another old laptop with
WinXPproSP3..
Click to expand...

See if installing the following post-SP3 firewire-related / 1394
patches help you any. AT the top of each page click "View and request
hotfix downloads", follow the instructions:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955408
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/958149
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/960970

Let me know how it goes.
 
See if installing the following post-SP3 firewire-related / 1394
All three fixes installed o.k., but I noticed no change after each
installation..

Willard :(
Click to expand...

One thing it *might* be is that when plugged in it could be occupying
a drive letter that another device is already using and just sitting
waiting to be re-assigned a drive letter.

Try the following:

1. Go to Control Panel > Admin. Tools > Computer Mgmt. > Disk
Management and see if it is showing up there. If it is, see if you can
assign it a different drive letter. Also, see if there's any newer
driver update for your 1394 controller. If it isn't, you may need to
blow out its entry from the registry. Let me know how the above works
and we can try something else later.
 
One thing it *might* be is that when plugged in it could be occupying
a drive letter that another device is already using and just sitting
waiting to be re-assigned a drive letter.

Try the following:

1. Go to Control Panel > Admin. Tools > Computer Mgmt. > Disk
Management and see if it is showing up there. If it is, see if you can
assign it a different drive letter. Also, see if there's any newer
driver update for your 1394 controller. If it isn't, you may need to
blow out its entry from the registry. Let me know how the above works
and we can try something else later.
Click to expand...

The above did not show anything other than my main C:(OS) and D:(CD)
drives..

For the past 6 months (before this failure) the drive would only be
recognized after a POST; plugging in after working for a while or
after restart was not acceptable???

I could always tell when the drive was accepted after plug in, because
the light on the drive would briefly flash red, then after 3 or 4
seconds would flash red again for about 2 or 3 seconds..

Willard
 
The above did not show anything other than my main C:(OS) and D:(CD)
drives..

For the past 6 months (before this failure) the drive would only be
recognized after a POST; plugging in after working for a while or
after restart was not acceptable???

I could always tell when the drive was accepted after plug in, because
the light on the drive would briefly flash red, then after 3 or 4
seconds would flash red again for about 2 or 3 seconds..
Click to expand...

Ok. Do you have some info on the Firewire card this is connected to
(in device manager)? How about the maker of the Firewire drive itself
(make, model, etc.)?
 
1. Go to Control Panel > Admin. Tools > Computer Mgmt. > Disk
The above did not show anything other than my main C:(OS) and D:(CD)
drives..

For the past 6 months (before this failure) the drive would only be
recognized after a POST; plugging in after working for a while or
after restart was not acceptable???

I could always tell when the drive was accepted after plug in, because
the light on the drive would briefly flash red, then after 3 or 4
seconds would flash red again for about 2 or 3 seconds..
Click to expand...

One other driver I forgot to mention you may want to update is from
this KB article: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/955356
 
One other driver I forgot to mention you may want to update is from
No change..
Click to expand...

Ok, let's try this.

Unplug your Firewire drive first!

1. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > click the Environment
Variables button > under System Variables click the New button.

2. For variable name enter DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES

3. For variable value enter 1

4. Click OK, OK again, OK one last time. Reboot.

5. Go to Control Panel > System > Device Manager.

6. With Device Manager open, click View and then Show Hidden Devices.
A bunch of things not previously shown will appear. Don't muck around
with anything.

7. Expand Disk Drives and see if there's an orphan entry for your
Firewire drive there. It will look sort of faded-out or ghost-ish. Any
devices connect that are present and working properly will have a more
solid icon. You can remove all the faded icons there so that ONLY the
ones that are solid (present) are left. Some entries are likely to be
USB drives and such, they will be re-detected when plugged in again so
don't worry about them.

8. Go down to Storage Volumes and expand that and do the same thing as
in step 7, remove the items shown as faded icons and leave the ones
that are solid (present). Some entries are likely to be USB drives and
such, they will be re-detected when plugged in again so don't worry
about them.

9. Reboot.

10. Once the system loads, plug in your Firewire drive. Wait a few
seconds and see if Windows detects it. Go to Device Manager and see if
it's there now.

11. If not, go and look for the entry for your Firewire controller and
remove it. Reboot, and let Windows re-detect it. If THAT doesn't take
care of it, you might need a new driver for your Firewire card or
perhaps go out and get a new Firewire card as they are dirt cheap
these days.

Let me know how it goes.
 
Ok, let's try this.

Unplug your Firewire drive first!

1. Go to Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > click the Environment
Variables button > under System Variables click the New button.

2. For variable name enter DEVMGR_SHOW_NONPRESENT_DEVICES

3. For variable value enter 1

4. Click OK, OK again, OK one last time. Reboot.

5. Go to Control Panel > System > Device Manager.

6. With Device Manager open, click View and then Show Hidden Devices.
A bunch of things not previously shown will appear. Don't muck around
with anything.

7. Expand Disk Drives and see if there's an orphan entry for your
Firewire drive there. It will look sort of faded-out or ghost-ish. Any
devices connect that are present and working properly will have a more
solid icon. You can remove all the faded icons there so that ONLY the
ones that are solid (present) are left. Some entries are likely to be
USB drives and such, they will be re-detected when plugged in again so
don't worry about them.

8. Go down to Storage Volumes and expand that and do the same thing as
in step 7, remove the items shown as faded icons and leave the ones
that are solid (present). Some entries are likely to be USB drives and
such, they will be re-detected when plugged in again so don't worry
about them.

9. Reboot.

10. Once the system loads, plug in your Firewire drive. Wait a few
seconds and see if Windows detects it. Go to Device Manager and see if
it's there now.

11. If not, go and look for the entry for your Firewire controller and
remove it. Reboot, and let Windows re-detect it. If THAT doesn't take
care of it, you might need a new driver for your Firewire card or
perhaps go out and get a new Firewire card as they are dirt cheap
these days.

Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...

Followed above steps..
(in step 8, I must have cleared over 50+ generic volumes leaving only 2
clear icons)

No change, neither the Sata nor Ide external drive are connecting..

Willard
 
Followed above steps..
(in step 8, I must have cleared over 50+ generic volumes leaving only 2
clear icons)

No change, neither the Sata nor Ide external drive are connecting..
Click to expand...

This is an Intel motherboard and CPU setup yes? If so, have you
installed the Intel Chipset Software Installation utility yet?
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/fil...XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go!

Grab the on titled INF Update Utility - Zip Format (2231KB)
9.0.0.1008.

Beyond that, I don't know what to say. See if the maker of the
Firewire card / device has a FAQ or tech support and ask them.
 
This is an Intel motherboard and CPU setup yes? If so, have you
installed the Intel Chipset Software Installation utility yet?
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/fil...XP+Professional&lang=eng&strOSs=44&submit=Go!

Grab the on titled INF Update Utility - Zip Format (2231KB)
9.0.0.1008.

Beyond that, I don't know what to say. See if the maker of the
Firewire card / device has a FAQ or tech support and ask them.
Click to expand...

Above update didn't help..

The plug in feature for 1394 seems to be paralyzed: but it works for
USB o.k.
Is there an easy way to find the manufacturer of my 1394 card??

I greatly appreciate all of your time and help with my problem...

Willard
 
Above update didn't help..
The plug in feature for 1394 seems to be paralyzed: but it works for
USB o.k.
Is there an easy way to find the manufacturer of my 1394 card??

I greatly appreciate all of your time and help with my problem...

Willard
Click to expand...

There's one of two ways:

Go to Device Manger and find the entry for your Firewire/1394 device.
Double-click on it, go to the Drivers tab, click on the Driver Details
button and go through the drivers listed there. There might be some
info about specific drivers but my hunch is that there might be only
default Microsoft drivers in use.

If that's the case, open your computer's case and find you Firewire
card, pull it out and look for make and model info. Sometimes you can
get chip info as it's printed on top. Look on both sides of the card
and write down all the info you can.

I'm guessing this is a PCI card, you could always try putting it into
a different PCI slot and see what happens.
 
There's one of two ways:

Go to Device Manger and find the entry for your Firewire/1394 device.
Double-click on it, go to the Drivers tab, click on the Driver Details
button and go through the drivers listed there. There might be some
info about specific drivers but my hunch is that there might be only
default Microsoft drivers in use.

If that's the case, open your computer's case and find you Firewire
card, pull it out and look for make and model info. Sometimes you can
get chip info as it's printed on top. Look on both sides of the card
and write down all the info you can.

I'm guessing this is a PCI card, you could always try putting it into
a different PCI slot and see what happens.
Click to expand...
The 1394 OHCI drivers are by Microsoft....

The problem is in my Dell Laptop, (in warranty) so I have been hesitant
about opening it up...
 
The 1394 OHCI drivers are by Microsoft....
The problem is in my Dell Laptop, (in warranty) so I have been hesitant
about opening it up...
Click to expand...

What model of laptop and do you know if the BIOS is fully up to date?
 
Dell VOSTRO 1510.. Updated BIOS on 5/13/09 with V1510A15.exe...

Wow, none of the updated BIOS versions fix anything with the 1394
adapter. Not surprised by that of course. Is this a built-in 1394
adapter or PCMCIA? It doesn't seem to mention anything about 1394 on
the Vostro page. Only thing else would be to contact Dell about it or
the maker of the 1394 drive.
 
Thee said:
Wow, none of the updated BIOS versions fix anything with the 1394
adapter. Not surprised by that of course. Is this a built-in 1394
adapter or PCMCIA? It doesn't seem to mention anything about 1394 on
the Vostro page. Only thing else would be to contact Dell about it or
the maker of the 1394 drive.
Click to expand...
Thanks, I am chatting with Dell now and they say I should reinstall the
OS from the Dell CD..
I'll let you know the results if I can find the CD (I may have to order
one)..
The adapter is built in with a 1394 jack on the side of the laptop..
I believe the trouble is with the 1394 adapter or it's connection, since
the same external HDD is accepted when plugged in to a USB..
 
Thanks, I am chatting with Dell now and they say I should reinstall the
OS from the Dell CD..
I'll let you know the results if I can find the CD (I may have to order
one)..
The adapter is built in with a 1394 jack on the side of the laptop..
I believe the trouble is with the 1394 adapter or it's connection, since
the same external HDD is accepted when plugged in to a USB..
Click to expand...

It seems absurd to re-install the OS since in USB mode it's fine. It's
not the OS, it's the 1394 adapter I would think. Maybe you could find
a cheap PCMCIA one on eBay and disable the built-in one? Hope it turn
out well. Follow up if you solve the problem though, yes?
 
Back
Top