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General discussion

Firewire device limit?

Jan 19, 2007 1:22AM PST

I've ignored this inconvenience for a while but thought I'd try to find a solution here. I have a Dell Dimension, XPPro with a firewire desktop recorder and 2 FW daisy chained HDDs in Adaptec enclosures.

XP will only recognize 2 devices at a time. If I shutoff the recorder before boot, the other 2 drives will be enabled and work fine. I'd like to use all 3 simultaneously but don't know what's causing the problem. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated.
Bob

Discussion is locked

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Well we do have one issue.
Jan 20, 2007 11:43AM PST

Firewire was unloved by Microsoft for years. Even today I don't reccomend firewire for hard disks on the Windows OS. But do for the Apple OS.

This is borne by having to help too many recover files from firewire drives on Windows. I don't want to debate this, but only to share my experiences.

You will find some that can't resist and will trumpet items why it should be better but the risk is too much in my book. Move back to USB 2.0 and see if it just works.

If you feel it should work, pester your PC maker and Microsoft.

Bob

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CREATIVE Specifications/
Jan 22, 2007 6:55PM PST

FireWire (IEEE 1394) Compatibility
Compliant to IEEE 1394a specification
Supports data rates of 100, 200, and 400 Mbps
Supports up to 63 FireWire (IEEE 1394) compatible devices in a daisy-chain configuration
Supplies up to 3 watts to FireWire (IEEE 1394) compatible devices
======================================================================
This is the SPECIFICATIONS:CREATIVE Audigy 2ZS SoundCard and FIREWIRE.

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Firewire device limit?
Jan 22, 2007 9:04PM PST

I know I should be able to run multiple FW devices. The issue is why Windows XP won't recognize all three simultaneously.
Thank you.

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Because....
Jan 23, 2007 1:27AM PST

Microsoft grudgingly implemented firewire. In theory there is no hardware limit here. It's the OS.

XP appears to be shutdown as to fixes for things like this.

Bob