Having problems with your Firewire port not recognizing devices connected to it? Your not alone.
We found a problem when we tried to use the FireWire port on our computers that were running Windows 10 ( and also Windows 7 and Windows 8). We were trying to import video into Vegas and Adobe Premiere, and we quickly found out that we couldn’t import video into the computer via the FireWire port. We never had this problem way back when we were running Windows XP.
At first we thought this was a compatibility problem between Windows 10 (Windows 8 and Windows 7) and Vegas and Adobe Premiere, but we quickly ruled that out when another program we have also had problems using the Firewire port.
However, we have the fix for this problem and it is with the Firewire driver (a.k.a. the 1394 Driver) in Windows 10 (and Windows 7 and Windows 8) comes with.
Please read this article first, then go back and follow the instructions to correct the problem.
Mac, Windows 10 64 bit, Windows 10, Windows 8.1 64 bit, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 64 bit, Windows 8, Windows 7 64 bit, Windows 7. The AC adaptor is needed when operating the FireWire Solo with a 6-pin to 4-pin FireWire connection, or when using the FireWire Solo as a stand-alone A/D converter. The AC adaptor is not needed when running the FireWire Solo on a standard 6-pin to 6-pin FireWire connection. Fixed a problem where the FireWire 1814 does not send S/PDIF out with 1.7.2 driver on a Mac Intel. M-Audio FireWire Solo.
Mac Applications filed under: FireWire (11 items). M-Audio FireWire Solo 1.10.5. Drivers and control panel software for M-Audio FireWire audio interfaces.
A Couple of Things Before We Get Started
The Firewire Port
Make sure you have either a Firewire port on the computer's motherboard or make sure you have a Firewire card installed in one of the expansion slots.
If you don't have Firewire port on the motherboard, they you will need to add a Firewire/1394 expansion card. These are not expensive and they should only run you about $20 to $25. If the Firewire card comes with drives, do NOT install them. You will need to install the Microsoft 1394 Firewire drive from this web page.
FireWire to USB Adapter Issues - Do NOT Use.
These adapters do NOT work for video and audio transfers. FireWire transfers data as a steady stream, while a USB connection transfers data as packets and thus they are not compatible. While there are Firewire to USB hubs (not adapters as shown below), these are more expensive than a FireWire card for your computer and some users have complained that the hubs are problematic.
Users have reported that they have electrically damaged the Firewire port on their camera or electrically damaged the USB port on their computer when attempting to use a Firewire to USB adapter. Please, do NOT use a Firewire to USB adapter!
Firewire Ports that are built-in to the Motherboard.
If your motherboard has a Firewire port, you will need to go into the BIOS and look for a setting that says something about the Firewire Port or IEEE 1394 or 1394 port. You will need to make sure this is set to Enable or ON.
If your motherboard has a Firewire port, but you are not going to use it and you are going to use a 1394 Firewire expansion card, then you will still need to go into the BIOS and set it for Disable or OFF.
Mouse Clicks
In this article, when we say to Click or Left Click, you will use the Left mouse button, as shown below. When we say Right Click, you want to click the Right mouse button, as shown below.
For Windows 10 and Windows 8 you will need to download the Legacy driver from below in the section marked The Fix for Windows 10 and Windows 8. Here we will show you step by step instructions, along with screen shots on downloading, installing and setting up the Firewire Drives.
For Windows 7 users, please skip down to the section titled 'The Fix for Windows 7'.
Mac Mini Firewire
The Fix for Windows 10 and Windows 8
With Windows 10 and 8, Microsoft left out the Firewire Legacy driver version. Please follow these steps exactly. In fact, you might want to read through them first, the go back and follow each step. I have provided screen shots for each step. If you are running Windows 8, the steps are exactly the same for Windows 10.
Step 1
Now download theMicrosoft Firewire 1394 Legacy Driver Installer and remember where you downloaded the file to. Then once you have downloaded the installer, follow the instructions below.
Find where you downloaded the file to. It will have the filename 1394_OHCI_LegacyDriver.msi as shown above.
Step 2
Then RIGHT click on 1394_OHCI_LegacyDriver.msi Next, click on Install as shown below. This will load the drivers to C:Program Files (x86)1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy) folder. NOTE: It will only take a second or two to install and it may not show you any messages when it is done installing.
Step 3
Go to the folder C:Program Files (x86)1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy), and open the folder.
Step 4
Once you open the 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy) folder, you will see two folders. One is the x64_driver folder and the other is the x86_driver folder. Most people are running a 64 bit systems under Windows 10, so you will need to open the x64_driver folder. If you are running a 32 bit system, then you will need to open the x86_folder.
Step 5
Once you have opened the correct folder, again most people will be opening the x64_driver folder, you will see four files as shown below. RIGHT click on the Legacy1394.inf file and then click on install. This will install the Firewire 1394 Legacy Drivers. NOTE: It will only take a second or two to install and then it returns you to the folder with no message that it has installed. But, don't worry it has installed.
2012 Mac Mini Firewire
Step 6
Open the Control Panel and click on Device Manager. Look for the line that says IEEE 1394 host controller. If you don't see a line that says IEEE 1394 Host Controller, then please scroll down to the Troubleshooting section at the bottom of this article.
NOTE: If you don’t see Device Manager listed in the Control Panel, click on View By: Category on the top right side of the Control Panel Window. Then Click on Large Icons you should now have a list of items in the Control Panel and click on Device Manager.
Below is a sample of what the Device Manager will show.
Step 7
Look down the list for IEEE 1394 host controllers and click on the arrow next to it. You will see the name of your 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller like shown below.
RIGHT click on the name of your 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller and click on Update Driver.
Step 8
Then select Browse my computer for driver software. As shown below.
Step 9
Select Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer as shown below. Then click on Next.
Step 10
A list of 1394 drivers will be shown. Select the 1394 OHCI compliant Host Controller (Legacy), then click next as shown below.
Step 11
Now you should see the screen below, saying Windows has successfully updated your drivers.
M-audio Firewire Solo Driver
Step 12
When you check 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy) as shown below.
NOTE: If you don't see the Legacy driver as shown below, you may need to reboot your computer and then check the Device Manager again.
Note: I received an email from Mike Tilka and he was having a problem getting the FireWire port working on his Dell XPS 8100 and on an Gateway computer with the drivers from above. He said he needed to get the driver from this link for his computers:
http://www.driverscape.com/manufacturers/dell/laptops-desktops/studio-xps-8100/134
If you have a Dell or a Gateway computer and the above fix doesn't work for you, then you might want to try the above link.
This fixes the problem 99% of the time. FireWire cards are not the expensive, they run from $10 and up, depending on any extra features the card may have.
NOTE: We have noticed that when Microsoft has issued certain updates, it can cause Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 to switch back to use the original 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller driver. If you notice the FireWire device is transferring slowly or not working, then just repeat the above steps and reinstall the Legacy driver.
M Audio Firewire Solo Driver
M-audio Firewire Solo Driver For Mac
The Fix for Windows 7
For Windows 7 simply replace the new 1394 driver with the Legacy driver that comes with Windows 7.
Below is the step by step instructions on how to install the Legacy driver so you won‘t have any problems either:
Click Start
Then click on Control Panel
Click on Device Manager
Note:If you don’t see Device Manager listed, click on View By: Category on the top right side of the Control Panel Window. Then Click on Large Icons you should now have a list of items in the Control Panel and click on Device Manager.
Under the Device Manager, look down the list for IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers and Double Click on it.
It should display something like - 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
Note: If it has the word (Legacy) behind it, you are already setup and you can just exit out.
Next, double click on the 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller
A window will popup saying 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller Properties
Click on the Driver Tab
Then look down in the widow and click on Update Driver
Then select - Browse my computer for driver software
Next select - Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer
It will bring up a list of drivers.
Click on 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy)
NOTE: It is important that you select the one with (Legacy) after it, just like shown above.
Then click Next
Once it installs the 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy),
it will say Windows has successfully updated your driver software.
Click on the Close button and exit out of all of the other windows.
Then Reboot your computer.
You will now be able to import video via the FireWire port on your computer.
If you are still having a problem importing video after you have switched the FireWire driver to Legacy, then the problem may be with the FireWire port. This is a common problem. The FireWire port will work with an external driver, but it won't let you import video from your video camera. Most people report this problem with Dell computer, but it does happen with other brands, even brand new computers. This problem is usually with the FireWire port that is built into the motherboard.
The fix is simple:
1. Install a FireWire card into one of the open slots in the computer
2. Using the instructions above, set the drive to Legacy.
3. Reboot the computer.
4. Then connect the FireWire cable from the video camera, into the new FireWire port that you just added.
This fixes the problem 99% of the time. FireWire cards are not the expensive, they run from $20 and up, depending on any extra features the card may have.
NOTE: We have noticed that when Microsoft has issued certain updates, it can cause Windows 7 to switch back to use the original 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller driver. If you notice the FireWire device is transferring slowly or not working, then just repeat the above steps and reinstall the Legacy driver.
Troubleshooting
If you do not see IEEE 1394 host controller listed in the Device Manager.
1. If you are using a Firewire Port that is built into the motherboard, then go into the system BIOS and look for a setting that says something about the Firewire Port or IEEE 1394 or 1394 port. You will need to make sure this is set to Enable or ON. Save the BIOS settings and reboot the computer. Now check to see if the IEEE 1394 host controller shows up in the Device Manager. If it does NOT, then you probably have something wrong with the Firewire Port on the motherboard. You will need to purchase a Firewire Expansion Card that plugs into one of the slots on the motherboard.
2. If you are using a 1394 Firewire expansion card, then you will still need to go into the BIOS and set it for Disable or OFF. Save the BIOS settings and reboot the computer. Next, check to see if the IEEE 1394 Host Controller is listed in the Device Manager. If it is NOT listed, then try moving the Firewire Expansion Card to another slot. Make sure you power off the computer before moving the Firewire card to another expansion slot. Now see if it shows up in the Device Manager. If it still does not show up, you make have a defective Firewire card. Try purchasing another card and see if it works.
You Can't Capture Video or Control the Video Camera
We have run into to this problem ourselves.
1. Make sure the software you are using still works with Firewire capture. I know that the latest version of Adobe Premiere Elements not longer support video capture through the Firewire Ports.
2. Some video editing or video capture software no longer supports device or camera control through the Firewire port. We have this problem with our video editing software. So here is what we do. Make sure the camera or playback deck it connected to the computer. Then press the record or video capture button in the software. Then manually press play on the camera. You should be able to capture the video now. If for some reason you can't, then you will need to check the software settings or see if the software you are using has a user forum, and ask for help there.
when a new version of macos is released it can cause drivers to be updated
if the manufactures of third party hardware is in good time those can be included in the os update
if they are / do not people have to go to the website of the manufacture and download their driver
a manufacture can also choose no longer to provide support for their older models in which case the only way to use the piece of hardware is to downgrade to a version of mac os which has working drivers for the device
Sep 21, 2017 4:42 AM