Panzy wrote:
"J David Ellis" wrote in message
...

snipped longwinded and almost coma inducing problem description

Basically all computers recognise the attached connected firewire device
you are just not getting the "balloons" and a Notification area (system
tray) icon with a couple of XP computers ?

The task bar/system tray/notification area "ballooon" when device is
connected:
If you are not getting any "balloons" - such as when anti-virus is updating
or when you connect to the internet etc etc, then "balloons" is switched
off!
The balloon tips can be switched off by a registry hack, third party
software
or corruption.

If device is not being recognised at all and/or missing icon:
It may well be corruption, see issue on shell32.dll
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/libr...59(VS.85).aspx
(You can do your own search on all Shell32.dll patching/workarounds)

A very brief google on the subject found that some resolved
in two ways with such a connected device:
Connect firewire device, power device ON.
Then LogOff (Not reboot) and Logon again with device remaining connected.
Or
If more than one active user profile with those computers.
Logoff, and when logging on again, at password prompt await for startiup
activity to subside - watch front panel light, then enter password.
Implied is a bloated configuration and a slow or fragmented HDD?
But try it.

And a zillion other reasons, from simply it didn't load, goto StartRun
Type: msconfig
In ensuing dialog under general tab, ensure selected:
"Normal Startup - load all device drivers and services"

Now update those XP computers to SP3 and latest Netframework.
Download and install latest DirectX:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

In Device Manager check the IEEE1394 bus host controller is listed and
not flagged with a yellow exclaimation mark, if so:
RIGHT click and from menu select "Uninstall"
Click to comfirm
Once Uninstalled, close all windows and reboot. On reboot hopefully XP will
reinstall thecard correctly.
If not and still listed in device manager as problematic, then download
and install uptodate drivers for IEEE1394 bus host controller (do your
own searching for it).

I can be just as longwinded.


thank you, panzy, for the great list. nothing in the list fixed the problem.
the most important symptom of this problem, at the risk of being long winded,
is the "digital video device" dialog box never appears, in spite of the "av/c
tape device" line appearing in device manager and the audio bong bong when the
camera is switched on. it is those concurrent events that must be explained.