1394 device causes windows xp to hang

I have an older digital video deck (Sony DSR 20) and digital camcorder (Sony
DSR 200). Each have a fire wire 1394 connection. They all worked fine over
the years. About a week ago I started having problems when I turn on the
deck. Windows XP totally freezes; task manager can’t even snap it out of the
trance.
What I’ve done to this point.
1. New fire wire cable
2. Reloaded windows xp on a new hard drive (needed more space anyway)
3. Bought and Installed newer version of windows xp
4. Plug in a newer camera (Sony DCR-HC96) everything works fine. I can
control the camera, capture from the camera, record to the camera… no
problems. I also have a Maxtor external hard drive connected to the same
1394, no problems with that.
5. Tried to connect deck directly to 1394 port on mother board, without
passing through external hard drive, same problem
6. Tried to connect to second 1394 port on mother board same problem.
Windows is current; no flags show up in device manager, newer camera works
fine as well as external hard drive. Both of the older devices (camera and
deck early 2000 era) are the only devices I having trouble with.
Anyone have any ideas? Trouble