[Gary Sams]

When I try to capture video to Windows Movie Maker from my digital camcorder
using a firewire port I get the following message - 'The video device cannot
be used at this time because there has been an error when starting the
device'.
I suspect the problem is with the firewire card - as I can find no reference
to the card in device manager. Device manager does show a yellow question
mark against Other Devices - PCI Simple Communications controller, for which
it can't find a driver.

Things used to work without problems, but since then there have been a
number of changes to my computer including a new hard drive, and the
installation of SP2,

Any ideas?

Thanks

Gary

[John Kelly]

Hello,

It sounds as though you have identified the problem. A re-install using the
full version of SP2 seems a good idea. Its a hefty download or if you have
it on CD all the better. You should install it while disconnectewd from the
net.....ensures that what you see in the way of messages are not the result
of some poor communication with the microsoft site.

Firewire cards based on the Texas Instruments chipset have been reported
as troublesome in the past.

Normally you do not need to worry about a driver for the firewire card.
on the many machines I have set up XP always provides the interface itself.

A good procedure to adopt is to turn your computer off and remove the
card. Then reboot the machine twice (wait for it to settle down ) and then
put the card back...if lucky XP will do the found new hardware routine and
your problem should be fixed

Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org

"Gary Sams" <garysams@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:VpmdnUPh0osAOFrfRVnyvA@pipex.net...
> When I try to capture video to Windows Movie Maker from my digital
> camcorder using a firewire port I get the following message - 'The video
> device cannot be used at this time because there has been an error when
> starting the device'.
> I suspect the problem is with the firewire card - as I can find no
> reference to the card in device manager. Device manager does show a yellow
> question mark against Other Devices - PCI Simple Communications
> controller, for which it can't find a driver.
>
> Things used to work without problems, but since then there have been a
> number of changes to my computer including a new hard drive, and the
> installation of SP2,
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks
>
> Gary
>

[Gary Sams]

Thanks, I have tried those suggestions but nothing changes (I still have SP2
on my computer from when I downloaded it the first time. I may have found
the problem but I don't understand it. What is a 'simple communications
controller'. Is it the expansion slot or the card that my computer is not
recognising?

Gary


"John Kelly" <webmaster@the-kellys.org> wrote in message
news:uIOH0s7fFHA.2372@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> It sounds as though you have identified the problem. A re-install using
> the
> full version of SP2 seems a good idea. Its a hefty download or if you have
> it on CD all the better. You should install it while disconnectewd from
> the
> net.....ensures that what you see in the way of messages are not the
> result
> of some poor communication with the microsoft site.
>
> Firewire cards based on the Texas Instruments chipset have been
> reported
> as troublesome in the past.
>
> Normally you do not need to worry about a driver for the firewire card.
> on the many machines I have set up XP always provides the interface
> itself.
>
> A good procedure to adopt is to turn your computer off and remove the
> card. Then reboot the machine twice (wait for it to settle down ) and then
> put the card back...if lucky XP will do the found new hardware routine and
> your problem should be fixed
>
> Best Wishes.....John Kelly
> www.the-kellys.org
>
> "Gary Sams" <garysams@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:VpmdnUPh0osAOFrfRVnyvA@pipex.net...
>> When I try to capture video to Windows Movie Maker from my digital
>> camcorder using a firewire port I get the following message - 'The video
>> device cannot be used at this time because there has been an error when
>> starting the device'.
>> I suspect the problem is with the firewire card - as I can find no
>> reference to the card in device manager. Device manager does show a
>> yellow question mark against Other Devices - PCI Simple Communications
>> controller, for which it can't find a driver.
>>
>> Things used to work without problems, but since then there have been a
>> number of changes to my computer including a new hard drive, and the
>> installation of SP2,
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Gary
>>
>
>

[John Kelly]

Hello,

"Gary Sams" <garysams@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:2IednYZHIoBdclXfRVnyiw@pipex.net...
> Thanks, I have tried those suggestions but nothing changes (I still have
> SP2 on my computer from when I downloaded it the first time. I may have
> found the problem but I don't understand it. What is a 'simple
> communications controller'. Is it the expansion slot or the card that my
> computer is not recognising?

Assuming the motherboard is not damaged (this sort of thing happened to
me once...and it was because I was to heavy handed with it) it will be the
card that is not recognised.

Did you follow the procedure outlined in the last paragraph of my
previous message? An additional step in that procedure is to go to the
hardware device manager and delete the device (Remove entry) or, if it will
not permit it DISABLE it. Then....swap the cards around and if you have
enough slots do not re-use the slot that the problem card was in. (All of
these slots have a reference that the Bios and OS read) changing the slot
forces XP to reconfigure.

If that does not fix things their is a more drastic approach. Reboot the
machine and press the DEL key as it boots (It might be another key...check
manual if not sure) You will be presented with the BIOS setup screen. You
should find information at the bottom or right hand side that will say
something like "Press F7 to load system defaults" DO NOT select the key for
loading TURBO MODE if one is offered. Most people think that this is for
making the system run faster and whilst that is true it is only part of the
reason...manufacturers use the option to test for system failure points
etc...it is not for general use. Anyway, once you have loaded the default
options press F10 to SAVE & EXIT the bios setup.

Reloading system defaults may cause the next power-up cycle to take
longer than it usually does...its a mixed blessing if it does as it usually
means that there was something wrong with the assignments in the Bios and
windows is re-configuring its system settings as a result.

Whatever else happens if that card still does not work then there is a
good chance that it is either defective or unsuitable.

Short of having the card tested I don't think there is much more you can
do with regard to the card & XP

Hop that helps a little

Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org

[Gary Sams]

"John Kelly" <webmaster@the-kellys.org> wrote in message
news:%23sdK9wIgFHA.3656@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> Hello,
>
> "Gary Sams" <garysams@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:2IednYZHIoBdclXfRVnyiw@pipex.net...
>> Thanks, I have tried those suggestions but nothing changes (I still have
>> SP2 on my computer from when I downloaded it the first time. I may have
>> found the problem but I don't understand it. What is a 'simple
>> communications controller'. Is it the expansion slot or the card that my
>> computer is not recognising?
>
> Assuming the motherboard is not damaged (this sort of thing happened to
> me once...and it was because I was to heavy handed with it) it will be the
> card that is not recognised.
>
> Did you follow the procedure outlined in the last paragraph of my
> previous message? An additional step in that procedure is to go to the
> hardware device manager and delete the device (Remove entry) or, if it
> will not permit it DISABLE it. Then....swap the cards around and if you
> have enough slots do not re-use the slot that the problem card was in.
> (All of these slots have a reference that the Bios and OS read) changing
> the slot forces XP to reconfigure.
>
> If that does not fix things their is a more drastic approach. Reboot
> the machine and press the DEL key as it boots (It might be another
> key...check manual if not sure) You will be presented with the BIOS setup
> screen. You should find information at the bottom or right hand side that
> will say something like "Press F7 to load system defaults" DO NOT select
> the key for loading TURBO MODE if one is offered. Most people think that
> this is for making the system run faster and whilst that is true it is
> only part of the reason...manufacturers use the option to test for system
> failure points etc...it is not for general use. Anyway, once you have
> loaded the default options press F10 to SAVE & EXIT the bios setup.
>
> Reloading system defaults may cause the next power-up cycle to take
> longer than it usually does...its a mixed blessing if it does as it
> usually means that there was something wrong with the assignments in the
> Bios and windows is re-configuring its system settings as a result.
>
> Whatever else happens if that card still does not work then there is a
> good chance that it is either defective or unsuitable.
>
> Short of having the card tested I don't think there is much more you
> can do with regard to the card & XP
>
> Hop that helps a little
>
> Best Wishes.....John Kelly
> www.the-kellys.org
>

Yes, I did try re-booting twice without the card. I have also considered
swapping to another slot, though I have no spares and I would prefer not to
mess with things that are working. I will try your suggestions later, after
a good back-up, and let you know if they work,

Thanks

Gary

[Treeman]

Since I'm running SP1 I don't have the firewire or camera problem. The
following has been a fix that has worked in the past for some. Your
mileage may vary.
It involves reverting back to SP1 drivers, by renaming the SP2.cab
folder so it doesn't automatically reinsert SP2 drivers on boot.
(you will have to have these SP1 files in a folder on your hard drive)
Go to C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386 & C:\dllcache in SP1 and copy out
the
following files
1394bus.sys is in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers
arp1394.sys is in C:\Windows\System32\Drivers
nic1394.sys is in c:\Windows\System32\Drivers
ohci1394.sys is in C:\windows\System32\drivers
enum1394.sys is in C:\windows\system32\drivers
Copy out the following files to a new folder you can call
"Firewirefix," (without quotes)
If you don't have these files they are on any SP1 CD in the i386
folder.
(none of them will have a date older than 2004)


In your case I would;
1. Rename the SP2.cab file folder to SP2old.cab, shut off the
computer.
2. Remove the 1394 PCI card.
3. Start the computer normally, let XP SP2 see the card isn't present.
If it still shows up in System, Hardware, Device Manager, now would be
the time to uninstall the device from the drop down menu.
4. Shut off computer.
5. Plug in the 1394 card, start the computer.
If XP finds the "new'" device and wants drivers, let it use the SP1
drivers you've saved in the Firewirefix folder.
The only other fixes I've seen work was the purchase of a new firewire
card, a clean install of SP2 & updates, uninstalling SP2, or just
giving up.
Please post back your success or failure for the benifit of others.
Best,
Treeman


--
Treeman


------------------------------------------------------------------------
Treeman's Profile: http://www.msusenet.com/member.php?userid=1260
View this thread: http://www.msusenet.com/t-1870582640

[Gary Sams]

We have success!!!!!

I was so blinkered by the PCI Bus controller thing I did not notice at first
that the card was now appearing in device manager as a result of rebooting
twice. It is now working again.

I am still annoyed by the PCI Bus controller, but it may just mean that if I
ever want to go back from broadband to my old dial-up modem, I will need to
install the drivers,

Thanks a lot

Gary

[John Kelly]

There you go...glad its sorted for you (that was a taste of the wonderfull
world of XP) :) :) I was surprised when you first said it did not
work....but you need not feel alone by not noticing the outcome...its XP not
cleaning up after itself...

Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org

"Gary Sams" <garysams@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ZYKdndYXUcbf0lTfRVnygg@pipex.net...
>
> We have success!!!!!
>
> I was so blinkered by the PCI Bus controller thing I did not notice at
> first that the card was now appearing in device manager as a result of
> rebooting twice. It is now working again.
>
> I am still annoyed by the PCI Bus controller, but it may just mean that if
> I ever want to go back from broadband to my old dial-up modem, I will need
> to install the drivers,
>
> Thanks a lot
>
> Gary
>