Microsoft Windows XP SP2 1394 hotfix

[David_Powell]

A number of people have posted here about performance issues with their IEEE 1394 (aka 'Firewire') devices, after upgrading a Windows XP system to SP2. The Windows networking & devices team at Microsoft has released a hotfix to address this issue. You can read about the problem and how to download the fix in this KnowledgeBase article. The KB article includes information and a link to the fix on the download center.

I haven't had a chance to download and install this yet myself (I'll try it tonight) but expect it will do the trick. I have an older Lexar 1394 CF reader I can test it with, but do not personally have an external 1394 drive to test it with (yet).

SP2 is a really important update to Windows XP...so much more than just adding a firewall to the product.

-David

[Paul_Caldwell]

Thanks David,

Curious, I have noticed a strange issue with my firewire since I moved to XP.


If I have one firewire drive installed, and plue a new one it, XP does the auto discovery and the new drive comes up, however now the original drive give me a "delayed write error". I can see it in Windows explorer, however if you go to open a file you get this error.

Only way to get original drive back, is power it off, then back on and it will come back on. Auto discover it. However sometimes the 2nd drive won't work. It's kind of back and forth.

I have also noticed that I will get this if I use a firewire card reader, and pull out a card.

Have you seen this?

Paul

[David_Powell]

Which version of XP are you running? The original 2001 release, XP SP1, or XP SP2?

[David_Powell]

Also meant to ask: Which 1394 controller do you have in your system? You can usually get that from the device manager (start -> run -> devmgmt.msc).

[BruceInfantino]

Thanks for the info Dave I needed that...

[Paul_F_Caldwell]

David,

I have XP Professional SP2 installed.

There are actualy two Fireware 1394 controllers installed.

One is a Belkin, 2 port PCI card, just says Generic controller.

The other is one that came with my Gigabyte board, Says Texax instruments. Actually not sure which is which.

I have had 2 sep 1394's installed before, do you feel that might be the problem?

Thanks
Paul Caldwell

[David_Powell]

"Generic controller" sounds like the 1394 driver doesn't recognize the chip. I'm not at home, so I can't easily check my own system until tonight.

Into which controller is each drive plugged?

Is write caching enabled on either drive? The delayed write message you're seeing suggests it is.

It's a bit buried, but to check that, right-click on the drive icon in your "My Computer" window, then choose Properties (bottom of the pop-up). Click on the Hardware tab of the Properties window, click on the name of the drive to select it, then click the Properties button. You'll get another dialog box; click on the Policies tab of that. The radio button should be set to "optimize for quick removal".