Polak76,Unplug your Firewire cable fromyour video cam to the computer. Before you start, make a restore point of windows. Start--->All Programs-->Accessories-->Sytem tools-->System Restore..Go through the wizards and when then choose "create a restore point" when it asks for it.Then navigate your way to the device manager (right click on My Computer--->Properties-->Hardware--->Device Manager>...see if the Firewire is there....and uninstall it..Then replug the cable and see what happens.
LAstly just to throw a curve ball, if i uninstall the 1394 Firewire connection form device Manager, plug in the Video Camera, nothing happens. Then if I unplug the Firewire Cable i get the typical sound of a plugin and the port reappears....very odd.
What happened to the PC between when you first used the camera and last used the camera? Any updates run? It's entirely possible there could be some sort of driver conflict.
It could be something as simple as the default drive name being used... have you added any hardware in the time between trying the thing the first time? Or do you have a flashdrive or something plugged in that may be using the drive letter name?
- You ruled out the cable? (tried another cable, tried that one with different device if possible, etc.)
Firewire port(s) is/are listed in Device manager? (also check IRQs for possible conflicts)
What camera is that? (if you don't mind me asking)
A couple of random thoughts: - You ruled out the cable? (tried another cable, tried that one with different device if possible, etc.) - Firewire port(s) is/are listed in Device manager? (also check IRQs for possible conflicts) - Check the event log; there's a slight chance it might contain some useful clue... - A friend of mine had a similar problem, but since you said you have everything up-to date, this probably isn't related... (still, you might want to check you have applied this, this and this; it did the trick for us, even though as far as I'm concerned, it might've as well been full moon...) - What camera is that? (if you don't mind me asking)