Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What is 1394 technology, and how do I troubleshoot 1394 problems?

A: IEEE 1394 is a high-speed serial bus known as Fire Wire® and i.Link™ by other vendors. IEEE 1394 has been broadly adopted by the electronics industry as the single bus to unify communications between emerging devices. IEEE 1394 can be used to connect 1394 digital camcorders, hard drives, scanners, optical drives, and other technologies that support IEEE 1394 connections. IEEE 1394 can handle up to 400 megabits per second (Mbps). IEEE 1394 is Plug and Play, which means that you can usually use an IEEE 1394 device by just plugging it into the appropriate port. Windows establishes communication between your computer and the device automatically. Some IEEE 1394 devices may need device drivers loaded.

There are two types of IEEE 1394 cable connectors: 4-pin and 6-pin.

IEEE 1394 4-pin cable connector:

IEEE 1394 4-pin cable connector

 IEEE 1394 6-pin cable connector:

IEEE 1394 6-pin cable connector

How do I troubleshoot 1394 problems?

  1. Ensure that the IEEE 1394 device is turned on, if applicable.

    Note: Some 1394 devices may require more power than what is provided by the computer. If the device does not have enough power to operate properly, check with the device manufacturer to see if an external power adapter is available.

  2. Ensure that the IEEE 1394 is connected properly. If possible, try another IEEE 1394 cable.

  3. Verify that the IEEE 1394 device is recognized properly via Device Manager or the application the device is being used with. This can vary depending on the IEEE 1394 devices being used. Some IEEE 1394 devices may need device drivers loaded.

  4. Use PC Doctor to test the IEEE 1394 device, if applicable.

  5. Try the IEEE 1394 device on another computer that supports IEEE 1394 to verify whether the computer or IEEE 1394 device may be causing the problem.

  6. If possible, try another IEEE 1394 device on the computer.