I recently installed a USB 2.0/firewire card from a company called QPS in my PC. Although the USB 2.0 functions worked normally, I couldn't get either of my firewire devices (iPod 2G 20gb, Kanguru 250gb external USB 2.0/1394 hard drive) to work with the card. Then, when I tried to plug the devices into my existing firewire port, they suddenly wouldn't work there either! I've tried 3 different computers now, including my iBook, and I can't get the drives to mount on any of them, even in OS X's disk utility (both drives work cross-platform). My Kanguru still works in USB 2.0 mode, and my iPod still plays music, but I can't any computer to see them when plugged into a firewire port. It seems this PCI card damaged my devices!

I contacted QPS tech support, and this was their reply:

"yes it seem to be a defected card. you may want to return it."

It would seem their tech support is manned by 9-year-olds. Meanwhile I'm stuck with a defective PCI card and about $750 of firewire paperweights. What should I do?

If you firewire devices have USB capabilities (i.e. your iPod) try and get firmware updates for them.

I know this defiantely work for an iPod, as Apple give you free updates via there software update.

IF this doesn't work, there might be a legal case for you in the respect that the QPS PCI card might / has damaged your firewire devices. I will try and look into this for you.



Regards
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Meck