Its a canon md205 that works fine without software on another computer, so I don't think canon is the problem. (?)

I am using a firewire 800 belkin card in my dell inspiron 1545 laptop, then a 4 pin to 9 pin firewire cable to connect up.

Windows vista and premeier pro.

I think it may be the firewire cable, the 4 to 9 thing. The firewire card is fine, it comes up in devices as the right port. But when i plug it all together nothing happens.
I'm wondering if despite the firewire card supposedly being reverse compatible, the camera just doesn't like the new firewire....?

Premier Pro doesnt have my make of camera in its list indevice control either.

Any other ideas about what it could be? I've looked on the canon site for drivers but they don't have any and a computer expert told me the driver should install automatically on any computer.