What operating system are you using? For XP or 2000.....go to the hardware manager and check to see if there are any devices with a yellow exclamation sign. If there are try removing the device and select re-detect (scan for hardware changes). Usb and firewire devices are autodetected by WinXp and in most cases by Win2000. Try also to plug the device into a different port.....unless the device is messed up it should be detected....can you try the device with another PC?...always an option.