FireWire is a plug and play connection that automatically detects devices connected to the bus and assigns each an address, a process called enumeration, so if you connect a new FireWire device to your computer, the operating system automatically detects it and asks for the driver disc. If you have already installed the device, the computer will activate it and start talking to it. FireWire devices are hot pluggable, meaning they can be connected and disconnected at any time, even with power on.| CaseOnline.com