Due to issues with its FireWire implementation, we recommend that users with multiple FireWire interfaces do not install Service Pack 2 for Windows XP at this time (October 13, 2004). Under SP 2, multiple interfaces may not stay clocked together properly. If you have already installed Service Pack 2 and are experiencing difficulties using your FireWire interfaces, you can remove Service Pack 2 as follows:

• Go to the Add/Remove Programs control panel.
• Locate Service Pack 2 and remove it.

If you cannot remove SP 2, you can minimize this behavior by disabling inputs and outputs if you're not using them, such as the optical ADAT I/O. Also, we have found that while the behavior is still present in Vista, by changing your host's Buffer Size you should be able to find a setting which allows multiple interfaces to work in your system.

An alternative would be to connect one interface directly to the computer and use one interface in standalone mode, connecting it via ADAT optical. For example, you can connect an 828mkII directly to the computer, and connect the optical output of an 8pre (running in standalone converter mode) into the 828mkII's optical input. When using this method, Windows will only directly see one interface. Another alternative is using one FireWire interface and one USB2 interface.

Additionally, there is a second Service Pack 2 FireWire issue which may compound this. Microsoft has offered a hotfix that may resolve this. Go to this Microsoft page for more information and instructions for installing the hotfix. This does not affect systems with Vista.