1394 Connection not needed?

I am running on WindowsXP Pro. Not experiencing any problem. I am seeing
an icon for a 1394 Connection in my quick launch area (where the clock
resides). I started looking into this and have a few questions.

System: I have a cable modem hooked into a Linksys 802.11b wireless
router. I have a Windows 98 second edition machine plugged into the router
and a Windows XP Pro laptop most times plugged into the router. Both with
Ethernet cables. I have a wireless G card I plug into my laptop at other
time to go wireless. I do not have any Firewire stuff implemented.

With my network up and running the 1394 Connection icon is present in my
laptop tray. When I right click the status says connected, the speed says
400mBps. I’d never seen the icon flashing. If I click on repair it says
that this TCP/IP is not turned on for this connection, but it is. The back
of my laptop has a firewire connected but there is nothing connected to it.
So I apparently don’t need this connection, at least for now.

Question: Would this connection 1394 connection have been set up at the
computer factory because the computer came with a firewire connector? And
that is why I see the Icon with a status that says its running even though
it is not connected to anything?

Question: Is the 1394 being enabled but with nothing attached to it
impacting any of my network functions? Should I just disable the 1394
connection?

I also found that the 1394 was the first choice under Network Connections/
Advanced/Advanced Settings/Adapters and Bindings – Order in which network
connections are attempted. I changed the order to go to my Local Area
Connection first then to the Wireless connection. I've not noticed any
adverse or benificial impact by changing the order.

TIA

In article <Xns97067ED06E817pinger@207.46.248.16>, "T. Duprex"
<tduprexATlandmark.net> wrote:
>I am running on WindowsXP Pro. Not experiencing any problem. I am seeing
>an icon for a 1394 Connection in my quick launch area (where the clock
>resides). I started looking into this and have a few questions.
>
>System: I have a cable modem hooked into a Linksys 802.11b wireless
>router. I have a Windows 98 second edition machine plugged into the router
>and a Windows XP Pro laptop most times plugged into the router. Both with
>Ethernet cables. I have a wireless G card I plug into my laptop at other
>time to go wireless. I do not have any Firewire stuff implemented.
>
>With my network up and running the 1394 Connection icon is present in my
>laptop tray. When I right click the status says connected, the speed says
>400mBps. I’d never seen the icon flashing. If I click on repair it says
>that this TCP/IP is not turned on for this connection, but it is. The back
>of my laptop has a firewire connected but there is nothing connected to it.
>So I apparently don’t need this connection, at least for now.
>
>Question: Would this connection 1394 connection have been set up at the
>computer factory because the computer came with a firewire connector? And
>that is why I see the Icon with a status that says its running even though
>it is not connected to anything?
>
>Question: Is the 1394 being enabled but with nothing attached to it
>impacting any of my network functions? Should I just disable the 1394
>connection?
>
>I also found that the 1394 was the first choice under Network Connections/
>Advanced/Advanced Settings/Adapters and Bindings – Order in which network
>connections are attempted. I changed the order to go to my Local Area
>Connection first then to the Wireless connection. I've not noticed any
>adverse or benificial impact by changing the order.
>
>TIA

I think that you've figured it out pretty well.

Windows XP automatically creates a 1394 connection for networking if a
computer has a FireWire port. A 1394 connection always says that it's
connected, even when it isn't. It isn't having a noticeable impact on
any of your network functions. Since you're not using it, you can
disable it.

BTW, the area by the clock is the "system tray" or "notification
area".
--
Best Wishes,
Steve Winograd, MS-MVP (Windows Networking)

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