Dude, please tell me that you got an card that fits into one of your empty slots that provides you a Firewire port out of the back of the comp. 

The card should have come with a disk, or you can visit the website of the manufacturer.  Some might be plug and play, but you still need the driver.  Did it come with documentation. 

Oh hell, just give use the make and model and part number so we can help you further.

Isn't that card like 3 years old?

 

Check under the Device Manager in the Control Panel.  It might say something like "1394 IEEE Host Controller", that's the device.  If it isn't showing up, your PC may not be detecting it.

Will do a search this morning.  However, do this for the moment:

Go to START > CONTROL PANEL > SYSTEM (or PERFORMANCE AND MAINTENANCE > SYSTEM if you're in non-classic/classic view) > HARDWARE TAB > DEVICE MANAGER BUTTON.

Do you see a little icon for the card name there?  Expand all the icons one level and see if it's hiding if you don't see it.  If you do see it, does it have a bright yellow question mark next to it?

Also, go to your BIOS - power on, hold down F1 key until you get a DOS-looking screen.  Some computers will let you use a mouse, but usually they are keyboard arrow driven.  ENTER gets  you to next sub-level.  ESC gets you out of it.  On the main level, arrow right or left takes you to the adjacent tab.

Look for something labeled PnP, for plug and play and see if it is enabled or disabled.  You may not have the option of viewing - hey, what kind of machine do you have?  Mobo maker and model number?  Anyway, you may or may not have the option to view such information. 

Also, there may be an area in BIOS that lists PCI devices.  Check to see if it's listed there.  If you see a section for PCI devices, is that area enabled or disabled?

Whatever  you do, exit WITHOUT saving even if you didn't change anything - just in case you're drunk and you did. 

And how long ago did you get this from Bestbuy?  Still within the return period?

Report back.

That's good news. 

You know, you gotta savor the ones that make it.  Day in and day out there are going to be ones that just don't make it.  Those are the hard cases to get over.

I mean, one minute they're on the table doing fine, and the next nothing.  It's as if God has chosen that very moment for them to give up the ghost so you can question your own purpose and existence in the universe.

So you have to take your victories where  you can.  Heck, the poor little guy in the adjacent thread tried and tried, but in the end, there was no hope.  Why was that?  Why I ask you?  Why, why why?

I HATE YOU GOD!!!!

Which leads to the following vid.  I don't get it.