laptop cd-r firewire connection

I can’t get my laptop to recognize my external freecom firewire cd-r.
Have tried add/remove hardware, preloaded software and drivers(freecoms’ easy cd creator cd) updating m’board drivers, reloading firewire drivers etc. An extra firewire pccard.(the laptop has an inbuilt firewire port) all to no avail.
Is there something i’m missing.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.(cpu 2.0ghz celeron. teac dvd, phoenix bios)

Cheers
Grogues
My laptop has a SIS 650 chipset and