Pragi,
 
I am using stock fire wire cables.
 
I am using a high end hand made cable for my guitar.
 
I am not sure I have answered your question.

OK,
I don´t know of which quality the stock cabels of Motu are,
but low quality cables (firewire) could be a cause for problems.
good luck

I purchased these cables separately from Cables to Go...the hi-end ones.
 
Where should I have bought them?
 

When I responded to your question the first time I meant to respond to the "symmetric" part of it.
 
My response was lacking in detail I am sorry.
 
I should have said the fire wire were of better quality.
 
What I was trying to do was speak to the fact that I really was not aware of whether or not they were symmetric.
 
 

But if this are high end (firewire)cables- this can´t be a reason, except it´s demaged.
Once I had similar prob with my desktop pc ,
don´t know if it helps in your case:
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Pops-and-crackles-with-a-twist-m2953259.aspx
regards

Ok,
so my last post was to late.
Imo except the firewire-,mic- and instrument cables all other cables should be symmetric.
 
 
 

You said you removed interface SW?
Then go back and make sure the firewire driver is still legacy.
Re: cables.
The length can make a big difference, prob more than cable manufacturer. Use the shortest firewire cable you can get away with.
My interface barely connects with a 10ft cable. Works perfectly with a 3ft cable.
I was recording at my friend's studio (same Tascam interface as mine) . I had just bought a used tube pre-amp. After a couple of takes I started to hear an intermittent noise in my monitored guitar track. I suspected the pre-amp but we eliminated that. After about 2 hours of checking everything under the sun, I replugged the firewire cable on the computer end.  Been fine for 6 months.
re: windows.
Sounds like you have laptop stability issues. I don't think Windows update should fix a boot problem. Cause one possibly but not likely to fix one.
I would run scandisk after any kind of Windows 7 crash.

A good one above.

Legacy...confirmed.
 
Cable length...3 feet. I will unplug and re-insert.
 
I will run scan disk.
 
The only other thing I can think of is that I used to run Security Essentials...completely disabled, of course, but used when necessary, after updates etc.
 
Then I took the advice on this forum and loaded CCleaner, Avast and Malwarebytes. Completely disabled of course, but maybe I should re-consider.
 
Thanks...I will keep you posted. No rehearsal...I have the flu.
 
 

Legacy...confirmed.
 
Cable length...3 feet. I will unplug and re-insert.
 
I will run scan disk.
 
The only other thing I can think of is that I used to run Security Essentials...completely disabled, of course, but used when necessary, after updates etc.
 
Then I took the advice on this forum and loaded CCleaner, Avast and Malwarebytes. Completely disabled of course, but maybe I should re-consider.
 
Thanks...I will keep you posted. No rehearsal...I have the flu.