Lenovo quad core laptop running Win7 Pro. 2nd Mackie Blackbird interfaces linked to first via adat and then first unit linked to laptop using 4 pin firewire connector. Using ASIO.
 
Interfaces are recognized by the pc, the blackbird control panel and X2. X2 starts recording (16 tracks) but then stops recording after a random period of time (typically 5-10 minutes). After this happens have to restart X2 and power off/on the Blackbirds to get them recognized again.
 
The same blackbird config had been working for 2 years on an old Pentium 3 laptop running XP via a PCMCIA firewire card. PC died an untimely death.
 
Drivers are all current. Can't sort out the issue.
 
Any suggestions?

The firewire connector/chipset probably isn't good enough for audio (a Texas Instruments chipset is recommended for firewire connection for audio applications) and/or the system has programs/services/power saving features causing conflicts (bloatware, drives/ports falling asleep, Windows and AV doing stuff in the background, etc).
 
First thing to do is optimize the system to make sure the drives/ports aren't falling asleep and to disable any un-needed startup programs.

And considering this happens after ten minutes it really does sound like a power saving feature kicking in. Make sure your laptop is not configured to fall asleep using the Windows Power Management section of the control panel. You may also have a "green" drive on the system which are not recommended.

Thanks Beepster...Will give those suggestions a try.
 
 

Hopefully just checking those settings will help. However, and I hate to say it, the Mackie may also be part of the problem. I've seen some complaints about driver issues so maybe the XP drivers were solid but the Win7 drivers are not. I'd recommend doing some google searches for the model to see if you can find any similar complaints for that specific device.
 
Also you were using PCMCIA card before which may have had the right set of chips or whatever would be used in those to make it work like a good Texas Instruments card and I'm assuming your new laptop has a direct firewire port. So if that or the drivers are the problem then maybe a new interface may be something to consider. The USB ones work very well and avoid the Firewire issue.
 
Exhaust all other possibilities first though. I just wanted to mention these things so you are aware of them if it does come down to that.
 
Good luck.