That is odd, I am not sure which firmware I use. I think it is the latest, the one that brings the autolevel and the settings display.
I do stick in the adapter first before I insert the firewire of the camera and wait a bit.
Does Phocus see the camera (bottom left in the image browser in Phocus)?
I have this error sometimes, also on other computers. It is most of the time a firewire error. Try another cable.