This is my final attempt to see if anyone knows of a workaround to get my Yamaha n12 series mixing desk FireWire drivers to install with Windows 10.
The Yamaha n 12 has stopped working and Windows 10 just won’t install the basic Yamaha n Series fw drivers.
I have installed these drivers many times before so I am thinking it’s maybe to do with the latest windows 10 update before Microsoft stops all support for windows 10 in Jan 2025.
So I have reinstalled Windows 10 offline installation, no internet connection and blocked Windows 10 auto updates for a while.
I have also installed Microsoft legacy driver for my 1394a FireWire card.
I thought I had it going to start with but no luck.
In windows device manager under sound controllers
I can see Yamaha n series driver but it is not installed.
When I switch on the mixing desk
I then can also see in windows device manager
Yamaha Steinberg FW bus as installed
Yamaha WDM Audio as installed
Yamaha WDM Midi as installed
I would have thought that my above actions would have worked but unfortunately not.
I’m just wondering if anyone can think of anything else worth trying before I go and purchase new equipment.
Many thanks
hey i have the N12 running on windows 10 latest update, whilst the n12 is acting slightly weird on times… it usually behaves! however what i have found is to uninstall the updates and pause any future updates! always make sure the n12 is the 1st device powered on… then PC as the FW driver needs to initialize on win bootup… this can sometimes fail… i would uninstall any drivers, download the last win10 X64 bit and start a fresh, also consider if your N12 needs the firmware updating as that maybe causing issues? let me know how you get on!
I’m glad yours is still working,I’ve tried everything you suggested,still no joy.
I think their is probably a hardware issue,I can’t complain I’ve had my money’s worth.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Have you tried turning off “core isolation”?
Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → Core isolation
Old unsigned/un-updated drivers need this off.
I guess you have already tried installing drivers in ‘Compatibility mode’ ?
I certainly haven’t heard of that one but I’ll give it try,thanks for that. 
Again I didn’t know about compatibility mode.
Ill certainly check this out as well, many thanks.
Also, you could try disabling Driver Signiture Enforcement and then install the Driver/s.
Thats another option you’ve given me,thanks very much
Ive tried what you guys have suggested,
Running in compatibility mode,
Switching off digital signature and core isolation,
My PC is already running with core isolation switched off
I have included a couple of images,
One image from the core isolation settings,the memomory integrity cannot be switched on because of the files that are in this image.
The second pic is just to show you the yamaha drivers.
The yamaha n series fw is the only driver that wont install.
The Yamaha Steinberg FW Bus is installed
The Yamaha Steinberg FW WDM Audio is installed
The Yamaha Steinberg FW WDM Midi is installed
As for the Firewirecard which is a Startech Pci-e PEX 1394A2V
I have the 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller LEGACY Driver installed at the moment.
It does not make any difference if the VIA 1394 OHCI Driver is installed or the legacy is installed.
Im wondering if the Yamaha n12 would work with a firewire 800 card
Maybe the 800 card better supports windows 10 and 11,i dont know if this is a possibility.
In the yamaha n 12 manual it recommends using a 400 card but i can see from this forum that othe people are using the yamaha n12 with firewire 800 ?
Im using an audio interface just now,but i just prefer the digital desk.
Any more suggestions would be welcome.
Core isolation was already turned off when I checked it after your suggestion.
I have added an image of the incompatible drivers for every one to see in this Topic, I can’t switch off memory integrity, I’ve trying removing these incompatible files but I can’t get rid of the ohci system files.
It’s beyond my knowledge 
on mine, I have to use the 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy)
You might find it here and will have to manually install it, and it may not work (it allows me to use my TC SK48)
Not to be that guy but part of the problem may be your card.
It has always been recommended to use Texas Instrument based 1394 cards for audio, going back to the 90s.
I too used VIA chipsets back in the days of 98, 2000 and XP but when I updated to Windows 7 the only thing that would work was a TI based card. Even though at that time I was using a motherboard with a built in firewire 400 port, I had to go buy a PCIe card with a TI chip to get audio (MOTU 828ii) to work in Windows 7. Also, you will most likely get the best results with a 400 type card.
I would strongly suggest that you need something like this:
Please note that it is 50% more expensive than similar cards on Amazon that have more ports on them. You are paying more for fewer ports, and it only does 400. You are paying for the TI chip and a driver that works with that chip.
It is important that even in windows 10/11 your device manager says “Texas Instruments 1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller”. This driver is from 2006. It is provided by Microsoft and the version I am using is listed as 10.0.19041.1 but it is very clearly only for TI chips.
I’d say give that a try and if it doesn’t work you only spent 30 or so dollars.
This is what I used to run with my N12 back in the day. I miss that thing, but I long retired it. Was a great device, lots of good projects on it. But I don’t have it anymore so I can’t help. But I definitely stuck with TI-based cards.
I think you are likely right about this; my firewire soundcard only works with a TI chipset and the legacy drivers.
IIRC the best FW card is now the updated TI chipset which runs the FW800 cards. These often have 400 and 800 ports but work with later versions of windows.
M
I’m very much listening to what your saying djpat.
And it all makes good sense which is based on your own personal experience.
I don’t understand about Texas Instrument chip set, but if that’s got a better chance of working I’ll give I ago.
My FireWire card just now is Startech Pex1394a2v.
So you think this new Startech fw cardis a better option I’ll give it. Gow
Vom is
If it doesn’t work £30 ain’t going to break the bank
Dmk
Thanks very much I’ll have a good look at it.
Sounds very promisingly 