Firewire under linux

My problem is detailed here if it works (It didn't when I tried it before).

http://sourceforge.net/mailarchive/forum.php?thread_id=2006008&forum_id=5387

so I will post it here too:

I have a Formac CDRW.
I keep getting problems saying that login has timed out.
The first time I plugged it in, it was fine, it detected the drive and
assigned /dev/sr2 to it. Now everytime I try, it comes up with this error.
My firewire cable is a little loose, so i have been having problems getting
the drive to be detected as plugged in sometimes.
Is there any way of resetting everything back to how it was when it installed
the modules?
would doing a rmod on the modules work?
or is there something more serious going on here?
Also my firewire port 'sparks' if the plug makes contact with the outside of
the port (metal) which knocks out my network card briefly and sometimes
knocks out my USB devices.

I have my /var/log/messages if you wish to see it.
I will post it to my website
http://www.linuxgeek.vispa.com/messages.txt

If there is anything else you need, please let me know.
I am using a Dell Inspiron 8100 with SuSE 8.1 2.4.19-4GB about to upgrade to
SuSE 8.2.

thanks
George