Windows 7: Firewire800 Backups

I have a LaCie 2TB external drive that I use to backup my internal drives using Acronis TI. On WinXP I was using Firewire800 and it worked flawlessly. When I switched to Windows 7 the Firewire800 transfer speed dropped dramatically. I've contacted LaCie and they say they can't guarantee Firewire800 with Windows7. I switched back to using USB and it works, but still slow. Would it be worth my while to install and run my TI backups via Firewire in virtual XP mode? Will this in fact work?

Thanks.

ps. does anyone foresee better future support in Windows7 for Firewire800?

Whatever the problem is, it is not LaCie. I have 4 Drives running on Firewire 800. They are from OWC. Someone else I know is also using Firewire 800 and I don't know the brand. We also have difficulties, about the same as yours.
I could try Firewire 400, but my guess is that is will do the same thing.
I have one ESATA drive. It works very well, but it must be on and connected when you boot. Turning it on once the machine is running does nothing.
I wish I could give you an answer, but at least you are not alone.

Just found this on another thread if anyone is interested. I haven't tried it yet, but will when I get home tonight:

mine solved....

just try using the 1394 legacy driver....it works....
my firewire function normally(but it runs slow just at 40mbps)

device manager > ur firewire device(1394)>click it, and the driver name appear > properties > driver,update driver>browse.. >let me pick... >there the legacy driver appear , if not uncheck (show compatible hardware) then manual search on 1394

btw , it runs normally now, but only got about 40's mbps speed

I've adjusted the device settings as suggested in the previous post to use the legacy driver and Firewire800 is back to running normally now. Worked great!