New laptop-windows freezes when starting a session on win7 64
 

I have been using M powered PT8 on my desktop without issues. I have 64bit Win7 pro, I'm using a ProFire 610 interface with a Lacie Quadra external HD.
I recently purchased a Toshiba Qosmio Laptop so I could record in a separate room. It uses Win7 64 bit home edition, has the same RAM, and a i7 processor. I can load up PT fine, however PT freezes when I try to open or create a session. There is no error message. I cannot close PT even through the device manager.
One difference between my laptop and my desktop is that my lap top uses an iLink 4 pin firewire port requiring a power supply to my interface. Does that matter?
Quasi-related question: What is the order should I power up my set-up? I 've been connecting the interface while the laptop is powered down. Powereing upn the laptop, then powering up the interface after Windows is loaded, Is that correct? I could not find the proper order in the manuals.

Specs:
Toshiba x505 Qosmo Laptop: i7 processor, GeforceGTX 460M,4 MB RAM
Self built Desktop: AMD dual core 2.4 GHz , GeForce 7900, 4 MB RAM
Both with Windows 7 64 bit
Profire 610 interface
Protools M powered 8
LaCie Quadra 1TB HD