when i put a cassette it doesn't show the time code and the screen is always blue. i can only take the cassette forward or backwards without seeing the shoot. also it does not give any error in the recording mode and records normally.

what might be the reason for this? please help or i will have to take my laptop everywhere i go to be able to capture right through fireware

Make sure your playback settings are correct. For example, if you try to play a tape recorded in HD with the playback set to DV, all you get is blue screen.