Hi All

I know this isn't a new problem, but I just can't find an answer for
it.

I have a fairly new Dell PC with 2 x IEEE 1394 ports, and a Canon
MV450i camcorder. I've just bought a good quality Belkin cable to
connect the two things but whatever I do, the PC just doesn't want to
recognize the camera. No error messages, just nothing.

In Device Manager I can clearly see the 1394 listed under Network
Adapters. No hint of a fault. The drivers seem to be up to date.

I've rebooted, unplugged and replugged, tried using WMM and Power
Director software but they don't see the camera either.

I'm aware that there was an issue for people who went to XP SP2, but
it's unclear whether this is the problem here. The PC came with SP2
installed. I've tried downloading and running the original Windows fix
(something like KB 8885522) but am getting an error when I try to
install. I'm tempted to think this isn't the issue here in any case.

Does anyone have any ideas that might help me? I've just about run out
of inspiration, and am feeling very frustrated by my inability to see
the camcorder.

Thanks in advance

Will (UK)

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All
>
> I know this isn't a new problem, but I just can't find an answer for
> it.
>
> I have a fairly new Dell PC with 2 x IEEE 1394 ports, and a Canon
> MV450i camcorder. I've just bought a good quality Belkin cable to
> connect the two things but whatever I do, the PC just doesn't want to
> recognize the camera. No error messages, just nothing.
>
> In Device Manager I can clearly see the 1394 listed under Network
> Adapters. No hint of a fault. The drivers seem to be up to date.
>
> I've rebooted, unplugged and replugged, tried using WMM and Power
> Director software but they don't see the camera either.
>
> I'm aware that there was an issue for people who went to XP SP2, but
> it's unclear whether this is the problem here. The PC came with SP2
> installed. I've tried downloading and running the original Windows fix


What original fix? The KB article you list dosen't exist?
http://tinyurl.com/8bjz7

> (something like KB 8885522) but am getting an error when I try to
> install. I'm tempted to think this isn't the issue here in any case.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas that might help me? I've just about run out
> of inspiration, and am feeling very frustrated by my inability to see
> the camcorder.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Will (UK)
>

I'm not familiar with that cam, but some cam's that are equipped with
DV-In as well as DV-Out (Not all are) if so, in cams menu ensure DV-out
is selected, and that cam is switched to "VCR".

Sorry, it was KB885222.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885222/en-us

Thanks decoder, but my camera doean't appear to have DV-IN and DV-OUT
settings.

Any other suggestions?

Regards

Will (UK)

Update:

Actually, when I plug the cable into the camera, a message saying "DV
IN" appears on the camera screen. I can't see any way of altering this
to DV OUT though, or whether it's relevant.

I also see no way of specifying VCR.

Does anyone have this camera, Canon MV450i? Perhaps they can tell me
what messages appear on their camera when the cable is inserted?

Than main issue though is simply that the camera is not being
recognised at all when connected to the PC.

Regards

Will

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Update:
>
> Actually, when I plug the cable into the camera, a message saying "DV
> IN" appears on the camera screen. I can't see any way of altering this
> to DV OUT though, or whether it's relevant.
>
> I also see no way of specifying VCR.
>
> Does anyone have this camera, Canon MV450i? Perhaps they can tell me
> what messages appear on their camera when the cable is inserted?
>
> Than main issue though is simply that the camera is not being
> recognised at all when connected to the PC.
>
> Regards
>
> Will
>

Yes, your cam has DV-in/out, and yes it is relevent to which setting.
It will certainly be explained in the instruction manual and
It really is as simple as reading the products instructions!
The Canon site is Excellent, here is just one link where you can
view FAQ and tips and solutions for your product, get a new manual
etc etc This is the UK link:
https://self-service.canon-europe.com/uk/pages/

This is the global link:
http://www.canon.com/

Have you had the cam working at all previously?
Can you check out these two pages and get back with the results of the
checking and tests listed,
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/Probl...ngUnderSP2.htm
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/Probl...notCapture.htm

Graham

--
Graham Hughes
MVP Digital Media
www.myvideoproblems.co.uk
www.dvds2treasure.com
www.simplydv.com


<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi All
>
> I know this isn't a new problem, but I just can't find an answer for
> it.
>
> I have a fairly new Dell PC with 2 x IEEE 1394 ports, and a Canon
> MV450i camcorder. I've just bought a good quality Belkin cable to
> connect the two things but whatever I do, the PC just doesn't want to
> recognize the camera. No error messages, just nothing.
>
> In Device Manager I can clearly see the 1394 listed under Network
> Adapters. No hint of a fault. The drivers seem to be up to date.
>
> I've rebooted, unplugged and replugged, tried using WMM and Power
> Director software but they don't see the camera either.
>
> I'm aware that there was an issue for people who went to XP SP2, but
> it's unclear whether this is the problem here. The PC came with SP2
> installed. I've tried downloading and running the original Windows fix
> (something like KB 8885522) but am getting an error when I try to
> install. I'm tempted to think this isn't the issue here in any case.
>
> Does anyone have any ideas that might help me? I've just about run out
> of inspiration, and am feeling very frustrated by my inability to see
> the camcorder.
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> Will (UK)
>

Decoder: I'll avoid the temptation to be sarcastic as you are at least
offering some thoughts but Yes, I have read the manual! And no, it
doesn't help, sadly!

The section concerning connecting to a PC consists of 2 or 3 simple
sentences along the lines of "connect to firewire port on PC using
cable". No troubleshooting advice.

The pages on the menu options don't mention DV IN or DV OUT at all, and
there is no obvious way to change it, if I have to.

Thanks for the link to the Canon site. For some reason they are in
denial that my model exists (MV450i). They don't offer any detailed
help. I have emailed them however and they propmisr to get back to me
in "2 or 3 working days" which is very frustrating as I'm off work this
week and had a load of video editing planned. But thanks for the
pointer.

Graham -- The cam itself works fine i.e. recording and playback. It has
worked before connected to a laptop PC that had, if I recall correctly,
a different sort of firewire port (it looked identical to the one on
the camera). This is the first time I am trying on this PC.

Thanks for the links. I have tried most of the suggestions, apart from
the XP SP1 - SP2 upgrade issues as this PC has never had SP1 as far as
I'm aware. It was shipped to me with SP2. I have however followed the
other suggestions - I removed the Firewire card from the PC, turned the
PC back on, then off again, reinserted the Firewire card (in a
different slot); the PC recognised the new IEEE1394 hardware as hoped,
but after inserting the cable again, found that it was still not seeing
the camera.

Thanks for all the suggestions but I'm still at my wits end here!

Any thoughts about where I go from here?

Regards

Andy

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Decoder: I'll avoid the temptation to be sarcastic as you are at least
> offering some thoughts but Yes, I have read the manual! And no, it
> doesn't help, sadly!
>
> The section concerning connecting to a PC consists of 2 or 3 simple
> sentences along the lines of "connect to firewire port on PC using
> cable". No troubleshooting advice.
>
> The pages on the menu options don't mention DV IN or DV OUT at all, and
> there is no obvious way to change it, if I have to.
>
> Thanks for the link to the Canon site. For some reason they are in
> denial that my model exists (MV450i). They don't offer any detailed
> help. I have emailed them however and they propmisr to get back to me
> in "2 or 3 working days" which is very frustrating as I'm off work this
> week and had a load of video editing planned. But thanks for the
> pointer.
>
> Graham -- The cam itself works fine i.e. recording and playback. It has
> worked before connected to a laptop PC that had, if I recall correctly,
> a different sort of firewire port (it looked identical to the one on
> the camera). This is the first time I am trying on this PC.
>
> Thanks for the links. I have tried most of the suggestions, apart from
> the XP SP1 - SP2 upgrade issues as this PC has never had SP1 as far as
> I'm aware. It was shipped to me with SP2. I have however followed the
> other suggestions - I removed the Firewire card from the PC, turned the
> PC back on, then off again, reinserted the Firewire card (in a
> different slot); the PC recognised the new IEEE1394 hardware as hoped,
> but after inserting the cable again, found that it was still not seeing
> the camera.
>
> Thanks for all the suggestions but I'm still at my wits end here!
>
> Any thoughts about where I go from here?
>
> Regards
>
> Andy
>

Ah!!!
Apoligies if I sounded sarcastic, and apoligies if this is too obvious,
but....
The Firewire output from a cam will be four pin and the PCI card input
will be six pin. Your cam maybe "protecting" it's battery? And may not
output a signal unless the cam is connected to it's power adapter?

I have the camera plugged into mains power.

<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have the camera plugged into mains power.
>

Okay..........
This has got me frazzled.............
Your Mv450i was discontinued by Canon seemingly rather rapidly
back in 2003? Here in Europe there are consumer laws that require
a manufacturer to ensure back-up for at least 7 years after depletion.
And that particular Canon model was marketed here in UK, but........
Canon globally seem to have erased all reference to that model?

Your Canon outputs data at the standard 1394 transfer of 400mbps.
Your Dell, as it is new(ish) *maybe* equipped with a PCI card that
is 800mbps? Though this shouldn't be an issue?
http://www.1394ta.org/index.html
(All it means is data is transferred at the lower 400megabytes per second,
For transfer at 800, both out and capture have to be 800mbps, and it
should only be an issue with certain types of firewire HD's.)

Try this:
With PC powered off/down and Canon also powered off.
Connect Canon/firewire cable to PC, Then boot PC,
Once Windows has loaded, power up your Canon -
Your Canon should be equipped with a switch for capture
or playback, it is usually a flick up or down of a sort of dial.
And *Playback* on every camcorder I've seen is either marked
as: VTR or VCR, whatever, you want to switch the Canon on
to *Playback*.

If still NO onscreen prompt that a device is detected,
Double-Click "My Computer"
With all recognised connected firewire devices, it should
be listed and detailed below your hardware and drives?
If not...............

Does your Canon playback when connected to TV/VCR
via S-video/composite? If so, ensure the same setting
is selected (playback?) when connecting to PC?

Or it could be the firewire cable? Do you have access
to another firewire device so as to test the interconnect?