Friewire unrecognized

[Tony Cooper]

This is a second post on this subject, but I've fiddled around for
hours with the camera and searching the web and I'm no further along.

Using Windows XP and a Sony DCR-HC21....

To work with this new videocam I installed a combo USB 2.0 & IEEE 1394
PCI adapter. According to the Sony manual, and other sources, I can
use the Firewire port to capture video to my computer.

Using several programs from Picture Package (bundled), Ulead's
VideoStudio 7, to Microsoft's Movie Maker, I can't get any program to
recognize the connection using a Firewire.

For example, when I hit "Capture Video" in Movie Maker when connected
via Firewire, I get a message that says "A video capture device has
not been detected.." In VS7, when I click "Device Control" and click
to MS1395, I get "Unable to open specified device". In Picture
Package I get "Can't find your camera".

Using the same adapter with a USB2 port, the camera is recognized.
Since it's the same adapter, it would seem the adapter is installed
correctly. I have no other Firewire device to check the function
with.

I have a feeling that I'm doing something wrong, or don't have
something in my computer that I should have, but can't figure it out.

I'd prefer to capture with a Firewire, but how do I do it?

 

[Al Stu]

Is there a separate driver needed for the firewire?
Is Camcorder in play back (VCR) mode?
Is there any options in the camcorder relating to firewire? ie:
enable/disable, a mode in which firewire won't work.

 

[Tony Cooper]

Is there a separate driver needed for the firewire?

I wouldn't think so. There was an installation disk with the adapter,
and I installed it. There was no "install USB2" and install
"Firewire". The item is "plug and play". Sony's website says no
drivers are needed for this camera.

Is Camcorder in play back (VCR) mode?

Oh, yeah. I'm making movies with M MM using the USB2 cable.

Is there any options in the camcorder relating to firewire? ie:
enable/disable, a mode in which firewire won't work.

Nope. Just a place to plug in the cable.

 

[Guest]

Hi Tony;
Check in device manager (right click "My Computer" select
properties/Hardware Tab/device manager.
Look for an entry for IEE1394 devices, and make sure that the firewire side
of the card is in fact detected, and that there are no yellow ? marks on any
of the devices listed there.
If your device is not listed or there are any yellow ? marks indicating an
unknown device, you may have to check on the card manufacturer's website to
see if there are any drivers needed for the card.

Let us know

Is there a separate driver needed for the firewire?

I wouldn't think so. There was an installation disk with the adapter,
and I installed it. There was no "install USB2" and install
"Firewire". The item is "plug and play". Sony's website says no
drivers are needed for this camera.

Is Camcorder in play back (VCR) mode?

Oh, yeah. I'm making movies with M MM using the USB2 cable.

Is there any options in the camcorder relating to firewire? ie:
enable/disable, a mode in which firewire won't work.

Nope. Just a place to plug in the cable.

 

[Tony Cooper]

Hi Tony;
Check in device manager (right click "My Computer" select
properties/Hardware Tab/device manager.
Look for an entry for IEE1394 devices, and make sure that the firewire side
of the card is in fact detected, and that there are no yellow ? marks on any
of the devices listed there.
If your device is not listed or there are any yellow ? marks indicating an
unknown device, you may have to check on the card manufacturer's website to
see if there are any drivers needed for the card.

Been there, done that. The device manager says I have an IEEE1394 bus
host controller with a sub-folder listing a OHCI compliant IEEE1394
host controller. No yellow marks on any device.

 

[Graham Hughes]

See this page of mine
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/ProblemPages/CannotCapture.htm
First thing I'd do is the testing of cam and cable on another machine and
another cam cable on your machine.
Just because the usb port works doesn't mean the firewire cannot be faulty
on the card.
The other thing is I've had lots of people with trouble using the combo
cards, don't know why, but when changing to a plain firewire card it all
works.

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

 

[Tony Cooper]

See this page of mine
http://www.myvideoproblems.com/ProblemPages/CannotCapture.htm
First thing I'd do is the testing of cam and cable on another machine and
another cam cable on your machine.
Just because the usb port works doesn't mean the firewire cannot be faulty
on the card.
The other thing is I've had lots of people with trouble using the combo
cards, don't know why, but when changing to a plain firewire card it all
works.

The possible reasons that remain eligible in my mind are:

1. Faulty Firewire connection in the camera.
2. Faulty Firewire cable
3. Something basic that is being overlooked.

There's no one that I know that uses a Firewire connection or
downloads video. So, I'll wait until the third week of August when
the local computer club has their video meeting and take my stuff down
there.

 

[Guest]

Hi Tony;
If you could get your hands on another firewire cable to eliminate that
possibility, that would be good. I don't know when you bought your card, but
you might not want to wait too long to troubleshoot the situation, it case it
does turn out to be the card, and you need it replaced under warranty.

Jeff

 

[Tony Cooper]

This is a second post on this subject, but I've fiddled around for
hours with the camera and searching the web and I'm no further along.

Using Windows XP and a Sony DCR-HC21....

To work with this new videocam I installed a combo USB 2.0 & IEEE 1394
PCI adapter. According to the Sony manual, and other sources, I can
use the Firewire port to capture video to my computer.

In the issue of the non-working Firewire...problem solved.

I took my Firewire cable and camera to CompUSA to be tested. The
cable worked fine. They suggested that I return my Firewire/USB2
adapter because it probably had a faulty connection where the Firewire
cable plugs in. I made the exchange.

The new adapter works fine. Sweet.

I suppose there's a lesson here. Just because Device Manager says the
adapter is in place and working, you can't assume that all the bits
and pieces are working. Device Manager checks to see if there's an
adapter, but not to see if the plug-in ports are connected inside.

Thanks for everyone's help.

 

[Guest]

Hi Tony;
Happy to hear that you have the problem resolved.
Unfortunately as you mentioned, device manager can only tell you that
something is present, but cannot run diagnostics on the device. This is not
necessairly a bad thing though, could you imagine how much disk space a
Windows installation would consume if it had diagnostic routines for every
piece of hardware that it can support?

Enjoy your camera!