Video capture problem

[Gary Sams]

When I try to capture video to Windows Movie Maker from my digital camcorder
using a firewire port I get the following message - 'The video device cannot
be used at this time because there has been an error when starting the
device'.
I suspect the problem is with the firewire card - as I can find no reference
to the card in device manager. Device manager does show a yellow question
mark against Other Devices - PCI Simple Communications controller, for which
it can't find a driver.

Things used to work without problems, but since then there have been a
number of changes to my computer including a new hard drive, and the
installation of SP2,

Any ideas?

Thanks

Gary

 

[John Kelly]

Hello,

It sounds as though you have identified the problem. A re-install using the
full version of SP2 seems a good idea. Its a hefty download or if you have
it on CD all the better. You should install it while disconnectewd from the
net.....ensures that what you see in the way of messages are not the result
of some poor communication with the microsoft site.

Firewire cards based on the Texas Instruments chipset have been reported
as troublesome in the past.

Normally you do not need to worry about a driver for the firewire card.
on the many machines I have set up XP always provides the interface itself.

A good procedure to adopt is to turn your computer off and remove the
card. Then reboot the machine twice (wait for it to settle down ) and then
put the card back...if lucky XP will do the found new hardware routine and
your problem should be fixed

Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org

 

[Gary Sams]

Thanks, I have tried those suggestions but nothing changes (I still have SP2
on my computer from when I downloaded it the first time. I may have found
the problem but I don't understand it. What is a 'simple communications
controller'. Is it the expansion slot or the card that my computer is not
recognising?

Gary

 

[John Kelly]

Hello,

Thanks, I have tried those suggestions but nothing changes (I still have
SP2 on my computer from when I downloaded it the first time. I may have
found the problem but I don't understand it. What is a 'simple
communications controller'. Is it the expansion slot or the card that my
computer is not recognising?

Assuming the motherboard is not damaged (this sort of thing happened to
me once...and it was because I was to heavy handed with it) it will be the
card that is not recognised.

Did you follow the procedure outlined in the last paragraph of my
previous message? An additional step in that procedure is to go to the
hardware device manager and delete the device (Remove entry) or, if it will
not permit it DISABLE it. Then....swap the cards around and if you have
enough slots do not re-use the slot that the problem card was in. (All of
these slots have a reference that the Bios and OS read) changing the slot
forces XP to reconfigure.

If that does not fix things their is a more drastic approach. Reboot the
machine and press the DEL key as it boots (It might be another key...check
manual if not sure) You will be presented with the BIOS setup screen. You
should find information at the bottom or right hand side that will say
something like "Press F7 to load system defaults" DO NOT select the key for
loading TURBO MODE if one is offered. Most people think that this is for
making the system run faster and whilst that is true it is only part of the
reason...manufacturers use the option to test for system failure points
etc...it is not for general use. Anyway, once you have loaded the default
options press F10 to SAVE & EXIT the bios setup.

Reloading system defaults may cause the next power-up cycle to take
longer than it usually does...its a mixed blessing if it does as it usually
means that there was something wrong with the assignments in the Bios and
windows is re-configuring its system settings as a result.

Whatever else happens if that card still does not work then there is a
good chance that it is either defective or unsuitable.

Short of having the card tested I don't think there is much more you can
do with regard to the card & XP

Hop that helps a little

Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org

 

[Gary Sams]

Hello,



Assuming the motherboard is not damaged (this sort of thing happened to
me once...and it was because I was to heavy handed with it) it will be the
card that is not recognised.

Did you follow the procedure outlined in the last paragraph of my
previous message? An additional step in that procedure is to go to the
hardware device manager and delete the device (Remove entry) or, if it
will not permit it DISABLE it. Then....swap the cards around and if you
have enough slots do not re-use the slot that the problem card was in.
(All of these slots have a reference that the Bios and OS read) changing
the slot forces XP to reconfigure.

If that does not fix things their is a more drastic approach. Reboot
the machine and press the DEL key as it boots (It might be another
key...check manual if not sure) You will be presented with the BIOS setup
screen. You should find information at the bottom or right hand side that
will say something like "Press F7 to load system defaults" DO NOT select
the key for loading TURBO MODE if one is offered. Most people think that
this is for making the system run faster and whilst that is true it is
only part of the reason...manufacturers use the option to test for system
failure points etc...it is not for general use. Anyway, once you have
loaded the default options press F10 to SAVE & EXIT the bios setup.

Reloading system defaults may cause the next power-up cycle to take
longer than it usually does...its a mixed blessing if it does as it
usually means that there was something wrong with the assignments in the
Bios and windows is re-configuring its system settings as a result.

Whatever else happens if that card still does not work then there is a
good chance that it is either defective or unsuitable.

Short of having the card tested I don't think there is much more you
can do with regard to the card & XP

Hop that helps a little

Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org

Yes, I did try re-booting twice without the card. I have also considered
swapping to another slot, though I have no spares and I would prefer not to
mess with things that are working. I will try your suggestions later, after
a good back-up, and let you know if they work,

Thanks

Gary

 

[Gary Sams]

We have success!!!!!

I was so blinkered by the PCI Bus controller thing I did not notice at first
that the card was now appearing in device manager as a result of rebooting
twice. It is now working again.

I am still annoyed by the PCI Bus controller, but it may just mean that if I
ever want to go back from broadband to my old dial-up modem, I will need to
install the drivers,

Thanks a lot

Gary

 

[John Kelly]

There you go...glad its sorted for you (that was a taste of the wonderfull
world of XP) I was surprised when you first said it did not
work....but you need not feel alone by not noticing the outcome...its XP not
cleaning up after itself...

Best Wishes.....John Kelly
www.the-kellys.org