Help .. New Computer Doesnt recognise My Camcorder

[slimbob]

Hi

Any help is much appreciated on this !!

I have a old Panasonic NV-GS400 mini DV camcorder probably 10+ years old which I was using with my old P.C running XP (32 bit) windows and windows movie maker 2.1 software .... my camcorder was connected to my computer via firewire.

Every time I connected my camcorder to my computer it would recognise it.

My new P.C from P.C Specialist is running windows 7 (64 bit) Home Premium and I had a firewire card fitted by P.C Specialist with 3 firewire ports on it. I have windows movie maker 2.1 installed on my new Windows 7 P.C and also WinDV capturing software too.

However when I connect my Panasonic camcorder to my new P.C via firewire cable into firewire port my computer is not recognising any device at all ???

Normally I get a window pop up saying capture with windows movie maker.

Plus if I go into windows movie maker direct and attempt to capture video from external device ..... it shows an error message saying no external device could be found ???

Please help as I can't afford to buy a new camcorder!!!!! Plus my old one is more than adequate.

Any ideas ??

Thanks so much in advance if you can lend me a hand.

Best wishes

Bob

 

[vanthus]

It's possible the camcorder isn't compatible with windows 7.

 

[dogbot]

You need to install the Legacy firewire driver.

http://www.studio1productions.com/Articles/Firewire-1.htm

 

[slimbob]

Thanks Vanthus ... yes that might very well be the issue .... hope not !!!

Dogbot .. thanks very much !!

I looked at link and it was very helpful but I cant find the

IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers !!!

In device manager it is not showing up ate all ??????
Do you think my firewire card has not been connected up properly in the build of the p.c ????
If I could select this IEEE 1394 Bus Host Controllers and do what your link says I might be o.k ... But like I said it isn't there ???? Triple checked in "device manager" exactly as described in the link you sent.

Please help !!!!! I bought my new p.c to work with my camcorder via fire wire and had the firewire card fitted in build spec on purpose .... I hope I get this problem sorted out

Thanks so much

Bob

 

[dogbot]

Do you think my firewire card has not been connected up properly in the build of the p.c ????

Only you can see it. Does it look to be inserted properly and pushed fully home? Is there a socket on the board that looks like it could be an external power supply but not connected? Probably not, but if anything looks suspicious and/ or you still cannot get it working, then it would be best to contact PCS through the messaging system within your order.

 

[ubuysa]

I rather think vanthus may be on the right track.

The easiest way to find out whether your Panasonic camcorder is supported by Windows 7 is to go back to your XP computer, plug in the camera so that it's recognised by XP and then download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor from http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20. Once installed this will scan your hardware and software and report back on what is compatible with Windows 7.

It's very important that your camcorder is connected, powered on, and recognised by Windows XP before you run the upgrade advisor.

If the camcorder is not supported then you're out of luck I'm afraid, but if it is supported then you should look at your firewire installation.

 

[Boozad]

It's very important that your camcorder is connected, powered on, and recognised by Windows XP before you run the upgrade advisor.

Good advice, but I'd always take the Upgrade Advisor info with a pinch of salt. I was running a 32-bit copy of XP Pro on my old system and ran the Advisor to see if I could upgrade to 7 Pro 64-bit, I was still out of the loop with PC stuff then as I hadn't done anything with them for seven years or so and tech had moved on quite a lot. The Advisor told me I could so I bought the 7 64-bit upgrade, and of course it wouldn't work. Not only can you not upgrade 32-bit to 64-bit (I didn't know that at the time) but my hardware wasn't compatible either, the Advisor said everything was fine.

Of course, if it says the camera isn't supported that's all well and good, but if it says it is it may not be correct.

 

[ubuysa]

Good advice, but I'd always take the Upgrade Advisor info with a pinch of salt. I was running a 32-bit copy of XP Pro on my old system and ran the Advisor to see if I could upgrade to 7 Pro 64-bit, I was still out of the loop with PC stuff then as I hadn't done anything with them for seven years or so and tech had moved on quite a lot. The Advisor told me I could so I bought the 7 64-bit upgrade, and of course it wouldn't work. Not only can you not upgrade 32-bit to 64-bit (I didn't know that at the time) but my hardware wasn't compatible either, the Advisor said everything was fine.

Of course, if it says the camera isn't supported that's all well and good, but if it says it is it may not be correct.

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that. +rep!

It's still a good place for the OP to start though I think. Incompatibility sounds very likely with a 10-year old camcorder.

 

[Boozad]

Incompatibility sounds very likely with a 10-year old camcorder.

Couldn't agree more there.

 

[vanthus]

Incompatibility sounds very likely with a 10-year old camcorder.

That's why I suggested it a possibility.

 

[slimbob]

Thanks everyone !!! Great advice ....
Still not sure why I am not seeing the ieee 1394 bus host controller file in device manager like Dogbot mentioned ???
I will need to look into this as if I get a compatible camcorder to connect via firewire I will need to make sure my firewire card is fitted properly .... I have contacted PC Specialist so be interested to see if they can advice about the ieee 1394 bus host controller missing within device manager ????

Thanks a million everyone !!!!

Bob

 

[dogbot]

Couldn't agree more there.

I have to disagree. First, the firewire card should be detected and appear in Device Manager without a cam ever having been connected.

I have an 11 year old Sony PC8E DV cam which I used up to about a year ago. Never had any problems on W7 with the legacy driver on the old desktop. It also worked with the earlier preview versions of W8.

Using the (PCS) laptop, in W7 the installed driver version is 6.1.7601.17514 dated 21/06/2006. The legacy version is the same but with 'legacy' in brackets afterthe name. Just tested the Sony and was able to import with 2 editing programs with both the installed and legacy drivers.

In W8.1 the driver version was 6.3.9431.0 but also dated 21/06/2006. No capture software on that so couldn't test.

Since for the OP the card does not show up in Device Manager, I would say it was a card or computer problem.

 

[Boozad]

Can you post a screenshot of your Device Manager please Bob?

 

[slimbob]

Hey guys thank so much for taking the time to help with this I really appreciate it !!!

O.k here are 4 pictures , one unexpanded then page 1 , page 2 page 3 = device manger expanded

I might be missing something but I can't see it ????

Thanks in advance fro any feedback about this .... I really hope I can connect my camcorder to my new p.c via firewire.

All the best

Bob

Device Manager Collapsed



Device Manager Expanded from top to bottom using 3 images.

 

[Boozad]

What is the Comms Port (COM1)?

 

[slimbob]

Hi Boozad
I don't know I must admit ???? Here are some screen shoot sof the Comms Port (COM1) expanded below .... hope it helps ???
Thanks so much again for your time and help with this issue.

Bob

 

[steaky360]

Is it not just a serial port. Similar to VGA?

 

[Boozad]

I was wondering if that was the Firewire port. It seems strange to have a driver date of 2006 on a piece of hardware in a new PC, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree but I haven't seen a port like that on any of my last three PCs I don't think.

 

[ubuysa]

I was wondering if that was the Firewire port. It seems strange to have a driver date of 2006 on a piece of hardware in a new PC, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree but I haven't seen a port like that on any of my last three PCs I don't think.

On my other laptop (not PCS) I have a FireWire port, Device Manager shows it as an IEEE 1394 Host Bus Controller. I'm starting to think that dogbot is on the right track now, regardless of whether the camcorder is Windows 7 compatible or not, the FireWire port should show up in Device Manager.

Bob, let us know what PCS have to say next week. Have you checked that the card is fitted properly and the appropriate driver(s) installed?

 

[slimbob]

Hi Ubuysa
I must confess I am a bit apprehensive as I have never opened a p.c up before, but I will, I will look online on what to do so I don't do anything wrong like static etc from fingers ??
I will see if if firewire card is, located properly .... but please could you explain what you mean about if drivers are installed ???????

Thank you for your help

Bob