Neil, I believe it is a digital tape camcorder; not a memory card camcorder. Once should be able to capture the video using a USB connection but as such, it acts as a web cam with no video.

Yes, there are several digital capture card (and software) that could work.

DJP, do you have a web cam? It might be seeing that. .
.
BoilerPlate: To posters who ask for help -- it is nice to thank the volunteers who try to answer your questions !
Anything I post unless stated with a reference is my personal opinion.

Hi, Stevek! I was already aware that DJP's camera was tape-based(DV-tape, to be precise), but DJP's problem(Hi, DJP, by the way)is that the camera won't "interface" with his computer. Apparently there's a compatibility problem between the camera and Windows 7, upon which platform DJP runs Power Director 9. My last suggestion was a "when all else fails" measure, and used my own SD card-based cameras and how I was still able to access content without the software drivers as an example. The point I was trying to make, and DJP, I'm certain you understand this, is that there was a way around the problem, even if it meant treating the camera as if it was analogue instead of digital, for the time being until proper drivers or driver updates or upgrades could be found to get the USB interface(or is that word. "interface" too "old-hat" nowadays?) working again as it should. I expect I'll find the software discs for my Panasonic cameras somewhere among my bits & bobs, in the meantime, I have another avenue to access my cameras' contents.

Once again I thank you Neil & Steve for your input, I'll try to respond te each of your comments...

Steve, I do not have a Web Cam.

Neil, The (digital) data I want to import into my system resides on digital tape, not a (SD) Card. In your respponse you state; "connect the camera(whichever one I'm using) to the computer as if I still had the software". Since the IEEE interface is not working, and SUB is not supported for my camcorder on Win 7, just how do you propse to connect my camcorder to my system (even in an analog manner) so that it acts "effectively acts like an external hard-drive"?

Hi, DJP! I think you may have misinterpreted my comments! Yes, your camera is tape-based while mine are SD card-based. But this is not the point of what I was trying to say. The point I tried to get across was this: If one method does not work, use another! A friend of mine had a couple of DV-based cameras from the same maker, one model slightly more advanced than the other, but both recording to, and playing back from DV digital cassettes. At the time I was still using PD7 on a Windows XP computer. I did not have the software for either of his cameras, so I connected them up via their analogue RCA connections(Yellow=Video/White=Left Audio/Red=Right Audio) and fed the signal in via the capture-card device that took its signal normally from a VHS video recorder(I've got a switching box to select input from the VHS or other sources) It meant I had to record everything in real-time but still was able to copy in the content - and maintain its 16:9 aspect ratio for later editing. As well as the USB port on your camera, you'll also see RCA connectors for analogue output, these are usually connected to a TV so you can watch what you've shot before you edit it(helps to identify what's on the tape so you can see what's for keeping and what to ditch!). If, by chance you have an old VHS or Betamax deck, just substitute your camera for the VCR via the RCA connectors into your capture card and away you go! What I explained about how I was able to use the content from my SD card recordings, is that there's another angle to getting your content into your computer. And if or when you're able to get your USB interface up and running again, you'll have an alternative method to fall back on in future. Hope this finally clears things up(I might've explained things somewhat clumsily in previous posts). Cheers!

Thanks Neil once again!

I am aware of the (analog) type connections you refer to above, and yes, I can connect my Camcorder to an existing capture card that I have installed in my system. I was just hoping to be able to transfer the data via DV Link for better picture quality.

Your Camcorder 4 pin ieee connector may not be making a connection. You can try spraying the 4 pin connector on the cable with wd-40 and blot it dry. reconnect and then power up the camcorder. Ieee connector is not hot connect like usb. If you did this in the past, then the camcorder ieee output may be destroyed. It is worth a try. You may also be able to transfer the entire dv tape by pressing play on the camcorder. You don't need the graphic camcorder controls on the screen to do this. If all fails then you try WMM or some other free ieee capture utility found on the web. Sony can check and repair that camcorder iLink connector output for a fee.

Personally I would not use WD40 on electrical connectors. It is a protective penetrating lubricant and water dispersant diluted with a volatile hydrocarbon and not a contact cleaner nor an electrical lubricant and as such may prevent good contact. Regards,
Mike

Home-build system:
Intel Core i5 Quad Core 3.3GHz, 2 x 4GB DDR3 1333MHz,
Asus Nvidia GT440 1GB, 2 x Western Digital WD10EARS 1TB, 1 x Seagate ST1000DM010 1TB,
Windows 7 Prof 64-bit, PD 9 Ultra 64, PD 13 Ultimate 64

The SONY recognizes the DV interface (IEEE connection) since "DV IN" is displayed on the main 'VCR' screen when the camcorder is plugged into the IEEE cord.

Hello DJP,
Above quote is from your post on 7/1/2014.

I recall that on my Sony DV camcorder, the "DV IN" can be changed via the menu on the camcorder to "DV OUT" and then the iLink connection would work in capture with any software. It may be this simple.
"DV IN" is used to write back to the camcorder tape. Let us know if this helps.

Thank you both Tomasc & Fenman for your responses!

Just FYI, I just purchased a new IEEE card (Win 7 compatable), and new cableing. I nstalled the card and reconnected the device(s). Once again the system (Device Manager) recognizes the card, but not the Camcorder.
I will definatly look into the "DV OUT" option on my Camcorder Tomasc, it would be great if this fixes the problem!

Hi, DJP! It seems Tomasc has come up with a possible solution which had not occurred to me(silly me!) The fault may well be with the connector, at either end(at the computer end or at the camera's end). It might be prudent to have the lead checked out by your Sony agent, or, as Tomasc suggests, "...try spraying the 4 pin connector on the cable with WD-40 and blot it dry"(quote). If you're able to purchase a replacement lead with these connectors, much the better, and problem possibly solved. And the analogue option is there as a back-up, just-in-case... and from my experience with my friend's DV camera copied to computer in such manner, the picture quality loss is so negligible as to be unnoticeable!

Hello Neil,

Last night I implimented Tomasc's suggestion; "the "DV IN" can be changed via the menu on the camcorder to "DV OUT", only to find that the Camcorder's 'A/V' option was already set to "DV OUT". I tried the connection again and for some reason, "DV IN" still displays in the bottom left corner of the Camcorder's screen and my system / software does not recognize the device.
Not sure if I mentioned this, but I just purchased and installed a new IEEE card along with new cableing, once again, the system recognizes the card, but not the device (Camcorder) connected to it. I have also posted this problem on the Windows Seven forum, so far, no replies.
I just don't understand why the camcorder is being ignored by the system????

Hi DJP,

Is your camera set to VCR mode when trying to capture in Power Director. I see all references to IEEE cards, cables, etc. not working correctly but no mention of VCR mode, referring to page 39 in manual.

Dave HP Envy 17
Win10 Pro (64-bit) Intel i7 Core - 4510U @ 2.00GHz 2.60GHz
16GB ram
PowerDirector 11 Ultra 64-bit ver. 11.0.0.3625
Cyberlink Power2Go Deluxe 7.0.0.1827
PowerShot SX40HS
Canon Vixia

This is amazing! I've not before seen a problem, and attempted solutions suggestions run to two pages in all the time I've posted here!
Dave456's solution may be worth checking out. This might also be a good time to consult the instruction manual booklet for your video-camera as there may be a few points you may have missed in previous readings.
As your camera is DV Tape-based, it is the fact that it uses a type of tape cassette, which sits it somewhere between the analogue and digital worlds in-so-far as it behaves like a digital camera for shooting video and downloading shot content to a computer for storage and editing, but also like an analogue camera for playing tapes through a TV with video monitor inputs. There may well be something in Dave456's comment about the camera being in "VCR Mode", which likely means the camera has been set up for analogue playback through monitor. As I said, consult your instruction manual, there maybe something you missed before which might have the answer you've been searching for.
Something which just now occurred to me, do you own another(second) DV tape-based camera, possibly of a different brand? That other camera may be compatible with your computer system. As you are(likely) in America, where the NTSC colour system applies, the DV tape will play on that other camera, and you may find yourself with an arrangement whereby your Sony camera will be for shooting your epic adventures, and your(other-branded) camera, permanently setup at home, is for download to the computer!

Thanks Dave & Neil once again for your comments!

Dave, Yes, the camera is in VCR mode during the playback sequence.
Neil, I too am in disbelief as to a solution (vs. an alternative method) to my problem. Currently, I have popsts on both the Windows 7 forum and SONY's support site. So far, no replies. I ahve also searched the 'Web' looking for solutions, all I find are similar cases for which similar solutions have been suggested, but I have found no cures to this dilema.
It has been suggested to update drivers (eg. video, capture cards), update the BIOS of the mother board, etc. of which I have not done to this point but probably will soon (even though I don't see this correcting the IEEE card,s inability to correctly interface devices with my system).
Although I initially posted the problem on this Forum, it looks like more of a Windows 7 / IEEE card compatibility issue, hence posting the problem on the other stes as well.
I do want to once again thank all that have responded to my problem here on this Forum, the member's participation has been far greater than any of my other Forum postings.
Not sure how this will end, it's been a much greater issue than I expected given we're not looking for solutions to 'rocket science'...

You may have the Windows 7 legacy 1394 driver problem

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/forums/windows/en-US/65cb7a25-2a84-4875-aa27-b084537e8da1/windows-7-and-firewire-problem

It is worth a try.

Microsoft's claim to a better 1394 driver installed in Windows 7
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/gg266402(v=vs.85).aspx


I have seen posts on similar problems in Windows 7 and the 1394 interface. Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

Hello Carl! ...thanks for your thoughts however,

I thought I mentioned in an earlier post that i did in fact install the "Legacy" driver but it must have been in another Forum. Installing this driver had no effect on the situation, as I've read in other Web postings, in some cases this did fix the problem, in others (including mine) it did not.
By the way Neal, I do not have another DV tape-based camera, nor do I know of anyone that does given all the new technoligy that has replaced models like mine...

Hi again, DJP. It seems Rocket Science might be an easier subject than a cam-corder's refusal to interface with a computer(ha-ha!). The reason I asked if you had a second DV-camera/recorder was based on my friend having two from the same maker(Canon, I believe). If you have a recycling centre nearby, keep an eye out, you may be able to pick one up fairly cheaply, as people are discarding tape-based camera/recorders in favour of SD card-based units. I'm actually on the look-out for a used Video-8 or Hi-8 camera as I have some tapes in that format that I want to copy, but my poor old Samsung has died the death on me. I saw a couple of models at a recycling centre near my home but they were missing their power-packs(batteries and recharger kits). Pity! They were stereo Hi-8 jobs too, would've come in handy if any of my friends had stereo camera tapes they wanted put on DVD. I'm still lookin'! In the meantime I continue to use my trusty Panasonic SDR-S71. Hope you eventually sort out your interface problem. Sorry I couldn't have been more help to you. By the way, in your post before last, you appeared to have a problem with "keyboard gremlins", letters missing or jumbled in some of the words! It's a real bugger when that happens!

I believe that your camcorder and win7 are working properly and assuming that your camcorder is in the vcr mode with a previously recorded tape that is rewound. The problem then is in the interface. Read Carl312's sony trv22 link on 6/30/2014. Don't worry about what displays on your camcorder. Follow the steps 1, 4, and 7 for the trv22.

1. Toggle the camcorder menu dv out from on to off. Retry the capture with PD9. Still don't work then,
4. Be sure the camcorder ac supply is supplying the power not the battery. Many camcorder require this to work. Still don't work then,
7. Force the pc ieee card to recognize the camcorder by leaving the camcorder powered on and rebooting the computer. This is necessary for ieee cards without the TI chipset. This was necessary with my first ieee card before I replaced it.

Still don't work then follow this link: http://www.videohelp.com/tools/WinDV
The user da_dj commented that his new win7 64 bit problem worked well manually with this free 2003 vintage capture software.

Hope this can help anyone with dv firewire problems. Let us know if any of these steps work for you.

Neil ...Tomasc, Thanks for your responses!

Neil, unfortunately, there are no recycling canters of that sort in our area, and given the problems I'm having with the 'vintage' Camcorder I have, I don't think I want to purchase older (unsupported) devices.

Tomasc, I have done / verified items 1 & 4 on SONY's Support link. I have also tried to "Toggle the camcorder menu dv out from on to off", but with no success. However, I have not tried booting the system with the camera connected and turned on, but I will try that. Also, I came across the 'WinDV' web page the other day and downloaded the software, just haven't had a chance to install it, but again, I plan to check this out also.
I'll keep you (all) posted as to the results...Thanks again!

Quote: I saw a couple of models at a recycling centre near my home but they were missing their power-packs(batteries and recharger kits).

You should get them, you can probably find, buy or build power packs.

I don't know the brand or model you found, but the hard part is finding a camera that works.

Carl312

Carl312: Windows 10 64-bit 8 GB RAM,AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4 GHz,ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB,240GB SSD,two 1TB HDs.

Hi, Carl312. I think one of them was a Sony, the other might've been a Canon. Buying from recycling centres has its risks, the device might not work if you get the rest of the "kit" that goes with it. These are cameras that have been dumped by the previous owners, more often than not for the simple reason that they've bought themselves the newest model. I'll more likely check out some second-hand goods(pawn) shops and other op-shops in the Newcastle area, next time I'm there. I'm not in any hurry to find one.
Cheers!

DJP, might be time to upgrade! Look about for a new digital camera. They generally all use SD-card storage these days. This is good because, even without the camera's software, you can still access the content by slotting the SD card into a card reader.