PowerDirector 12 Not Seeing My Sony HandyCam

kc_123

Newbie Location: NC Joined: Dec 16, 2016 11:32 Messages: 20 Offline

Solved by

Dec 16, 2016 11:46

I have a Sony HandyCam DCR-HC20 and it takes a firewire connection to import the movies. A Firewire card has been added to my ASUS system and I see it in Device Manager. When I plug in the cam corder I see nothing. This system is a Win10 64bit. I have an older system which is a windows XP 32bit I was using originally but it keeps locking up so I have added the fire card in an effort to make the movies on a much faster system. When I open the PD 12 software it does not give me the option of importing the files from the Sony as my other system does. Differences being WinXP 32bit and Pinnacle Software. This is Win10 64bit with Cyberlink PD 12.

Any ideas ?

I have checked the Sony site but this is an older camcorder (2004) I believe is when I purchased it, and I don't see anything files\drivers that can help.

*UPDATE*

Connected the Sony to my old WinXP system and it no long sees the camcorder on it. I am guessing something went wrong with the camcorder. I have to find another means to import the miniDV tapes I have. I'll try to find something Win10 Compatible and hopefully it will work. *ugh*

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Dec 16. 2016 13:02

Win 10 64bit
i7 6700 @ 3.4Ghz
16GB DDR4 RAM
250GB SSD
2TB SATA
Sony Handycam CCD-TR96 Video8
Sony Handycam DCR-HC62 miniDV
Canon Vixia HF-R21 SDXHC

vn800rider

Senior Contributor Location: Darwen, UK Joined: May 15, 2008 04:32 Messages: 1949 Offline

Dec 16, 2016 13:46

Hi,

Used to have access to a HandyCam years ago. The i-link (firewire) port on many camcorders was always sensitive and often a source of trouble.

Just had a quick read of the manual here :

https://docs.sony.com/release//DCRHC20guide.pdf

and the camcorder also has a USB port that may help out, althought the Sony support says USB streaming not supported after XP so you might have to stick with your XP system to grab the files if the usb port is functioning??

Cheers

Adrian Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated. (see below)
Confucius
AMD Phenom IIX6 1055T, win10, 5 internal drives, 7 usb drives, struggling power supply.

tomasc

Senior Contributor Joined: Aug 25, 2011 12:33 Messages: 6464 Offline

Dec 16, 2016 13:54

More than likely you need to get the MiniDV camcorder fixed or say buy a refurbished one to continue the transfer.

One thing I’ve found is that replacing the firewire cable can help or cleaning the small end of that connector with say wd-40 to remove the corrosion and blot it dry with a towel and retry the connection. You already knew not to connect it hot on the small end right… That could destroy the chip inside of it.

The chipset inside the firewire 400 card is important. Let us know what brand and model number it is.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at Dec 16. 2016 13:55

kc_123

Newbie Location: NC Joined: Dec 16, 2016 11:32 Messages: 20 Offline

Dec 16, 2016 19:15

Quote More than likely you need to get the MiniDV camcorder fixed or say buy a refurbished one to continue the transfer.

One thing I’ve found is that replacing the firewire cable can help or cleaning the small end of that connector with say wd-40 to remove the corrosion and blot it dry with a towel and retry the connection. You already knew not to connect it hot on the small end right… That could destroy the chip inside of it.

The chipset inside the firewire 400 card is important. Let us know what brand and model number it is.

Thanks and no I did not know about connecting it while it's hot on the small end. I believe that's what happened. Of course you live and learn. I did put a PCI-e Firewire card in my Win10 system which was of no use at all. I will have to get a refurbished HandyCam and I am going to rebuild my XP system and just copy them that way. I have a Firewire capture card that came with Pinnacle software. It did work fine until I fried the camcorder chip that was allowing playback. Thanks again for your help and the heads up. I really appreciate it.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Dec 16. 2016 19:31

Win 10 64bit
i7 6700 @ 3.4Ghz
16GB DDR4 RAM
250GB SSD
2TB SATA
Sony Handycam CCD-TR96 Video8
Sony Handycam DCR-HC62 miniDV
Canon Vixia HF-R21 SDXHC

kc_123

Newbie Location: NC Joined: Dec 16, 2016 11:32 Messages: 20 Offline

Dec 16, 2016 19:28

Quote Hi,

Used to have access to a HandyCam years ago. The i-link (firewire) port on many camcorders was always sensitive and often a source of trouble.

Just had a quick read of the manual here :

https://docs.sony.com/release//DCRHC20guide.pdf

and the camcorder also has a USB port that may help out, althought the Sony support says USB streaming not supported after XP so you might have to stick with your XP system to grab the files if the usb port is functioning??

Cheers

Adrian

Yes I believe I will have to use a WinXP system to get the video from the miniDV tapes. What happened originally is it lost the ablility to record. There was a recall on the HC20 models due to the recording chip going bad inside. MIne happened years after the recall and Sony would not replace it. I could use the playback though until yesterday. I may have fried the playback chip. It doesn't recognize either USB or the Firewire connectivity. I will have to buy a camcorder off of ebay or something. Thanks for the help. I saved the PDF in your link. Win 10 64bit
i7 6700 @ 3.4Ghz
16GB DDR4 RAM
250GB SSD
2TB SATA
Sony Handycam CCD-TR96 Video8
Sony Handycam DCR-HC62 miniDV
Canon Vixia HF-R21 SDXHC

kc_123

Newbie Location: NC Joined: Dec 16, 2016 11:32 Messages: 20 Offline

Dec 17, 2016 15:36

UPDATE

I have purchased a Sony Handycam DCR - HC62. On the Sony product site it shows this model as being Windows 10 64-bit compatible. It's on its way here and should hopefully get here before Christmas. I guess we will see how it works. If it doesn't work with my Windows 10 system, I will use it on my Windows XP system. Thanks again for the help. Will let you all know how it goes. Win 10 64bit
i7 6700 @ 3.4Ghz
16GB DDR4 RAM
250GB SSD
2TB SATA
Sony Handycam CCD-TR96 Video8
Sony Handycam DCR-HC62 miniDV
Canon Vixia HF-R21 SDXHC