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  1. Member
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    I'm ready to give up. It seems like I've tried everything possible, but my computer will not recognise my Sharp VL-Z5 mini-dv camera. I bought an IEEE1394 card & firewire, and have tried three different video capturing software products (ULead, MovieMaker, and Debut). Ulead and Debut just say there is no camera attached. Moviemaker SOMETIMES takes me through a few steps and then says there is no tape in my camera. I'm posting here because I found some promising threads about SP2 drivers not working correctly and that sometimes replacing w/ the SP1 drivers works. But those threads were from 2004, I can't find them again after registering to post here, and the link to the old drivers no longer worked anyway.
    Save a perfectly good video camera from the hammer! Please help me out!
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  2. aBigMeanie aedipuss's Avatar
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    download and install windv. turn on camera and put it in play/edit mode. plug in firewire cable. run windv. cam should show up in bottom line of program if it is working.
    --
    "a lot of people are better dead" - prisoner KSC2-303
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  3. Member
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    Yeah, tried that a while back. It says, "capturing", but nothing happens.
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  4. Member
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    This may be a silly question, but do you push play on your camera when capturing?
    Some software, like Premier, can operate camera from within software itself other may not.
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  5. Member thecoalman's Avatar
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    Does it show up in my computer?

    Originally Posted by mschwennes
    I found some promising threads about SP2 drivers not working correctly and that sometimes replacing w/ the SP1 drivers works.
    I'm assuming MS fixed that problem, there was a bunch of posts about cams not connecting after they released SP2 but not much since. I'll assume one of the next updates fixed the problem. Those files were probably posted by me, I'll dig around for them on my XP Cd if you give me the names but they are probably not going to do you much good.
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  6. aBigMeanie aedipuss's Avatar
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    does the tape start playing when you hit capture? if so in windv set the destination file folder and file name to something you know beforehand. watch the contents of the folder and see if anything is being saved.

    if not try what mschwennses says and hit play while starting windv capture.

    windv must have found the cam or it wouldn't start.
    --
    "a lot of people are better dead" - prisoner KSC2-303
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  7. Member
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    I can specify the captured file name, but nothing happens. The tape does not play when I'm supposedly capturing w/ WinDV. It's true I never tried actually manually making it "play" before, but I just tried it and that doesn't work either.
    Does what show up in My Computer?
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  8. Member thecoalman's Avatar
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    Originally Posted by mschwennes
    Does what show up in My Computer?
    Your cam, it will be listed under Scanners, cameras ...
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  9. Member
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    Yes, "Sharp DV Camcorder" shows up on My Computer.
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  10. Member
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    By the way, I've also tried Windows Media9 Capture (just locks up). I spent a good week trying just about everything, about six months ago. Had to put aside the problem to preserve my sanity. But now, I really have to get some of that video downloaded.
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  11. aBigMeanie aedipuss's Avatar
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    borrow a known good cable if you can and a friend's cam if possible and see if they work on your comp.
    --
    "a lot of people are better dead" - prisoner KSC2-303
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  12. Member
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    Ok. Will take awhile to arrange that, but will keep you posted.
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  13. Member
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    I bought a used laptop for girlfriend to take overseas. It's also XP SP2. I used the same IEEE card and firewire and was able to capture video from my mini-dv instantly, no problems! So how can I troubleshoot what's going on with MY machine?
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  14. aBigMeanie aedipuss's Avatar
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    you might try taking out the firewire card and putting it into a different slot. if it installs ok and still doesn't work return it as defective or replace it. newegg.com has them starting at $10.
    --
    "a lot of people are better dead" - prisoner KSC2-303
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  15. Member
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    The card works fine in the other computer. Both computers are laptops.
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  16. Member
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    Hi, I just baught a second hand sharp vl-z5. Can you provide software which comes with the device?

    Thank you for your help.
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