On board fire wire can't detect my DV Camcoder(VP-D77)

[hty]

Hi there,

Need help and advice, I have a Samsung DV Camcoder, but my Abit NF7-S motherboard onboard FireWire could't detect this Camcoder? I'm using WinXP Professional version. This OS should be able to detect the Camcoder when it is connected using Firewire, right? As first, I suspect is the cable that causing the problem, as I don't have other Camcoder, I could't test it with my Firewire port. Then I brought it to the shop where I bought the cable, the owner test my camcoder with it's machine and it can't detect the camcoder as well. So he commend that it was the Camcoder that having problem . But it is a new Camcoder? Anyone using the same camcoder here? or the same onboard Firewire? please advice.

Another, since the fireware causing me a lot of trouble, I'm think of buying a TV Tuner card to capture my DV into PC and convert it into VCD. What is the different in quality between FireWire and TV Tuner(PCI) capture card? And as for the Firewire case, is there any freeware program that I can try to capture video using the firewire?

Thanks in advance for your kind attention and any advise is welcome and appreciated.

[g_shocker182]

Another, since the fireware causing me a lot of trouble, I'm think of buying a TV Tuner card to capture my DV into PC and convert it into VCD. What is the different in quality between FireWire and TV Tuner(PCI) capture card?

I strongly recommend not doing this. You do not want to convert to analog and then have to convert to digital again.

What I would do is take it back to where you purchased it, and get a replacement. If they don't offer it, talk to customer service.

[mrtristan]

Might seem like a silly question, but are you sure you had a tape in the machine and it was turned on, when you connected it to the computers? Sometimes it's easy to overlook the most obvious things.

[hty]

Hi mrtristan,

I do turn on the Camcoder and set it into PLAY mode, even try to play the video, but the PC still can't detect the Camcoder.

Any software suggested? I'm going to try VirtualDub and hope it works. As I'm from Malaysia and I bought the Camcoder from Singapore, it's quite troublesome to sent it back for repair or replacement. Further more, still not sure that it's the problem of the Camcoder.

If the quality between using FireWire and TV tuner Card is not so big , I might save the troubles of return the Camcoder. Because I'm going to convert it into VCD at the end, and VCD's resolution is kind of poor compare to DVD. Just need to convert from DV tape into VCD for viewing on TV.

My Machine : Abit NF7-S motherboard, 512MB PC2700 RAM, 80GB Western DIgital 7200 HDD with 8MB Buffer, Window XP Professional, Geforce MX440 64MB Video Card.

[philly33flyers]

couple things to check...

1) are you sure the firewire drivers are installed? some onboard firewire ports need drivers to be installed from the motherboard cd.

2) test out another firewire device and see if it detects that. If not, then it's a problem with the onboard firewire port.

3) test out a different cable. maybe the cable the guy sold you was bad to begin with if it didn't work in 2 machines.

4) make sure you turn on your camcorder and put it in vcr mode with your tape in. you don't have to hit play, but just make sure it's in vcr mode and not off or standby.

5) buy another firewire card to test with. or go to a friend's house and try it on their machine. it never hurts to try different places, i know you already tried the shop where you got it from but you just never know.

ps...i agree with the posts above this. do not try to capture using a tv tuner card as the quality will be totally inferior to that of firewire capture.

[Pachycephalic]

Have experienced exactly the same problem with my onboard firewire connection on a Asus motherboard. Seemed to tied to the VIA chipset doing the firewire function. Was ok when I used Win98SE but not under WinXP. Tried my old tried and true generic Texas Instruments firewire card and the problem disappeared.
The onboard firewire was incorrectly being identified as a network device which is not what I wanted. I upgraded my video work capabilities with the Matrox RTX100 but realise that this is an expensive option but it had it's own firewire connection. I had heard that there is a method to change the function of the onboard firewire but will have to investigate further for you if you like. One of my workmates had the same problem but was able to resolve it but I don't remember how.

[hty]

Have experienced exactly the same problem with my onboard firewire connection on a Asus motherboard. Seemed to tied to the VIA chipset doing the firewire function. Was ok when I used Win98SE but not under WinXP. Tried my old tried and true generic Texas Instruments firewire card and the problem disappeared.
The onboard firewire was incorrectly being identified as a network device which is not what I wanted. I upgraded my video work capabilities with the Matrox RTX100 but realise that this is an expensive option but it had it's own firewire connection. I had heard that there is a method to change the function of the onboard firewire but will have to investigate further for you if you like. One of my workmates had the same problem but was able to resolve it but I don't remember how.

Thanks Pachycephalic,

Yes, the firewire did appeared as an network device in my WinXP!! So please help me to get the information from your friend on how to solve this. Will I be able to install another Win98SE on the same PC? Will this solve the problem? But I only have one HardDisk .

I have downloaded the latest driver from ABIT site but it does not work as well. Thanks again for all the helps from you all!!! Anyone who encountered the same issues please help 8)

[Pachycephalic]

Sorry about the delay. Finally caught up with my workmate today. Seems I was mistaken about his problem. Windows XP can install in a couple of ways which can cause problems actually seeing new hardware. This is the problem that he solved and not the one you are experiencing.

I noted with my experience in this problem that it would appear to be related to the chipset used for the firewire and the software used. I was using media studio pro and adobe premiere but both would only recognise my camera when I was using a Texas Instruments chipset firewire and not the VIA chipset used on my motherboard. Was going to attempt to tell WinXP that the firewire was in fact a Texas Instrument device and see what happened but my new capture card arrived negating the requirement. You might like to try this otherwise all I can suggest is to get a separate firewire card (preferably with video software so you know it is meant to work) and try that. Good luck and keep us posted.

[hty]

Thanks Pachycephalic, I will try to borrow another DV camcoder from friend to test the onboard Firewire. Might try to install Win98 SE as well to see if it works.

Anyway, if anyone have any suggestion, please share it here and wil keep evryone posted on this issues.

Thanks and regards to all

[mikesbytes]

One more thing to check is that the firewire port on the camera is switched on. My Panasonic camera came defaulted with the firewire port switched off, easly resolved thru the camera's menu settings.

[handyguy]

Via chipsets require updating sometimes. You'd think by now they would have got their act together.

[capitola]

I have the same problem using my on board VIA chip from my Asus motherboard with Videostudio under WinXP. I also noticed it is not a TI firewire device. Is there a solution? Will I have to use another software?