No video when VCR is hooked to PC

[Tavz]

Okay, I have captured VHS tapes before with our old computer through composite cables. On our new computer I hooked our VCR to it through composite cables just like before but Im not getting any video. Here is the PC I am using:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00029YV9U/002-5123356-8560043?v=glance

It has composite inputs on both the front and back, I have tried both. I have used the programs that came with the computer "Click To DVD" and "DVgate Plus" but ineither shows anything. Ive also tried Virtualdub, freevcr and virtualvcr.

Ive got it hooked up like this: Output from VCR to Inputs on PC. Any idea whats wrong?

[Poplar]

That's some serious dough and some serious PC. Hard to imagine a box like that can't capture composite input. You must haven't touch the right button. I found something in the intro:

The pre-installed Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004 is essentially Windows XP Professional Edition with a variety of tools to help you to create, organize, and enjoy digital media ranging from music to home movies to photo slide shows--even pause or rewind (up to 7 seconds) FM radio broadcasts. Sony's Giga Pocket built-in software converts TV signals to digital MPEG2 format and lets you watch and record TV programs right on the PCV-620G, watch while you record with the Slip Playback feature, and burn shows directly to DVD. It's also loaded with Sony's Vaio Creative suite of multimedia applications, which includes PictureGear Studio (digital photo), SonicStage (digital music), Sony MovieShaker, DVGate Plus (digital video), VAIO Media (network file sharing), and Click to DVD (for burning DVD discs). "

Have you tried Giga Pocket? DVGate is for DV, Click to DVD is for burning DVD.

[Captain Satellite]

1. Click on your VAIO TV icon on your desktop.
2. Click on Giga Pocket>Functions>Display External Input>Select ((VIDEO 1) REAR or (VIDEO 2) FRONT .

[lordsmurf]

What is the video hardware?
"giga pocket" looks just to be the softare.

[ZAPPER]

WOW! I am jealous! I don't have any first hand knowedge on your setup, but what I would do is first check the cables (No insult intended) just make sure that the white is on white and so on. You may also check to be sure that you are getting signal to the PC end of the cables by testing on a TV just to be sure. The next place that I would check is the TV tuner or VCR App. on your PC for input source. Try looking in like an advanced tab or setup tab or box to see if you have to choose between the S-Vid input or the cable input or composit input. (I would guess that you will have to choose just one) The worst thing that you could do is read the Help File (Maybe just take a quick peek at the getting started section I won't tell anyone) Good Luck and let us hear what happens!

[Tavz]

Yeah it says Giga Pocket is suppose to be installed but it doesnt seem to be. I did a search for it, nothing showed up, them I went to the recovery wizard where it lists all the pre-installed programs when you get the PC and Giga Pocket wasnt there either, hmm. Now what?

[Captain Satellite]

I have a Sony computer. You should have some recovery discs. There are someprograms you can install manually. Giga Pocket should have been already installed. Insert the disc and check the box for Giga Pocket. Sony has good tech support, I had to call them once. Yeah, that's it, just once.

[ZAPPER]

Tavz:
Any luck yet?
I am wondering how things are going because I keep leaning towards buying a sony product but then I keep loosing my nerve (or money). Alot of people here, whos' opinion I trust, bad mouth sony, but the ads sure do make sony look good.

Anyhow I know that I may be beating a dead horse here, but have you looked under accessories-entertainment for your media programs? Or control panel add/remove programs and then maybe under windows components or if sony has someting different? I have only played with a few sony PCs that were on display and don't know much at all about how they are set up. I always thought that the programs were right there on the desktop or start menu. Maybe you missed a wizard or something? I would like to hear how this plays out for you as I still like most of what I see in the sony machines as far as multiple ports and multi media drives and such go. Good luck! And keep us posted on your progress!

[glockjs]

1.the drivers for the hardware are not installed
or 2. everything is not connected right(cables)
or 3. the software your using you have not selected the right input

those can be your only probs

[Tavz]

Yeah, according to the Sony online live chat guy I do not have Giga Pocket. Anyway, I am now able to capture video through Click To DVD, It was something to do with Nortons Antivirus, not just the Firewall but the program itself.

However, when trying to capture with FreeVCR it says some other application is using it. I tried closing everything down in Processes under Task Manager but it still doesnt work. Any ideas about this? Its nice that I am now able to capture but it would be great if I could also use other programs.

ZAPPER: This is the 2nd Sony computer my dad has owned and it works great and does what its suppose to do despite some things ive heard. Not a lot of room to expand but you can do the basics, change video card, add a new soundcard (has onboard soundcard), and add upto 2gigs of memory. We have never had a major issue with either computer.