Comp no longer recognizes DV camera

[filmguy123]

Hey guys,

Today I went to plug-in my Digital 8 Sony DV Handicam (DCR-TRV103) to my computer via Firewire, to capture some footage. I've had the camera for nearly 5 years now. Today (haven't used the camera in a month) I went to do the usual, and the comp simply wouldn't recognize the camera. Hmm... ok, never had that problem before. I've had it say unrecognized device and had to reinstall drivers one or twice, but this time the comp didnt even beep - simply no recognization. I tried it in three other comps, different ports, etc... nothing.


So, my guess is either the firewire cable is bad, or the camera is bad. Is it possible that the camera DV link hardware crapped out, or more likely is it just a cable?

Also, if it happens to be the camera, do they make a DV tape deck that connects to the computer via firewire? Something to just stick the Digital 8 tape into, plug it into the firewire port and hit play and capture as normal?


Thanks,

Dan

[GeorgeW]

Hi,

If it is the camcorder, I would consider getting a used TRV120 (or something like that). It has analog-to-digital with pass-through (both ways), it plays the same tapes as that you have, and it uses the same batteries/ac power as your unit. This might be a better option than a dedicated tape deck...

[redwudz]

I would try the camera on another computer first. The OS may have had a hiccup and lost something.

Try plugging it in, then booting, or start the playback and plug it in. Also if you have another FW device, try that and see if it works.

Also check your device manager and see if it lists the 1394 interface properly.

[edDV]

You could try uninstalling the IEEE-1394 drivers in Device Manager and let them reinstall on a reboot. If you are using a 1394 PCI card, you may want to change slots.

Otherwise I'd try a different IEEE-1394 cable.

[sammie]

If it's not giving the "BONG" recognition tone it's not a driver. Definitely try a different cable. I have found 2 problems routinely. The little 4 pin plugs seem to wear our fast, especially on low end cables that get included with cameras and interface cards. A new cable very often will do the trick.

I have also found that some of the older cables didn't fit quite right. They would often times bend the pin in the socket on the camera thus necessitating delicate surgury with an upholstery needle and in one case a trip back to Cannon. NEVER, NEVER push hard on a 4 pin plug.

Assuming that you are using the same cable that you have used sucessfully for sometime I suspect the 1st scenario though and a new cable should do ya just fine.

[filmguy123]

Ah, crap... bought a new cable, didn't do the trick. Borrowed a friends same model Sony handicam, plugged it in, "BONG" loads up, I can stream/capture just fine. Looks like my camera's DV port is dead... however that happen.

I don't suppose there's an easy fix, or that this is a cheap repair? Is it time to buy a new camera? Is there any other cheaper solution?

[edDV]

Get a magnifying glass and see if the connector has bent pins.

[hiptune]

[quote="filmguy123"] Looks like my camera's DV port is dead... however that happen.quote]

I fried the 1394 port od a deck by inserting it into the computer when both were powered up. Most firewire cards need to have no juice going (same with camera) when you are plugging them in. Then boot up computer.

Learn the hard way sometimes.

[sammie]

Sounds like bent pins. You need a very strong magnifying glass and a good bright, but not harsh light. Then a long strong needle (a doll needle from a crafts or sewing store, or maybe an upholstery needle).

If your friends was recognized then I doubt it is the card.

Firewire is great in some ways, but it has it's annoyances. Those 4 pin mini-plugs are just flat out designed wrong. I've never fried a card as someone else mentioned, but I've heard of it. But the bad part is some devices have to be powered on and attatched to the computer during boot up to be recognized. Hoping the next generation of 800 cards addresses all that and if I never saw another mini jack it would be too soon.

[Gabriel_Brazil]

Hey,

I just solved a problem like that buying a new cable ... some cables are not compatible with some camcorders.

[tmh]

I'll vote for the pins on the computer firewire port. As someone else here said, the design is awful. I went through weekd of new cables, XP re-configure, IRQ changing. Then a good mag glass and light looking at the firewire port - yep - bent pins! No surprise when you see how they stick out unprotected.

I never got them properly straight or they were broken. I had to get a firewire card (mine was a laptop).

Good luck

[p_l]

Another thing to consider: have you installed XP SP2 recently? MS tightened the specs for DV cams and some older cameras are no longer recognized. I had the same problem with my 2000 model Canon Elura. Try going back to SP1 by uninstalling SP2 in Add/Remove Programs.

[State Of Mind]

I have this EXACT problem. Got a new Mobo, upgraded my BIOS, changed slots, changed BIOS settings, uninstalled and reinstalled drivers, went through 3 different FireWire Cards and 3 different cables, tried on a different computer, tried SP1 and SP2, checked out the IRQ, and registered some DLLs and no *BONG*. Must be my DVC itself, eh? So there is a chance I can fix this myself by "unbending" the pins?

[State Of Mind]

*ahem*

[edDV]

1st step would be to try the camcorder with a different computer to separate camcorder vs computer issues.

[State Of Mind]

I have this EXACT problem. Got a new Mobo, upgraded my BIOS, changed slots, changed BIOS settings, uninstalled and reinstalled drivers, went through 3 different FireWire Cards and 3 different cables, tried on a different computer, tried SP1 and SP2, checked out the IRQ, and registered some DLLs and no *BONG*

[State Of Mind]

So there is a chance I can fix this myself by "unbending" the pins?

[Savant]

I had this problem and found (though troubleshooting) that it was indeed the camcorder, which I sent to be repaired under warranty. The firewire port (on the camcorder) was fried, and so when I got it back I bought a special cable that doesn't pass through the firewire voltage on the cable, only the data signal.

From what I have read there are many reasons why this can happen, from a poor implementation of the 1394 port standards, to power differentials. (computer has one power supply, camcorder has another) I heard about a person that had an 'All-in-Wonder' video card and had a cable TV cable hooked up to the card to watch TV. Turns out the cable line wasn't properly grounded outside the house, so a current floated in on the ground shield, which then passed onto the computer ground, which passed onto the firewire ground line.

In my case, I never did figure out what caused the problem since I have no way to test the port on my computer. What am I going to do, keep plugging in the camcorder ad frying it until I figure out what is causing the problem? Ummm, no. So I just bought an isolation cable to prevent any chance of this in future and it works fine now. I won't be using firewire for anything on this computer. It's too bad that there are no port testers for Firewire. I searched high and low, but I couldn't find anything that I could plug into a Firewire port where it could tell me if the port was functioning properly.

Regards,

Savant

[dike]

is there an error message saying "61883 device class driver"?????