computer won't recognize panasonic PV-GS19 camcorder

[clvlndta3]

I am trying to use windv to pull my video off of my panasonic pv-gs19 camcorder, which is miniDV. It will see the camcorder when I use the USB connection, but it says dv output pin not found or something to that effect. When I try plugging in using firewire, my computer doesn't see the camcorder at all that I can tell, and windv doesn't see it either. I also tried using Ulead VideoStudio and it didn't see any camcorders connected using firewire either. I looked on panasonic's site and they don't have any drivers for using firewire for this camcorder so I assume it should be plug and play. My firewire card is brand new and windows xp pro saw it and installed the drivers. I don't have any other firewire devices to confirm the card is working properly. Does anyone have this camera that can tell me if it is truly plug and play? Or am I missing something? I am clueless with digital video. All I am wanting to do is burn my minidv tapes onto a dvd-r. Thanks in advance for any help.
Kurt

[thecoalman]

You can't use the USB port, most are for streaming web quality video plus as you've fopund out you can't control the cam.

Just about every cam is plug and play through firewire. If the computer recognizes the cam it will show up in "My Computer" after you plug it in and turn it on. See if it's there first.

[clvlndta3]

When I plug it in, it doesn't show up anywhere. Not in my computer, not in device manager, and windv nor Ulead VideoStudio recognize it. My computer does recognize the firewire card, but nothing happens when I plug in the camera. Which setting should I have the dial turned to on the camera??? (regular record mode, regular playback mode, pc mode???) I have tried each one but haven't had any results. The manual doesn't say and I am new to all of this. Thanks for the reply.
Kurt

[HARRYSPADGE]

Have you done a SEARCH on this site to see if other people have had this problem ?

I seem to recall reading about a similar problem on here recently where someone was having problems getting Windows XP to see there panasonic camcorder.

As to the mode for connection, you should only need to have it on playback mode.

[HARRYSPADGE]

I've just done a quick SEARCH and come up with a few posts - have a look at this one,

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=237628&highlight=panasonic

It may help.

[HARRYSPADGE]

Here's another one,

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=271284&highlight=panasonic

[thecoalman]

Having a quick look at the manual, it's like any normal cam for firewire transfer. You should just be able to plug it in and turn the camera to play back mode. Don't use PC mode that appears to be for transferring via USB which is for transferring images if it has a regular still camera or for hooking up to the PC as a web cam.

If it's not recognized I'd suggest trying it on another computer and/or try a different cam on your computer. That would be the first things I would try since they are the easiest and simplest.

There's too many things that could possibly be wrong, could just be you have a bad cable up to having a faulty cam. Could be a faulty firewire card, if it's a cheaper firewire card some cams won't communicate with non-TI chipset cards. Could be that the firewire drivers are botched.... see where I'm going here there's more things than that.

Edit: I'd also try this from that second link Harry posted:

Hey everybody, I finally fixed my problem, and I'd thought I'd post it here so that anyone that searches for this problem in the future can find this and the solution that worked for me. The trick was to manually install a generic driver. The camera was listed in the system device manager under "other devices" as "AV/C Subunit." Under the driver tab it said "no driver installed." I made it work by choosing to "update driver" and choosing the driver myself by choosing "install from a list or specific location". Then choose "don't search I will choose the driver to install." I found it under "Sound Video and Game controllers" and then under Panasonic (I think Generic might work too) and chose "Panasonic Tape Device." Quite simple really.

I hope this will help someone someday. Thanks again to everyone for their help, I really appreciate it!