Kev, I do need help getting the video off my camcorder. I tried and I can't do it on my work laptop because I don't have the permissions to download drivers. My home laptop is Vista and the camcorder is not compatible with it. I checked Sony for the drivers, but there is nothing for that model for Vista.

If anyone thinks they can do it, the model of the camcorder is DCR-TRV140. I think we bought it in 2003. I read that some people can connect directly with a USB cable, and some have had to go firewire.

 

Oh Noz!! You have Vista!!

 

you need a fire-wire from Sony, or maybe kits camera, or if you take the camera in to a radio shack, we can check to see if one of the two fire-wires we Carrie fits, and it has to be a fire wire, fire wire transfer faster for video, usb transfer slower for still pictures!!!

 

You may try it with the Windos XP drivers any way. Sometimes Vista complains for no reason.

While they do pay my bills, I'm not an MS Fanboi. But Vista isn't as bad as it's been made out to be. There are 2 main issues. Hardware Manufacturers not writing drivers (shame on you sony, epson, hp, Cobb Tuning, et al) and a poor upgrade mechanism. When properly configured it's quiet a bit faster, even on older hardware, and much more stable than XP was. Unfortunately, it's much more configuration sensitive than it's predacessors. On a new computer, with OEM install, Vista should be fine for most folks. For geeks, there are lots of options, including proper Vista configuration and non-MS software.

Sort of. USB is simply an older standard, and for image transfer on lower resolution cameras (anything under 8MP) USB 2.0 is plenty fast enough. However, if you do find a still camera with firewire, go for it. I would expect one firewire (IEE1394) cables you carry to be sufficient. Most of the DV cameras finally stopped using proprietary plugs.

 

LOL - It's not that big of a deal anyway, unless you need an excuse to see me again!



I have since changed back to my dual exhaust that I had modified, and it sounds WAY better now. I'll video tape that version this week.

 

LOL... of course!!

Well, there you go... problem solved - I don't need to download it now

Although I DO appreciate all the suggestions so that I can do it in the future if I need to. I almost never use the camcorder though, and I'm sure it'll be obsolete soon.



Regarding Vista... the only problem I've been having is periodically getting a blue screen. It seems like it might be related to an application trying to do an upgrade, like McAfee spamkiller I think. I just power it down and start over. Sometimes it runs for a few days, sometimes it will only stay on for a while . I haven't called Dell yet because it always seems to take an hour or two on the phone to troubleshoot (another rant).