Get my pc to recognise my camcorder?

Through this post one word was never mentioned......drivers. Regardless of usb, if you don't have the right drivers installed, not a lot is going to work. Generic drivers are ok up to  a point.............drivers on a disk or ypdates on the internet are more important.

Glad you got it sorted Rach. It's unbelievable that they can sell things like this!

Very best of luck Rachel - a hint; smacking a shop assistant around the head for being smug, condescending, spotty, patronising and most annoyingly, young (b*****d) is generally not condusive to swift query resolution...

...and it's great to hear someone else has the same level of technical knowledge as me, neatly summed up by your phrase:

"it's new and shiny it HAS to work!"

Having read all this it seems that the only thing not tried is plugging the camera into a different computer, preferably an XP one.  Don't worry about the software, just plug it in and see if the computer detects it.  If it doesn't acknowledge anything there then I suspect that the USB interface chip in the camera is dead, in which case the shop is your only option, except for the hammer and blowlamp.

rileydog22 wrote: You might want to see if you can get a new cable for it, it could be that you got a bum cable and that's why the two devices can't interface.

Wasn't it, she tried the cable with another device and it worked properly.

yes sir........... and tomorrow I go humbly to that grunting spotty shoe shuffling never learnt to tie a tie excuse of a man in PC world and politely and calmly cry...........and get soem nerd support..............

darqDean wrote: Phew... looks like you've tried everything, but there are still things to try...   (btw - which model number camcorder is it and do you have the latest installation program downloaded from Sony?) Sony DCR-SR190E, I checked with Sony and I have the latest software (which says on the packet Vista compat........... also on the software installation box on the screen)   Since you have tried this on two seperate PCs running different Operating Systems you can be fairly confident it isnt a Microsoft problem or a PC hardware problem- it must be the cable, the camera, the supplied software or the way you are installing it. (I also give egg-sucking lessons to grannies in my spare time )   ok........... I tried the cable with my still camera......... all ok. Don't worry about the egg sucking I am willing to try anything right now!!!   Usually with these things you have to install the software before plugging in the camera - do it in the wrong order and it won't work. If you plug the camera in first then Windows will try to install it, fail and then block it.   Uninstalling the software and starting again may not work because the PC recognises the camcorder as an installed (but disabled) device so it doesn't see it as a new device. You may have back-track to the previous System Restore point before continuing.   I can't complete the installation of the software without plugging in the camera....... it does not believe I have so I am stuck with it uninstalled.......   Some USB hubs make USB2 devices look like USB1 - others do not have enough power to power the device - if in doubt direct connect to the PC, don't use a hub.   Whats a hub? I am plugging it straight into the pc (laptop, plugged into mains socket)   Try another lead if you can - I know the lead you have works with another device, but there is a slim chance that it could still be faulty. Tried 5 leads to date........ and the boss wont let me raid his office for more!     Turn off all anti-virus software, personal firewalls - the whole shebang - before installing - sometimes these programs block the installation.   Yup all switched off.......... I learnt that lesson last week setting up the network!!!   If all this fails - you could try using the firewire connection instead. The isn't one I don't think..................

Edited by prog-chick - February 06 2008 at 17:46

Phew... looks like you've tried everything, but there are still things to try...

chopper wrote: If this doesn't work, then hit the camera with a hammer and take a blowtorch to the PC. It won't work but you'll feel much better. Good luck.

  What's the old expression?  "When all you've got is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail?"

You could also check Sony's web site to see if they have a help section or FAQs. I contacted HP for my printer problem and had an online conversation with their help desk and they sorted it all out in about 10 minutes.

Also, see if you can access the help files directly from the installation CD.


Edited by chopper - February 06 2008 at 16:55