Ok, I took some HD video on my HC1, set the VCR on the camcorder to HDV, turned the iLink Converter to "on" to downconvert the video to DV, turned the camera to "Play", plugged in the firewire to the computer, then to the camcorder, 4-pin to 4-pin, then pulled up Ulead Video Studio 11, went to Capture, and clicked on Capture Video, but can't get it to recognize that there is a camcorder attached.

I've tried this same process with Windows Movie Maker 2 on my desktop, and with Windows Movie Maker 6 on the laptop, but get the same results, so I figure that it's something with the camcorder. The ULead 11 has a picture of the HC1 on their website where I downloaded the trial version, so I know it should work with my camcorder. So what am I missing? What should I try next? I want to edit the video and burn it to DVD.

Greg

I think if you're downconverting you might want to set the VCR to AUTO if i.Link Conv is ON...

Also make sure your project presets are DV, not HDV.

If you're getting the same problems with all programs on multiple PCs and Windows itself won't see the cam on any PC, you might have a bad cable or blown port.

Have you successfully captured from this cam in the past? From your post I'm guessing that maybe this is the first time you've tried this, and as the HC1 isn't a current model can I further guess that you just bought this cam used? If that's the case then the cam may have a blown FW port, which can be caused by a previous owner hot-plugging a 6-pin to a 4-pin cable into the cam. If you only have used a 4-pin to 4-pin, you didn't do it, if indeed it is blown.

Also sometimes there's an issue if you're not running at least XP with SP2 on your PCs.

Sony agreed that I probably had a bad firewire port, and approved warranty service. Just to be sure, what kind of fw do I need to use when I get it back? 4-pin to 4-pin, or does it matter. The manual doesn't say, and they didn't include a fw.

It's totally dependent upon what's at the other end. You don't really get to choose.

What's important is that everything be powered off when you plug everything together.

Most desktop PCs have 6-pin FW ports, but I think laptops more typically come with 4-pin. If you're going 4 to 4, then there's no power involved and you don't have anything to worry about... I think.

Firewire is supposed to be "hot-pluggable"; I've not encountered any problems with three different cameras on my desktop system.

However, I leave the 4-6pin cable permanently on a Firewire hub, so I'm only fiddling the 4 pin end. I could see a potential danger if the 4-pin is connected, and one approaches the 6-pin at an off-angle, such that a lead crosses a power point before straightening out.

One thing is to make sure one has slack on the cable at the 4-pin end, and even some support so the jack doesn't get strained holding up a heavy cable.

Yes it is. "Supposed." But tell that to the many users who have shorted out their ports. It's not a rare occurrence.

Best to play it safe.