I am a technology n00b, help!


Alright, I’m sure at least one of my followers has to know a thing or two about computers…so please help me! Here’s my problem:

I had a canon camcorder for the Pastafarian Preaching day. When I plugged it into my computer with a firewire cable and turned it on, my computer recognized it and I was able to transfer that day.

Fast forward to today. I have a different camcorder, but very very similar model. This one is a Canon Vixia HV30. I connected it in the same exact way with a firewire cable (different one, provided with this camcorder – I don’t have the previous one) and my computer will not recognize it. It’ll do the little “You connected something!” beep, but that’s it. When I open Window’s Movie Maker and try to capture video, it says I have nothing connected. The website says drivers should automatically download and there’s nothing on the site you can download. I’ve tried restarting both the computer and the video camera. It’s recorded on a tape, not an SD card. I’m on Windows XP.

If you want the video of me giving my Creation Museum talk…help!

Comments

  1. says

    googling yielded the following:

    "Press the "FUNC" button on your camera (when it is NOT hooked to your computer). Then go to menu, then make sure to choose "DV Locked" (it's in there somewhere). He explained to me that because my computer didn't have an HDV editing program, I needed to lock that function).

    Immediately, my computer recognized the camera. I then was able to use Windows Movie Maker to make a movie. "http://forums.cnet.com/5208-7594_102-0.html?threadID=288104&start=15

  2. says

    googling yielded the following:”Press the “FUNC” button on your camera (when it is NOT hooked to your computer). Then go to menu, then make sure to choose “DV Locked” (it’s in there somewhere). He explained to me that because my computer didn’t have an HDV editing program, I needed to lock that function).Immediately, my computer recognized the camera. I then was able to use Windows Movie Maker to make a movie. “http://forums.cnet.com/5208-75

  3. says

    I checked out the Canon website about updating the driver, but it says that either the model is too outdated or that a driver is unnecessary. So the Function button recommended By Erp seems like the next best thing to try. Another thing to try would be to run a command to see if the computer recognizes it and if it is just an XP issue. Or for something less nerdy, just try and see if it works on someone else's computer. Hopefully that works! Best of luck!!

    On a side note, why are you still using XP? Ubuntu is so much better! :)

  4. says

    I checked out the Canon website about updating the driver, but it says that either the model is too outdated or that a driver is unnecessary. So the Function button recommended By Erp seems like the next best thing to try. Another thing to try would be to run a command to see if the computer recognizes it and if it is just an XP issue. Or for something less nerdy, just try and see if it works on someone else’s computer. Hopefully that works! Best of luck!!On a side note, why are you still using XP? Ubuntu is so much better! :)

  5. says

    You may have to also uninstall whatever it did install for the camera. That could be done by finding it in Devices under hardware which is under system settings in the control panel. You should be able to uninstall it when it is hooked up, then do what Erp said.

  6. says

    You may have to also uninstall whatever it did install for the camera. That could be done by finding it in Devices under hardware which is under system settings in the control panel. You should be able to uninstall it when it is hooked up, then do what Erp said.

  7. says

    Great! One can't always trust googled advice but it seemed reasonable and trustworthy from my geeky perspective.

    Your group over in Purdue seems to be doing well, keep up the good work.

  8. says

    Great! One can’t always trust googled advice but it seemed reasonable and trustworthy from my geeky perspective. Your group over in Purdue seems to be doing well, keep up the good work.

  9. K.R. says

    Easy Four-Step Solution!

    Step 1: Go to Apple Store.Step 2: Buy Mac.Step 3: Upload video.Step 4: Smash PC with crowbar. (Optional)

  10. K.R. says

    Easy Four-Step Solution!Step 1: Go to Apple Store.Step 2: Buy Mac.Step 3: Upload video.Step 4: Smash PC with crowbar. (Optional)

  11. says

    @Everyone who said "Buy a Mac"

    Yes, while this is a valid troubleshooting step, one might assume that as a student, Jen can't dump a cool grand on a new Macbook, or more on something better.

  12. says

    @Everyone who said “Buy a Mac”Yes, while this is a valid troubleshooting step, one might assume that as a student, Jen can’t dump a cool grand on a new Macbook, or more on something better.

  13. says

    Well she could always install linux on the pc.:-)

    I will note that even some mac users seem to have problems with video download on this camera.

  14. says

    Well she could always install linux on the pc.:-) I will note that even some mac users seem to have problems with video download on this camera.

  15. says

    That's because the problem is with the camera. Tape-based camcorders are a pain in the ass. Besides, is there a good movie editing program that runs on Ubuntu? I haven't heard of one, but that doesn't mean there isn't.

  16. says

    That’s because the problem is with the camera. Tape-based camcorders are a pain in the ass. Besides, is there a good movie editing program that runs on Ubuntu? I haven’t heard of one, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t.

  17. says

    Uh… I know it's been said in a somewhat joking manner, but getting a mac likely wouldn't have done jack to fix this problem. In nearly 2 decades of using PCs, I've never had anything of this nature happen with any of my devices unless I (or the manufacturer) was the one who caused it somehow. That goes for all the common complaints about PCs. With all due respect, 99% of the time it's your fault, and you just don't know enough to realize it. Recent incarnations of Windows have been very stable and fair.

  18. says

    Uh… I know it’s been said in a somewhat joking manner, but getting a mac likely wouldn’t have done jack to fix this problem. In nearly 2 decades of using PCs, I’ve never had anything of this nature happen with any of my devices unless I (or the manufacturer) was the one who caused it somehow. That goes for all the common complaints about PCs. With all due respect, 99% of the time it’s your fault, and you just don’t know enough to realize it. Recent incarnations of Windows have been very stable and fair.

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