Any ideas before I send it in for repair?

[Rockdoc]

So I am finally getting my new computer together, and despite some hard drive problems, I now have a copy of Windows 7 Pro x64 installed. So I installed PRE 9 and hooked up my Canon HV20.

The camera is not detected.

I am thinking that the firewire port on the camera is the problem. Here is what I have tried:

1. Downloaded HDVSplit. No camera detected.
2. Googled: Win 7 x64, 1394, Canon HV20 = rolled the 1394 driver back to the legacy version based on the seemingly common problem. Still the same problem.
3. Set the camera's output menu options to download in standard def, rather than high def. Still not detected.
4. Changed out the firewire cable. Still not detected.
5. Hooked the HV20 up to my old computer. Still not detected. I used to download to this computer in standard def regularly. I should mention that I have not downloaded from this camera since the last time I formatted the drive and performed a clean install of Windows XP and all programs.
6. Hooked the HV20 up to my laptop running Vista Home Basic. Still not detected.
7. Plugged in my old standard def Panasonic camcorder to the Windows 7, Windows XP, and Windows Vista computers. Detected the Panasonic camera in all 3 versions. I can download standard def video (from old tapes recorded on this camera) to PRE 9 in Windows 7.

So, is there anything anyone can think of that I might try before sending the camera into Canon for a repair for the firewire port? The repair cost is $231 +tax and shipping, so if there's a way that I can avoid that...

Any thoughts are appreciated!

Jennifer

[Bobby]

Ouch...

It sounds like you did a thorough analysis. Was tech support willing to help you over the phone before sending it in?

[John 'twosheds' McDonald]

When I first got my Sony HVR-A1 I had similar problems. After connecting the camera to my PC a couple of times the camera's firewire port packed up. As the camera was only one week out of the box it was repaired free of charge.

I really don't know what had caused the problem but from then on I have always made very sure that, before making any connection to/from my PC with any device (MP3 player, digital still camera, video camera etc.), that the device is turned off. When the connection is made then I turn the device on. Since that initial problem I have never had a recurrence.

Sorry that this is no help with your problem, Jennifer.

[Dave McElderry]

When I first got my Sony HVR-A1 I had similar problems. After connecting the camera to my PC a couple of times the camera's firewire port packed up. As the camera was only one week out of the box it was repaired free of charge.

I really don't know what had caused the problem but from then on I have always made very sure that, before making any connection to/from my PC with any device (MP3 player, digital still camera, video camera etc.), that the device is turned off. When the connection is made then I turn the device on. Since that initial problem I have never had a recurrence.

I agree with John and it's good policy. I know Panasonic makes a point of saying that the devices should be turned off when plugging and unplugging. Hot swappable is often mistakenly interpreted to mean that you can just plug and unplug at will, but all it really means is that you don't have to reboot the system.

[Rockdoc]

I will admit that I had gotten lazy about turning the camera off before plugging/unplugging the firewire cable. There are some out there who say that the computer must be off as well, and while I can see that that would remove almost all chances of electrons traveling in ways they should not, it means you end up rebooting. Doesn't solve my problem, but it frustrates me mightily as a concept.

I haven't tried tech support by phone yet. Maybe I will give it a shot before sending it in. It is, unfortunately, about 4 years old, and so out of warranty.

[Dave McElderry]

I will admit that I had gotten lazy about turning the camera off before plugging/unplugging the firewire cable. There are some out there who say that the computer must be off as well, and while I can see that that would remove almost all chances of electrons traveling in ways they should not, it means you end up rebooting. Doesn't solve my problem, but it frustrates me mightily as a concept.

I agree, and will freely admit that I never turn off the computer to attach my camcorder. But I do try to make sure that I've got the camcorder turned off when I attach or detach. Sometimes I mess up. I've been lucky to never have had an issue. USB was the original hot swappable interface, and it basically applied to things like mouses and keyboards and such. When it comes to our expensive toys we have more at stake.

[momoffduty]

Are you using PrPro? Sometimes my HV30 isn't detected when I open up the capture window. I think the capture window needs to be open before turning on the camcorder. (or could be vice-versa)

[Rockdoc]

Thanks Cheryl. I will give that a shot. It can't hurt to try.