Camcorder problems

rapleylikeba · 02-25-2009, 06:41 PM

Hi guys

I was wondering if any of you are good at solving problems with camcorders. As some of you know, I enjoy filming aircraft takeoff and land at Heathrow Airport. Recently, during the last month, I've been unsuccessful with being able to capture any video. My computer says that something is wrong with the device but I'm not sure what exactly it is. At first I thought it might have something to do with my Firewire 1394 ports, but that wasn't it.

The camcorder is a Canon MV 901 that uses Mini DV tapes.

My computer runs on Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition Service Pack 3. It was manufactured by ADVENT.

My computer specifications are:

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor with a 1.86GHz clockspeed, 2MB L2 cache and 1066MHz FSB
1024MB of DDR2 Memory (RAM)
NVIDIA GeForce 7300SE Graphics Card with up to 512MB of VRAM (256MB dedicated)
250GB hard drive (7,200 rpm) - not really relevant
16x DVD RW+/- drive - not really relevant
3 Firewire 1394 ports (two 6 pins, one 4 pin)
6 USB 2.0 ports
16 in 1 memory card reader
Composite video and S-Video input

I have tried using the composite video ports but the video quality that comes out is very bad and there's no sound being input.

Here are some images and descriptions of the process I go through:

1. I plug in the Firewire cable and turn on the camcorder. The device noise I get is the single toned one (e.g. normally it has a pitch that goes from low to high but now it just has low to low tones).

2. I try to fix the problem by using device manager:

I try uninstalling the device and then reinstalling it. For those who cannot read the Device status it reads:

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupt or missing. (Code 39)

2. I am unsucessful in making the device work when uninstalling and then reinstalling (installing the camcorder requires you just plug in and play - no software disk required). This comes up when the camera has installed:

It's just a continuing problem. The problem never used to exist, so I don't know why it does now.

Things I've tried that were unsuccessful

Turning off computer and unplugging all ports. I also took that oppotunity to clean out the dust in the computer again. The heatsinker that goes above the processor was extremely hot! Dust had MELTED onto the processor! The processor is fine though, although it's clockspeed had decreased from 1.86GHz to 1.58GHz.
Looking for a driver update.
Reinstalling device.
Trying the different Firewire ports.
Bought a new Firewire cable (6 pin to 4 pin) although now I believe that was unnecessary.

Does anyone have some really good, expert advice? I would really appreciate it!

rapleylikeba · 02-26-2009, 11:52 AM

By the way, has anyone else gone through a problem like this? If so, has anyone solved it?

rapleylikeba · 02-28-2009, 06:03 PM

Anyone with a solution?

02-25-2009, 06:41 PM	#1
rapleylikeba Slow Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Somewhere in the UK probably Age: 18 Posts: 1,028	Camcorder problems Hi guys I was wondering if any of you are good at solving problems with camcorders. As some of you know, I enjoy filming aircraft takeoff and land at Heathrow Airport. Recently, during the last month, I've been unsuccessful with being able to capture any video. My computer says that something is wrong with the device but I'm not sure what exactly it is. At first I thought it might have something to do with my Firewire 1394 ports, but that wasn't it. The camcorder is a Canon MV 901 that uses Mini DV tapes. My computer runs on Microsoft Windows XP Media Centre Edition Service Pack 3. It was manufactured by ADVENT. My computer specifications are: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 processor with a 1.86GHz clockspeed, 2MB L2 cache and 1066MHz FSB 1024MB of DDR2 Memory (RAM) NVIDIA GeForce 7300SE Graphics Card with up to 512MB of VRAM (256MB dedicated) 250GB hard drive (7,200 rpm) - not really relevant 16x DVD RW+/- drive - not really relevant 3 Firewire 1394 ports (two 6 pins, one 4 pin) 6 USB 2.0 ports 16 in 1 memory card reader Composite video and S-Video input I have tried using the composite video ports but the video quality that comes out is very bad and there's no sound being input. Here are some images and descriptions of the process I go through: 1. I plug in the Firewire cable and turn on the camcorder. The device noise I get is the single toned one (e.g. normally it has a pitch that goes from low to high but now it just has low to low tones). 2. I try to fix the problem by using device manager: I try uninstalling the device and then reinstalling it. For those who cannot read the Device status it reads: Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupt or missing. (Code 39) 2. I am unsucessful in making the device work when uninstalling and then reinstalling (installing the camcorder requires you just plug in and play - no software disk required). This comes up when the camera has installed: It's just a continuing problem. The problem never used to exist, so I don't know why it does now. Things I've tried that were unsuccessful Turning off computer and unplugging all ports. I also took that oppotunity to clean out the dust in the computer again. The heatsinker that goes above the processor was extremely hot! Dust had MELTED onto the processor! The processor is fine though, although it's clockspeed had decreased from 1.86GHz to 1.58GHz. Looking for a driver update. Reinstalling device. Trying the different Firewire ports. Bought a new Firewire cable (6 pin to 4 pin) although now I believe that was unnecessary. Does anyone have some really good, expert advice? I would really appreciate it! __________________ youtube.com/rapljwop Go Heikki Kovalainen 2012! Go Caterham F1 2012!

02-26-2009, 11:52 AM	#2
rapleylikeba Slow Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Somewhere in the UK probably Age: 18 Posts: 1,028	Re: Camcorder problems By the way, has anyone else gone through a problem like this? If so, has anyone solved it? __________________ youtube.com/rapljwop Go Heikki Kovalainen 2012! Go Caterham F1 2012!

02-28-2009, 06:03 PM	#3
rapleylikeba Slow Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Somewhere in the UK probably Age: 18 Posts: 1,028	Re: Camcorder problems Anyone with a solution? __________________ youtube.com/rapljwop Go Heikki Kovalainen 2012! Go Caterham F1 2012!

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