Problem transferring video to PC via firewire

[Scouse]

Hi all,
My camera (Panasonic NV-GS27) seems to have developed a problem when I try to transfer a video into my laptop.

I've been using a firewire connection for this for the past year & it's been perfect up to now. I tried transferring the latest videos I took last week & the Windows Movie Maker window wasn't opening up automatically as it normally does when it's all hooked up.

Usually, when connecting the camera to the laptop, I get the 2 beeps saying that it's connected. However I now get a series of short beeps & this apparently indicates an error.

I can open the programme manually but I get an error saying: Video capture device was not detected.
I've also tried the same with another programme (muvee autoProducer) with the same error.

Nothing has changed with the camera or laptop since last time I transferred video (that I know of) & I hoped it might be the firewire cable itself. I had a 13 YO relative here on the weekend (for Little Scouse's birthday) - he knows a hell of a lot more than me about this stuff - & he suggested the cable too. He even examined it & pointed out the suspect spot :eek:.

Anyway, down to the shops today & buy a new cable. You guessed it, the same error appears.

I've checked in Device Manager & the IEEE 3394 side seems to be OK. Troubleshooting doesn't solve the issue. However, when the camera is connected, there's an error in the "AVC device class" area & a yellow '!" next to the camera model name.

I'm thinking this is pointing to a camera issue. I've uninstalled the camera from the Device Manager & reinstalled. When reinstalling, there's an error displayed "Cannot install this hardware" & "An error occurred during the installation of the device".

I've spent today doing various searches on this & it seems to be a common problem with no definite fix (great). I've restored the system hoping the error happened last week some time to no avail. I've deleted cookies & temp internet files, run a virus scan & pulled out what little remains of my hair.

I'm a complete idiot (yes, verified by those who know me) when it comes to this sort of stuff so does anyone have any suggestions.


PRETTY PLEASE

The next step is a visit to the computer repair shop...........

[WhiteD3]

Find a restore point prior to the problem occurring and go back to that. You've probably got a driver issue from an update.

Are you using XP or Vista?

FYI I upgraded to Vista and since then my firewire card, which worked fine under XP, is dead as a dodo under Vista.

[RaZz0R]

Hi mate,

I have that same camera & use to bolt to my bike :)
I also trans the same way you do & use the same software.

The only thing that I can think of is if windows has updated it self with service pack 3 or not? If not... maybe even try downloading it & seeing if the new service pack will fix the problem? (I am talking about windows XP)

Right clicking "my computer" & going to "properties" will tell you what service pack your on.

after looking around I found this... Performance of 1394 devices may decrease after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885222)
might be worth a read....

can you try it on another pc?

[Scouse]

Find a restore point prior to the problem occurring and go back to that. You've probably got a driver issue from an update.

Are you using XP or Vista?

I've gone into 'System Restore" under "System Properties" but I can't see a difference. I get the feeling I'm not doing something right here. I click 'OK' & nothing seems to happen :confused:.

I'm using XP.


The only thing that I can think of is if windows has updated it self with service pack 3 or not? If not... maybe even try downloading it & seeing if the new service pack will fix the problem? (I am talking about windows XP)

Right clicking "my computer" & going to "properties" will tell you what service pack your on.

after looking around I found this... Performance of 1394 devices may decrease after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/885222)
might be worth a read....

can you try it on another pc?It has Service Pack 2 installed (thanks for the tip on how to find out). I found a SP2 fix download so I tried that first. No difference so I'm doing a SP3 download now - just 1hr 37min to go :).
Fingers crossed.

Can I go back to SP1 somehow ?

[abaddonxi]

Try plugging in via USB rather than 1394/firewire and see if it can be recognised.




This from here -
http://panasonic.com.au/content/library/files/F001765.pdf


Cautions for connecting to a PC with DV Cables
(optional)
When using Motion DV STUDIO (DV Editing Software for
Windows) or other, connect this unit and a PC with DV cable
(optional).
Be sure to observe the cautions described below.
(If not, it may cause damages on this unit or the PC.)
1 Turn off the PC to be connected and this unit.
• If you connect the PC and this unit with they are turned on, it
may cause a malfunction of this unit due to overcurrent.
2 (When the PC is equipped with 6-pin DV terminal)
Connect the DV cable to match the shape of the DV
terminal on the PC.
• If you connect the plug of DV cable reversely, it may cause
damages on this unit.
A Correct
B Incorrect
a DV terminal on the PC
b Tip of the plug of the DV cable
c DV terminal on this unit
3 Connect the DV cable to the PC first, then connect
it to this unit.
• Connect the DV cable to the PC in the order described
above regardless of the type of the PC. If you connect to this
unit first, it may cause a malfunction of this unit due to static
electricity.
1 After connecting to the DV terminal on the PC,
2 Connect the DV cable to the DV terminal on this unit.
4 Check the connection described in the above
steps. Turn on the PC first and then turn on this
unit.

XP service pack 2 has been around long enough that it really shouldn't be a problem for you unless you've only just done a major update, and that shouldn't happen since service pack 3 has been out for a couple of months.

Which I think means that if you haven't used the camera to download in the past three months then maybe it's service pack 2.

The usual fixes would be try another piece of software, which you've done.

Can you access the camera when plugged in through My Computer?

Go to the Device Manager - Start - Control Panel - Performance and Maintenance - System - Hardware - Device Manager.

Check down the list and see if anything has a yellow exclamation mark. That should show the driver file that has become corrupt or is conflicting with something else. You need to download a fresh copy and reinstall.

Post up when you get to the Device Manager and someone will find the driver for you.

Cheers
Simon

[Scouse]

I tried installing Service Pack 3 & all appeared well until an error appeared:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/07/770.jpg

I tried to access the file in question but I couldn't do anything with it. I tried uninstalling the AVC in Device Manager & clicked 'Retry' to no avail.

This is the error that appears when I try to install the camera software(?) back onto the laptop:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/07/771.jpg

And this is the error in Device Manager:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/07/772.jpg

There's the yellow '!' Simon mentions. When I try to re-install, I get the error as detailed in the 2nd picture (Cannot Install this Hardware)

Does this indicate an error with my laptop or camera or both ?
Interestingly, there's no mention about incorrectly connecting the firewire cable in the camera's instructions. It doesn't go into connecting to a PC, just to another camera for editing.

While searching for info yesterday, I did come across quite a few concerns about frying the firewire connection by poor connection practices. After reading Simon's quote detailing the instructions from Panasonic, I can tell you that I have never connected the camera in the correct method :(.

As a result, I fear that I may have damaged this.


** After checking my recent videos, I'm sure the last video was transferred successfully on 4th May 2008.
Is it possible to find out if this is before Service Pack 2 ?
If so, can I go back to Service Pack 1 if there is such a beast ?

I also don't have the neccessary cable to connect to the USB port. When I researched how to connect the camera, I found that going via the USB wasn't a good option. Is that the case ?

[abaddonxi]

Try plugging it in with a USB cable.

Drivers

Fix service pack 3 first to see if that sorts it. If not, go back to the device manager and delete the camera drivers, and try to plug it back in afterwards, probably a good idea to reboot after deleting driver.

If it doesn't auto detect, download the driver from Driverguide - second link - and install.
Here's a link that to a page of problems including a driver download at the bottom of page 1.
DRIVER NEEDED: Panasonic (Matsu****a Mat****a) nv-gs27 (Windows XP Professional) [USB] - DriverGuide Support Forums (http://forums.driverguide.com/showthread.php't=19737)

Or from Driverguide itself
Panasonic (Matsu****a Mat****a) NV-GS27 Driver Summary (http://members.driverguide.com/driver/detail.php'driverid=921687)

Service pack 3

The problem installing XP service pack 3 looks like you had the Device Manager open and looking at the Camera driver page so the computer couldn't get to it. Close down all running programs and try installing service pack 3 again.

Simon

[Scouse]

Try plugging it in with a USB cable.One of these cables?
NEW 4 FEET USB to IEEE 1394 4 PIN FIREWIRE TRAVEL CABLE - eBay Firewire, Cables, Connectors, Components, Upgrades, Computers. (end time 15-Jul-08 12:27:50 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-4-FEET-USB-to-IEEE-1394-4-PIN-FIREWIRE-TRAVEL-CABLE_W0QQitemZ180264348871QQihZ008QQcategoryZ5105 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

[abaddonxi]

One of these cables?
NEW 4 FEET USB to IEEE 1394 4 PIN FIREWIRE TRAVEL CABLE - eBay Firewire, Cables, Connectors, Components, Upgrades, Computers. (end time 15-Jul-08 12:27:50 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/NEW-4-FEET-USB-to-IEEE-1394-4-PIN-FIREWIRE-TRAVEL-CABLE_W0QQitemZ180264348871QQihZ008QQcategoryZ5105 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

The spec's of the camera say that it can connect via USB as well as firewire. I think it said mini B plug - pictures of various USB ends here-
Universal Serial Bus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB#Types_of_USB_connector)

Something more like this-
Standard A to Mini-B USB Connectivity Cable NEW - eBay USB, Cables, Connectors, Components, Upgrades, Computers. (end time 16-Jul-08 12:06:01 AEST) (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Standard-A-to-Mini-B-USB-Connectivity-Cable-NEW_W0QQitemZ190234771997QQihZ009QQcategoryZ31495Q QssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

But you should have one of these hanging about already, camera/phone/mp3, etc.

Simon

[RaZz0R]

try the usb - or find another PC with firewire & hook it up to see if it works....

I doubt this is a driver or software problem tho.. :(

[dullbird]

also go in to your device manager and make sure there is no software conflicts!!

have you downloaded or added any new software since you put your last video footage on?.....if so this would be a good place to start by uninstalling the program and reinstalling your video software

[DiscoCam]

Hey Scouse

I don't want to state the obvious but sometimes the simple things work. Do you start with the camera off when connecting the firewire to the PC and then turn the camera on once connected?

Sorry I'm not much more help.

[abaddonxi]

And while on the simple things, battery charged or plugged into the wall?:angel::angel::angel:

Simon

[Scouse]

OK, a bit of an update now.

I've tried the camera on another laptop & it all works fine so the problem is in my laptop.

Even after disconnecting the camera & uninstalling the camera from Device Manager then trying to load Service Pack 3, I still get the Service Pack 3 error as shown a few posts ago.

I found the cable that came with my camera fitted (thanks Simon) so I can play it via the USB port but the quality is nowhere near as good as it is via Firewire (I also don't seem to be able to save the footage, but that's probably just me).

I'm all thumbs when it comes to this sort of stuff but my laptop is still under warranty so I'll get it sorted out that way (hopefully). I'll just plead ignorance & see what happens.


I'm not aware of any major upgrades that I may have done, but every week or so, when shutting down, updates are automatically done.
Mr Gates could have put anything he liked into my machine !!

[RaZz0R]

Hi Dude,

Glad to know the camera is working fine :) As for auto updates, I never have them turned on & will read what updates I am getting before I get any.

I was thinking about that error with installing Sp3 - I think thats the key to this problem.

Check that file out... c:\windows\system32\drivers\avc.sys

it might be damaged??

I have uploaded my one for you here http://www.users.on.net/~razz0r/avc.sys

Maybe try to rename the file you have to avc.old & try using mine??

it shouldn't be in use... I am thinking it might be damaged or someting. Your hard drive wouldn't be getting full would it or have done a check disk run at all?

[Scouse]

Check that file out... c:\windows\system32\drivers\avc.sys

it might be damaged??

I have uploaded my one for you here http://www.users.on.net/~razz0r/avc.sys

Maybe try to rename the file you have to avc.old & try using mine??

it shouldn't be in use... I am thinking it might be damaged or someting. Your hard drive wouldn't be getting full would it or have done a check disk run at all?I can't open c:\windows\system32\drivers\avc.sys
Here's what I get:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/07/575.jpg


I can't rename the file either:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2008/07/576.jpg

My hard drive isn't full either.
:(:(

[RaZz0R]

Oh - to get that file doa "right click" and choose save file.

check the security of your avc.sys by going to the properties via right clicking the file. Then the security tab. make sure you have full access.

if its in use... grab this tool from microsoft - Process Explorer (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx)

Its called process explorer & you can see what is using the file by using the search function. it also shows you all running programs & where they are running from, easy way to find spyware & virus's ;)

From the menu bar choose "find handel or dll" and enter the name of the file.. only go this route if you have full security to the file & you can't rename it because its in use.

I am betting security.... make sure you are an administrator when you log in... thats another story tho :)