[flipninjax]

I just got a new desktop with Home Premium installed. I have a Sony Handycam dcr-hc 36. When I tried to install the driver cd it came with, an error message popped up saying the software was incompatible with this version of Windows. Does anyone know where I can download a driver so my camcorder will work on Vista?

[techy689]

Vista should have the driver you need. All you need to do is plug it in via USB. You will then get a message on the computer saying it is searching for your correct driver. Once it says the driver was successfully installed you should be able to use it fine.

Let me know how it goes.

[flipninjax]

I plugged the camera in and a window popped up saying Vista was searching for the driver. Then it said that the driver could not be found. Please tell me that I don't have to buy a new camera.

[flipninjax]

Update. I went to a few other forums to see if anyone else was having the same problem as me. It turns out a lot of people are having this issue with Sony camcorders. I plugged it in via firewire instead of usb and the driver was installed right away. For some reason it just won't work with a usb on Vista.

[techy689]

Great! You can mark this thread solved.

[parhandikap]

I am having the same problem. How do you hook it up via firewall?

[flipninjax]

I hooked it up via firewire, not firewall.

[sgurewicz]

i also have this problem and dont know what firewire is or if i have one on my laptop.

[dafna]

I have a similar problem. I have a Handycam DCR-HC 42 which is supposed to work with Mac OS X. ImageMixer VCDR will not install on my Mac. tried the support site but they offer no help. Any ideas for a driver?

[Mark Norville]

I have done the plug and play with both USB and firewire and Vista fails to instal the drivers. It's a real pain because I also have the most recent version of Windows Digital Image Suite AND Pinnacle v10 but not much use if the computer won't talk to the camera.

[theroadsplit]

I'm having that same problem with the Sony DCR-SR42 on my new iMac. I just can't even get the Mac to recognize it. I learned a lesson by assuming that the newest Sony gear with the newest Mac gear should just talk and get along well. I haven't even found any proposed solution out there except a $100 Mac software mentioned on the profile for the camera on c|net that I haven't been able to find. (See link below under "The Bad:")

http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-camc...-32417452.html

Any thoughts anyone?

Peace and Good,
El Marko

[Robert 22]

I couldn't get my DCR-HC36 to work with Vista either. I just got off the phone with Sony tech support and he told me that the camera isn't compatible with Vista using a USB connection. He said you could only use IEEE Firewire with this camera and Vista if you want it to work. Unfortunately my brand new week-old computer has 10 USB ports but no Firewire port. Grrr...

[cathbous]

I have joined to say thanks for your advise. I have just spent 3 hours the phone to PC World who suggested I do a full destructive recovery when my Sony HC19E didn't work with Vista despite trying various things. After buying a Firewire cable it now works immediately! EXCELLENT
My only advise would be that most firewire cables have 1 or even 2 "6 pins" ends. Laptops don't usually have this connection (neither does the Camcorder) so make sure you buy one with two small ends - I bought the "Belkin 3-in-1 Firewire cable kit" It was about £22.99 but I'm sure you can find it cheaper ont he internet if you have patience - it comes with 2 adaptors to place on the end of the "6 pins"

Anyway I'm off to moivie edit - thank you again for the advise.

Catherine

[airjer]

I appreciate the indirect help as well. As luck would have it I googled my 2 month frustration with trying to get my sony to work with vista and ended up with this thread!

A new firewire card for the new computer (didn't think about ordering it at the time I ordered the computer) and a 6 to 4 firewire cable and I'm in business. I even made my wifes day with an email with a video of our boys when they where about 6 months.

I certainly appreciate the info you have provided and hope that others in the same predicament will find your help as usefull as I did!

Thanks again!
Jer
"airjer"

[jaykub7]

I just got off of live chat with sony. In the conversation the person helping me, said that the problem was with Vista, that Vista did not support USB Streaming, and that there were no drivers, however I found and showed to him on the Microsoft Windows Site, that Vista does indeed support USB Streaming.

See Here: http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...0f3751033.mspx

I find it abhorent that sony not only doesn't have the drivers, but their support people try to tell people like me that it is a flaw in windows, when it is clearly a problem with their lack of drivers. Either he lied straight to my face, or he, and most of sony are ignorant to something whcih is so easy to discover if you just look. It took me like 5 seconds to find that site.

I am further ticked because they were like you are out of luck unless you have a Firewire card or ports built into your computer. That is rediculous that I should have to buy more hardware just to use something i already had access to before.

For all those of you having the same problem as me I urge you to complain to sony, and show them that what they are telling people is false.