NVGS250 Firewire

sachin · 22-11-2006, 10:54 AM

Does anyone know how to connect a NVGS250 to a computer via firewire properly? I think I might be doing it wrong.

redsox_mark · 22-11-2006, 11:18 AM

1. Connect the cable

2. Turn the camcorder on in tape playback mode.

That is all you should need to do for the device to be recognised. Note it will not show up as a file system in windows (like it does when you connect an externall HDD or camera via USB), but your editing software should see it.

3. Use the software to capture.

See this it may help
http://techdocs.panasonic.co.uk/docs...eo_editing.pdf

sachin · 22-11-2006, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redsox_mark

See this it may help
http://techdocs.panasonic.co.uk/docs...eo_editing.pdf

I got a "Timeout accessing resource" when clicking on it. Any idea why?

redsox_mark · 22-11-2006, 11:35 AM

Maybe it doesn't like the direct link... you can find the document from here

http://www.panasonic.co.uk/customer-...oad-centre.asp

Enter the model number GS250... the doc I was linking to is called
How to connect a DV camcorder for Video editing using the DV IEEE 1394 (Firewire) connection

sachin · 22-11-2006, 11:43 AM

Thanks I have the document now.

**senu** · 22-11-2006, 12:36 PM

If you find you are doing it properly and get no joy, Try it on another PC.

MarkE19s post on your other thread also identified a problem with some firewire devices and Win XP SP2.

I've never had it ( maybe the auto updates from Microsoft sorted that out although I wasn't using Sp2 with my older Panasonic camorder ) , but if you feel there is no hardware issue with the camcorder cable or card, then a cautiously done but relatively easy registry fix may be what you need

jaymac · 22-11-2006, 12:51 PM

The instructions for the GS 500 Specifically states connect to the pc with the pc off and the camcorder off .turn the pc on then turn the camcorder on. when I'm finished I turn the Cam off disconnect the cable from the cam till needed again

sachin · 22-11-2006, 1:10 PM

Jaymac, I did exactly that but no joy. Both Windows Movie Maker and MotionDV Studio happily accepted USB2 connection but with Firewire they both said that no device was attached.

Senu, what is this registry hack that you refer to? And where is this post by Mark?

sachin · 22-11-2006, 1:22 PM

Hey Senu,

Sorry, I found Mark's reply. The problem with that solution is that it seems to only apply to a slow firewire connection not the case where you can't get a firewire connection at all.

jaymac · 22-11-2006, 1:40 PM

Sachin but surely when yo did it the first time .First windows beeped and recognised it also gave you a dialog box to choose which application you want to open with?. If not have you checked in device manager that your firewire is OK

sachin · 22-11-2006, 2:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaymac

Sachin but surely when yo did it the first time .First windows beeped and recognised it also gave you a dialog box to choose which application you want to open with?. If not have you checked in device manager that your firewire is OK

hey Jaymac,

Well the firewire I have is from a recently purchased PCI card and at first it didn't work (I checked in device manager) but then I selected uninstall from device manager and restarted the computer. Once the computer restarted the firewire got reinstalled and now appears ok in device manager. It is only after doing this that I tried connecting my camcorder to the computer via firewire having previously used usb2. And no, no dialog box appeared asking me how I want to open it.

jaymac · 22-11-2006, 6:26 PM

Ok but did windows acknowledge the connection the first time

sachin · 22-11-2006, 11:24 PM

If you mean when I connected using firewire the first time then no I don't think it did.

jaymac · 23-11-2006, 9:20 AM

In that case there is a chance you aint connected.Presume you have tried it again from scratch I'll play around with mine later today and see if there is anything else that would show the connection,and let you know

jaymac · 23-11-2006, 1:59 PM

Hi Sachin
I have conected the cam acouple of times and each time I get a little Icon briefly in the task bar saying digital device. The box for choosing which Prog to open with in my case 4 opens and if I look in my computer alongside the drives is Panasonic camera.So you should have these as well. I'm on XP dont know if its the same with other OS

sachin · 24-11-2006, 12:51 AM

I don't get any icon or anything.

jaymac · 24-11-2006, 9:06 AM

Well providing you have connected as said earlier and the cam is selected to playback mode you it should show in My Computer at least.The onlything left is try it on another pc or another cam on yours to eliminate either the card /cable or camcorder.I would suspect the cable.Sorry but not able to think of anything else.

**senu** · 24-11-2006, 9:26 AM

Sorry it is taking this long and you still haven't got there

Ill just reinforce Jaymacs' suggestion if I may

I had earlier suggested likewise that you try it on another PC in an earlier post.

Jaymac ( who presumably owns a similar camcorder) had wisely added the suggestion to try another camcorder on your PC
This process of elimination is the easiest to find where the problem is

The most likely culprit is the cable
The second most is your card
It is possible that the firewire output from the camcorder is faulty but this is only a very unlikely ( though possible) scenario

As long as you can "see" the card as an OHCI compliant IEEE 1394 bus host controller in the devices manager without any exclamation marks cable seems most likely but only another camcorder working without your cable can fully prove that.

This is normally a no brainer and should not take this long to figure out what isnt happening right: Good luck with your sleuthing

jaymac · 24-11-2006, 12:22 PM

So much better put as usual Senu

I have the Gs500 which Iwould think is identical also Sachin there is a possible issue with SP2 and firewire though I think only if you have recently updated .Afraid the technicalities a bit above me but worth a thought if that applies it is fixable.

sachin · 24-11-2006, 4:38 PM

Hi Senu, Jaymac and everyone else,

Ok so let me explain what I've been doing to try and fix this problem.

I have installed the XP SP2 firewire Hotfix and then checked my registry to see if my SidSpeed value was set to 0. It was not, it was set to the default of 2, and therefore it should have worked. Anyway, I changed it to 3 (the only other sensible value) and it made no difference. So I changed the value back to 2. Bottom line: this is not the reason for my issues.

I ordered a new firewire cable, one which got consistent 5 stars in Amazon, and used that. This has caused a significant improvement. With the old cable the computer simply did not register the camcorder at all. Now, the first time I connected the camcorder to the PC with the new cable (following the instructions in the manual exactly), I got a few boxes in my system tray saying that new hardware was found and so forth. However, the computer became unresponsive and would not do anything. I couldn't close programs, open programs and the newly found hardware didn't get installed. I had no option but to turn the camcorder off at which point the computer came back to life and I got a message that the hardware did not get installed. Now, whenever I connect the camcorder to the computer with the new cable I get the same problem: the computer becomes very unresponsive.

So it seems you all were right: the cable was the issue. But what do I do now?

MarkE19 · 24-11-2006, 5:02 PM

What else is runnig on the PC when it freezes?
You should stop all background programs such as firewall & antivirus and disconnect from the network/internet. To stop the programs I use a utility called EndItAll2 that is a free download, if you can find it. If not PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you a copy.
Try this out and see if it helps.

Mark.

jaymac · 24-11-2006, 6:21 PM

Good at least you are getting forward .As to your new prob Can you do a system restore to before you played with the Hotfix and then try again

sachin · 25-11-2006, 1:22 AM

I'll try to enditall (lol) first and I'm not to sure about system restores.

jaymac · 25-11-2006, 9:18 AM

Fine .but if you are happy playing around in the Registry what is to be unsure of in System Restore?. If enditol fixes it great if not remember you made 2 moves to get to where you are which one partially fixed it The register move or the new cable.?You'll get there

sachin · 25-11-2006, 1:00 PM

Hi Jaymac,

The registry + hotfix made no difference at all. It was the new cable that helped. Having taken a closer look at the two cables I have I saw that the old one was thinnner than the new one. I don't know if this matters. What I do know is that the new cable helped but what I need to do now is try the enditall option and then come running back here if it doesn't work

Speak to you all soon.

**senu** · 25-11-2006, 1:17 PM

The firewire cables can be faulty regardless of thickness

System restore is a first line of getting windows to behave well by using what is essentially a registry backup

It is usually enabled by default

You can acess it by using start : all programs : accessories : system tools: system restore
This will then give you the otion of creating a restore point or using a previously made one
Windows or some programs create one from time to time
you can then go back in time when you PC wasnt "freezing" and chose it.

sachin · 25-11-2006, 1:46 PM

Ok thanks for all the information everyone.

What I've done now is run enditall2 to close all processes and programs and then turned on the camcorder. The result is ... < drumroll> ... nothing. Nothing happens. The PC doesn't freeze, it doesnsn't become unstable or anything. No "new hardware found" dialog pops up. Nothing. And when I open movie maker it still doesn't recognise the camcorder. What's my next move?

This is getting really frustrating.

Sachin

jaymac · 25-11-2006, 2:19 PM

If you do a system restore to an earlier date .You have established the pc has seen the cam at one stage albeit with side efects (you are running XP) .
I would go back to just before your Registry play then check the firewire is still ok in the device manager and try from scratch.Sorry no real ideas can appreciate how frustrating you must be getting

**senu** · 25-11-2006, 3:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sachin

Ok thanks for all the information everyone.

What I've done now is run enditall2 to close all processes and programs and then turned on the camcorder. The result is ... < drumroll> ... nothing. Nothing happens. The PC doesn't freeze, it doesnsn't become unstable or anything. No "new hardware found" dialog pops up. Nothing. And when I open movie maker it still doesn't recognise the camcorder. What's my next move?

This is getting really frustrating.

Sachin

System restore...is one thing you can try
Easy to do
Described in my last post
If you want me to talk you thru drop a PM/ email We'll talk on the phone later today

sachin · 25-11-2006, 7:52 PM

The only thing about system restore that I'm worried about is:

1. If I do one will any files I've updated (such as word documents) be reverted back?
2. Will any software I've installed get uninstalled?

Sachin