Sony DCR-PC5E

[patchwork1]

I need a driver for the above digital handycam and cannot find one on the Sony website as it is a very old video camera - can anybody help?

[blaireau_photo]

Hello patchwork1 - Welcome to the Sony Forums

As this camera connects to a computer using an i.Link connection (i.e. Firewire), there is no driver required to connect it to a computer as long as your PC/Laptop has a Firewire socket installed correctly. You just need a regular 4 Pin to 4 Pin Firewire cable to make the connection and then you should be able to capture video using the necessary software. If you need further assistance with this, please let me know more details about the computer that you are using ie. if it is a laptop, the make and model.

Thanks,

Simon

[patchwork1]

Thanks but unfortunately my new computer HP Phoenix running Windows 7 does not have a firewire socket. I purchased a new cable to connect the camera to a USB socket but it is not recognised.

[Mick2011]

You can fit a Firewire card to your computer quite cheaply (which will provide you with a firewire port to connect to) but unfortunately people no longer write USB drivers for use with older camcorders under newer operating systems such as Windows 7.

The only alternative to a firewire card would be to use an older PC, or install an older version of (eg) Windows XP on a drive partition. In most cases the firewire card works out to be the most efficient solution.

Let me know if you need any more help.

Cheers

Mick

[patchwork1]

Thanks for your advice MIck. I don't really want to install a firewire card whilst the computer is under warranty so I am still looking for alternatives. I have noticed an adaptor on the Maplin website which may be suitable; if so I will post the details.