I am computer challenged!! Just purchased a Sony TRV-350 and am attempting to install the USB driver using the supplied CD-ROM but I receive the following message. "The software you are installing for this hardware: Sony Digital Imaging Video - has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatibility with Windows XP. Continuing your installation of this software may impare or destabilize the correct operation of your system...." What do I do now?

Second question. What is the difference between using the USB cable and using an I.Link cable?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Sorry...I don't know the answer to your first question. I have 4 Digital8 camcorders but I have never used the USB interface so I have never tried to load the USB driver.

You must use the firewire interface to transfer your full video quality. USB is only for transferring stills or low quality streaming video. My Sony computer has a built-in Memory Stick reader and I have no need for low quality streaming video.

So if you don't have a firewire port, you better get it because USB is too slow for quality video. If your computer has USB2, that won't help either because most camcorders don't support USB2 yet. Maybe some of the 2004 models will???

Dave

DaveC speaks truth, Nancy.

I might elaborate a bit: i-Link is the Sony name for Firewire, which was a word trademarked by Apple so other people can't use it. But they're all the same.

Your computer no doubt came with USB ports. But does it have a Firewire card? The USB cable won't fit there; it takes its own special cable (wouldn't you know it!). You can buy a card for $30 or even a bit less, and a cable too. You should ask a friend to look inside your computer case to see if you have a spare slot to accept this card. The card fits up against the outer shell of the case and that's where the cable plugs in from the outside.

I suspect that the minute you attach your TRV350 to a Firewire cable into your computer and turn the camcorder to VTR, you'll hear a "dong!" and the computer will tell you it has noticed the camera. Then you're good to go.

Keith

Hi Nancy. I there is a thread that I started regarding Firewire hardware on another board -- I think it's the Computer Digital Video -> Computer DV board. The thread is titled "Are all Firewire cards/cables the same?". Maybe it will help you a bit?


(P.S. -- Is it possible to post a link in a message that points to another thread?)

Thank you all for helping with your replies. Looks like I have a little more work to do before I can send video to my computer! Happy holidays everyone!

Nancy

Sure...display the thread you want to link to and right click on the address, near the top of your browser. It becomes highlighted. Right click on it again and then left click on COPY. Now that address is on your clipboard.

Next, type the post where you want the link to appear and then click on the 'http://" button above the posting window. A little window pops up and you past the contents of your clipboard into that window. I think you click OK and you have to paste it a 2nd time. Then click OK again and that link appears at the bottom of your post. If you don't want it at the bottom you have to "Highlight / cut / paste" it to location in the post where you want it.

I hope I got that right from memory? If not, I think I am close.

Dave