I have a JVC GR-D850AA mini DV camcorde. I want to get the videos off the mini dv tape and put it on my laptop. I have a firewire connection and a cable but when I plug it into my laptop nothing happens with the camera (or my laptop does not recognize anything is plugged in). Do I need some sort of software or drivers and if so where can I download these as I can not find a disk if it came with my camera. thanks

Hi there, Make sure the software of your JVC installed in your new laptop. This will make them can communicate smoothly. Then Connect your JVC to new laptops and see the instruction on your laptop screen. If it is not works, find / explore your JVC directory manually. Good luck

JVC have a FAQ page that might help, at THIS LINK. Question 8 is the one you want.

This type of camera usually downloads better with a Firewire (DV) connection. Some mini-DV cameras only use the USB connection for stills (if they have one) and can only download video by Firewire. This is because you have to play the tape into the computer, not just copy a file.

Most PCs have a USB port, but no Firewire port. Macs often have a Firewire port but may not have USB. You don't say what kind of notebook you have, but if it is a Windows one, you probably don't have a Firewire socket.

Standard 1394 mini dv firewire. Ask any store that sells camcorders

Win 7 with it´s automatic driver download from internet, corel studio 12 wen it starts shows transfer mini dv to dvd, and a normal firewire connection (from the right side of the lens -hidden under rubber cover-) that allows corel to use the camera automatically when the camera is on play mode.

Hi and welcome to FixYa,

To save the video on a computer, a firewire connections must first be established from the JVC GR-DX307 AS to the appropriate firewire port of the laptop (assuming it has one or through a PCMCIA firewire adapter card if required). In the camera, the FireWire/DV port is located beneath the mode dial on the left side of the JVC GR-DX307’s body. To access the FireWire/DV port, the LCD monitor must be first opened.

Soon as that connection is established, you can use Windows Import Video (Vista) to capture / download the videos.

Alternately, the A / V port of the camera maybe used to connect to a DVD Recorder for direct, realtime copying & burning. For the disc to be playable in another machine, it must be finalized.

Good luck and thank yu for using FixYa.

I found a Fix for vista with my GR-D850 jvc the Startech.com (3 port IEEE-1394 firewire PCI Card) works on vista when installed the pci card I was able to down lowed to windows movie maker with no problems.

I hope this helps

You need a video editing program to see it. Pinnacle studio works with your camcorder.

use firewire cable from your dv port to stream video-4-4 pin for laptop 4-6 pin for mac or tower

If it's a JVC GR-D72, then it's MiniDV. Connect the camcorder via firewire to your PC

You are mentioning that you are trying to transfer video though USB port, that is not possible, you have to connect the to the pc through the DV port from the camera to the Firewire port of the PC, if your PC doesnt have a Fire wire port, install a IEEE1394 firewire card in one of your PCI slots.