Sony DVD-DCR201--cannot download videos at all with Windows XP Pro or Vista. Sony website says no drivers are needed, but it is apparent that we need a driver to recognize this camera, right? Do you know where we can get one?

Hi amkuselley...
You need to reinstall the XP video/audio drivers
Go to your laptop manufacture's website, click on support and it will guide you to the site to download the video/audio drivers for your computer...
Sorry I cannot give you the webpage to download your drivers from because you did not tell me the make and model of your laptop...
Please take time to rate me

Find out what type of Nvidia graphics card it is, then goto the nvidia site and download the installer from them. The installer usually supports multiple families/models of cards. But yes, you need to download the installer for Win XP pro.
You can do it manually, or have it automatically scan for the hardware and download the correct driver automatically.

Here's a link to the automatic --> http://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx?lang=en-us

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=DCRDVD403

Click on the link above and select the new vista OS you are using to download the drivers for the vista.

The camcorder did not work because the drivers you were having must have been for windows XP.

So download the drivers for vista and this will help.

on the sony website it says the driver is already in vista and xp
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=CCDTRV608&SelectOS=29

http://esupport.sony.com/CA/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=DCRTRV18&SelectOS=30

Vista Ultimate is supported per website, but only for the memory stick.

http://esupport.sony.com/CA/perl/news-item.pl?news_id=128#gen

The drivers needed to connect most Sony® cameras and camcorders to a computer are already included in the Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems. With these drivers, you should be able to connect and transfer files to a computer.
Note: If the your camera or camcorder is not recognized by the computer when connected, you may need an updated driver.

Detailed Windows Vista compatibility information is available for Sony Cameras and Camcorders.

The Windows Vista Starter edition and Windows XP 64-bit operating systems are not supported.

I would look for a more recent driver on the Samsung support website specifically for  Vista; it apparently does not have the right (or any) driver to permit it to work with your DVD camcorder. I don't think any of your hardware, computer or camcorder is dysfunctional, Windows just has to know how to communicate with it.
What you might try first is to have the camcorder connected (USB I assume) and reboot your PC. If Win can see it at all, you should get a screen message that it has found new hardware.  If it has some basic driver on hand, the message might state 'installing software for your device.' 

Download drive updates for Windows (XP-Vista) for DCR-DVD608E camera at Sony Support.

http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=DCRTRV330&region_id=1

Driver information for Microsoft® Windows Vista® and Windows® XP

• The drivers needed to connect most Sony® cameras and camcorders to a computer are already included in the Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems. With these drivers, you should be able to connect and transfer files to a computer.
  Note: If the your camera or camcorder is not recognized by the computer when connected, you may need an updated driver. Check the Updates tab below to see if any updated driver is available.
• Detailed Windows Vista compatibility information is available for Sony Cameras and Camcorders.
• Starter and 64-bit versions of the Windows Vista and Windows XP operating systems are not supported.

You can download it from sony website for free!!

a firewire cable works but i have this from sony that might help others with vista as i contacted them direct and they sent me this for vista, http://support.sony-europe.com/dime/downloads/pmb/pmb.aspx?site=odw_en_GB&m=DCR-HC19E.

hope it helps you out