Firewire Capture Nightmare with Canon m700i

[snowy owl]

I have some serious problems with capturing video with Firewire from my Canon MV700i (UK) camera. I had NO problems for 6 months - and it has suddenly stopped working. I have seen posts from others describing similar problems on several forums - but never with a solution or explanation.

This is not just an XP SP2 problem - it worked under SP2 for some months before suddenly not working.,..

Here are the details...:
- XP SP2
- Pinacle Studio 8
- Canon Mv700i
- Capture of video leados to capture for around 1 - 10 seconds followed by "freezing" of process in Pinacle. No more control of the camera. Indeed, usually the PC needs to be re-booted. If you do managee to quit out of Pinacle - connecting the camera again to the Firewire doesn't get recognised by PC until it is rebooted.

Have tried:
- Reinstall Pinacle
- tested Firewire card on other products using firewire (no probs)
- switched ports
- reverted to SP1 version of NSDV.sys, 1394bus.sys, etc, etc... No difference...

Anyone with any ideas? I have even tried a friends' Canon camera - and teh same problem/

I am guessing there is nothing physically wrong with the camera - but having said that - it does seem to be some interaction of Firewire software and specifically Canon cameras.

Has anyone else had problems - or has anyone got any ideas - please!!!?

Thanks,
Snowy Owl

[sfheath]

Take your camera round to your friend's and try it on his PC?
How are you on disk space? Defragmented recently?
A virus and spyware scan may help.

[ljraggy]

Ok think back to soon after it stoped working wether it be a week or 4 weeks.

What had you installed on your system hardware wise?

As i had a Major HD drive problem because of Lack of power as i installed a USB Hub without using the power supply.

one suttle thing can create other problems.

So you have tried other DV editing suites?

Is Pinacle helpdesk any good? What have they suggested?

[snowy owl]

Firstly - I do not ecall making ANY changes to speak off - certainly in hardware.

The problem is not Pinacle-specific. Exactly the same issue with WinDV and MM2. Infact, with WinDV - if you start play on the DV cam - even though not capturing - the picture freezes after a few seconds - and thta is it... No more abailty to use the firewire connection form the camera until you re-boot.

I have ordered a new Firewire card - but I think I am clutching at straws. I don't think anything would suddenly go wring with the existing card - and it works 100% fine with my Nikon LS4000 slide scanner.

I suspect that it is a software problem - and that something has subtly changed on the Xp installation. Am considering re-intsalling Xp.

Might also try using it with everything else removed from memory that I can think of...

Wonder if I can try it under safe mode?

Finally - I am not convincved this is down to just Canon..

[ljraggy]

Yes a RE-Install might be inorder, but im not saying to do it.

Its funny how little things can F*@k up and just totally piss you off.

I do a reinstall on average every 6-12 months, & its usally because of somthing isn't working the way it ought to.

Try this.

Ground yourself for static. get a aircompressor & blow all the dust & crap from inside & remove all the wire connections blow them too. Put everything back & see what happens..
DUST IS A KILLER 4 PC's

Ring/email Canon about your problem

[snowy owl]

In case it is helpful to someone - I finally got to the root of my Canon video capture problem. Nothing at all to do with Xp or SP2 - but down to a (gone) faulty Firewire card. Put a new card in - and no probs at all. The old one must have gone faulty some time last month.

Shame I did not discover this before re-installing Xp from scratch...!

At least it all works now.

[sfheath]

Thanks for the feedback - even retrospect can be useful for others