How do you import video from a Sony Handycam to a computer?

Can you help me with my sony video camera?

• I have a Sony Handycam DCR-HC90. I also have a cable that plugs it into my HP Windows Vista computer. I only have a few videos that I want to transfer because I got a new camera. I have no idea how to get the videos onto my computer. They are on a mini DVD digital video cassete (exact words on the tape haha) which is IN the camera that is plugged into the computer. There are three choices when the camera is on.....Tape, Memory, or Play/Edit. Neither one says its connected to the computer when I turn it on WHILE it's pluged into the computer. I would like to get the footage onto my computer to edit on Windows Movie Maker Vista (which i already have and easily know how to use). I also tried Import/From Digital Video Camera and it says there is no camera found even though it is plugged in and on. I think maybe there is a program I need to use to get the footage onto my computer but I do not know what it is. Please help!

• Answer:

  The Sony DCR-HC90 is a miniDV tape based camcorder (not "miniDVD"). ALL miniDV tape based camcorders transfer their video using firewire - not USB. Connect a firewire cable (not USB) to the DV port of the camcorder to the firewire port of the computer. If your computer does not have a firewire port, hopefully it has an available expansion slot so you can add one. You did not tell us what computer, so we have no way to know. The USB cable that came with the camcoder *might* allow low-quality video streaming but you need a driver for that and it is likely not supported... but you can check the sony.com web site in the support area and search for your camcorder. Generally, this does not work... and if it does, it does not work very well. USB won't work. USB-firewire converter/adapter/hub/cable things won't work. You will also need a firewire cable. the DV port on ALL miniDV tape based camcorders is always 4-pin. Whether the other side of the cable for your computer is 4-pin, 6-pin or 9-pin depends on the computer's firewire port.