Question Help finding drivers for an old Digital Camcorder please ?

[ToolPunkXS]

I have a Panasonic PV-GS9 Mini DV Camcorder that i just found a tape that I never converted to digital. Windows 11 sees the Camcorder as a DVS device but can't find drivers, and I can't find drivers anywhere. What can I do at this point? If I grab an extra HDD and install Windows 7, do you think that it will find drivers?

 

[Lutfij]

I have a Panasonic PV-GS9 Mini DV Camcorder
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What can I do at this point?
Does your platform have a firewire port?

 

[Ralston18]

I found the following link:

https://av.jpn.support.panasonic.com/support/global/cs/e_cam/download/downdvc_usb.html

May help with finding other leads/links.

However, be very cautious and wary when going to any links that turn up with regards to manuals and/or drivers.

Lots of malware, fake "alerts" etc. likely to pop-up.

 

[ToolPunkXS]

No. It's a modern system, no firewire. The Camcorder only has Mini USB or DV/4Pin Firewire. Either way, when I connect mini usb to usb A the device is recognized as a DVS device but won't install.
I can't find drivers anywhere.

 

[garioch7]

@ToolPunkXS ,

I have converted large numbers of Hi-8 and VHS tapes over the years with many versions of Windows. My experience has been that you need a digital converter device to interface between the camcorder/VHS player and the computer.

I have the last version of Honestech 8.0 VHS to DVD converter (the company is now defunct), which works great. It installs its own drivers for its device, and that device connects to Windows. There are other video converter devices out there, with the necessary software and conversion programs, most of which are paid. I have not used any of them, so I can't recommend a particular program/device.

If you Google "convert analog video to digital", you will find lots of options.

I hope this helps. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

 

[ToolPunkXS]

@garioch7,

All of the converters I find, require A/V hookups such as; HDMI, RCA, S-VIDEO. My camcorder only has Mini USB and DV/4Pin FireWire Out.

 

[USAFRet]

@garioch7,

All of the converters I find, require A/V hookups such as; HDMI, RCA, S-VIDEO. My camcorder only has Mini USB and DV/4Pin FireWire Out.

PCI firewire card.

https://www.amazon.com/LinksTek-FireWire-400-6Pin-Port-Include-PCIE-1394A/dp/B07Q2G79QG

 

[ToolPunkXS]

@USAFRet
I actually have one on the way just in case. Thing is, if Windows 11 won't install a driver for the Cam through USB, is it going to be any different connected through FireWire? I mean I'll know in a couple days regardless...

 

[garioch7]

@ToolPunkXS ,

Have you tried to "Google" the following: "mini usb to rca video cable"

I just tried. Such cables exist and might resolve your issue.

I hope this helps. Have a great day.

Regards,
Phil

 

[ToolPunkXS]

@garioch7

Have you tried to "Google" the following: "mini usb to rca video cable"

I just tried. Such cables exist and might resolve your issue

Yes I have googled for such a cable. While the cables do exist, they are fake cables designed to dupe the customer. Googling if the cable would work results in the explanation that, "the two technologies are too different for such a cable to work". Thank you for your effort though.

 

[garioch7]

@ToolPunkXS ,

Yes I have googled for such a cable. While the cables do exist, they are fake cables designed to dupe the customer. Googling if the cable would work results in the explanation that, "the two technologies are too different for such a cable to work". Thank you for your effort though.

I am sorry to hear that. My camcorders were Sony devices, so I never faced your issue. I was just trying to find a solution for you.

Perhaps you could post in a specialized AV Forum or reach out to Panasonic. It seems odd to me that there would be no way to extract the video files from a Panasonic DV camcorder. You can't be the only person who has run into this issue . . .

Good luck, and have a great day.

Regards,
Phil