Hi
help please - I've read items on this forum and tried all I can think of. this is a camcorder given to me, apart from this issue it seems to work okay. my PC is new and does not have a firewire connection as the camcorder has, so I bought a connecting cable that ends in a USB.
The PC does not recognise the camcorder. I have been told I need a ieee1394 driver but can not locate one. I have asked the PC maker, panasonic and looked on e bay etc but no help.
what would help as a first step is a simple explanation of what I need to make the download work and where to obtain any items and then if it fails to move on to the next step of sorting it
any one out there able to help please?
ANY Firewire-to-USB convertor or cable is a fraud. It cannot technically work - don't even waste your time trying one.
You need to buy/fit a Firewire interface card to your PC: maybe something like this IF your PC takes PCI cards:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-PCI-FireWire-IEEE-1394-3-1-Port-Card-4-6-Pin-Cable-UK-/321329690535
The cheapest option will be Mooblie's recomendation
If all else fails there are refurbished laptops around which have firewire input running Windows 7, One example which I know works as I bought this model for the wife 
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GRADE-1-Windows-7-Dell-Latitude-D630-Laptop-2Ghz-4Gb-Ram-Warranty-NEW-BATTERY/370832866135?_trksid=p2046732.c100040.m2060&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107095009%26meid%3D1dd3019c2c7f433888067b0442a33b31%26pid%3D100040%26prg%3D20140107095009%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D140837858275
Please let us know how you get on as members appreciate the feedback when we suggest options/fixes
Thank you both very much. I'm investigating your advice. tom