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AnswerWindows 7 not showing Sony HVR-MRC1K device in Windows Explorer

  • Saturday, August 08, 2009 3:45 AMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi,

    The Sony HVR-MRC1K is a memory recording device that attaches to Sony video cameras and records onto CompactFlash cards.  When connecting this device (via Firewire) to my computer, the device can be seen under "Devices and Printers", but I cannot see the device on Windows Explorer or My Computer, hence I cannot pull video files off the card onto my computer.

    The device works fine under Windows XP, and Windows Vista x64, but not Windows 7 RC x64.

    If I am doing something wrong or there is another way to view the files on this device, any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,
    Allen.
    • Edited byAllen V M Saturday, August 08, 2009 3:46 AM
    • Edited byAllen V M Saturday, August 08, 2009 3:46 AM
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Answers

  • Saturday, November 21, 2009 1:54 AMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     Answer
    Hi guys,

    The solution to this problem is as follows for anyone who still can't get their HVR-MRC1K to work in Windows 7:

    Right click on Computer and click Properties, then Device Manager
    Double click IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers
    Right click on the one you have listed under this heading, click Update Driver
    Click 'Browse my computer for driver software'
    Click 'Let me pick from a list'
    Select '1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy)'
    Install that driver.  You may need to reboot.

    Mine now works - hope this works for you.  Good luck guys
    • Marked As Answer byAllen V M Saturday, November 21, 2009 1:55 AM
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All Replies

  • Saturday, August 08, 2009 11:45 AMNano Warp Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    This same issue is being worked on here in this thread. This user and I have not completed further assessment yet. Stay tuned. Please post the solution if you resolve it.
    The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.
  • Saturday, August 15, 2009 8:58 PMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Thanks very much for the response.  I've tried various software to get around the problem but no luck so far.  If I come up with a solution I will post it here.
  • Saturday, August 15, 2009 9:20 PMRCoover Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Go into "Administrative Tools", "Computer Management", and then "Disk Management". Check to see if your device is "offline". If so, right click on "offline" and you should get an option for a left click to place it "online". Good luck.
  • Sunday, August 16, 2009 3:04 AMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi RCoover,

    Thanks for your response!  Actually the device doesn't even show up under Disk Management :(
  • Wednesday, August 19, 2009 8:01 PMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi guys,

    Just wanted to mention, this is not the same issue as the video capture problem that Windows 7 seems to have with some Camcorders.  The second poster on this thread (Nano Warp) thought it might be related and posted a link to another thread.

    The MRC-1K is a memory recording unit that records onto CompactFlash cards.  When connected to a computer via 1394 (FireWire), it acts as a hard disk drive device - Windows should allocate it a drive path/letter and should be able to access data on the card.  It works under previous versions of Windows but Windows 7 recognizes the device as an AV/C tape recorder/player and does not allocate it a drive path/letter.

    I thought maybe I could manually change the driver to whatever Vista 64 uses for this device but I'm not sure which driver it uses.  If anyone has any idea, please let us know.

    Anyone else having a similar issue with a HDD type device being recognized as something different by Win 7? 

    Thanks.
    • Edited byAllen V M Wednesday, August 19, 2009 8:47 PM
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  • Wednesday, August 19, 2009 10:28 PMNano Warp Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    I realized that this is a different device. My point is that it's a Sony product with connectivity issues.

    I would venture a guess that the i.link firewire that Sony uses is not included in Win 7 RC and included in the the other Windows versions.

    If you have a Vista OS that you can connect the device into, you would then be able to view the properties and drivers, and then find those to install as Vista drivers would work in Win 7.

    After connecting the device to Win 7 RC, have you tried the update drivers from device manager?

    The other option would be to try to install the Sony Recording Unit Utility Software v 1.0 (download from Sony, after you register) in Vista compatibility mode. Perhaps that would include the components for the interface.

    It's a Sony. ;-)
    The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.
  • Thursday, August 20, 2009 12:10 AMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi Nano Warp,  Thanks again for your time and advice you have offered - you're a great credit to this forum.

    I have tried updating the drivers - no luck :(

    The Sony utility you mentioned was no help either.  It's basically just a simple .exe file that allows you to pull files off your memory recording unit and dump them into a folder of your choice.  It doesn't have any drivers or anything other than the .exe file.  If your device does not have a drive path and letter on your computer, this "software" can't even detect it.


  • Monday, August 24, 2009 1:15 PMNano Warp Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Allen V M,
    As I suggested before, If you have a Vista OS that you can connect the device into, you would then be able to view the properties and drivers, and then find those to install as Vista drivers would work in Win 7.
    Drill down to the properties on the device and get the driver manf., number and date. Also, you may want to get the device hardware ID.

    Perhaps Sony will provide MS with the device information for the retail release.
    The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.
  • Tuesday, August 25, 2009 8:49 AMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hi Nano,

    Thanks again for your response.

    The drivers that Vista uses to view the device as a drive so that files can be accessed are:

    partmgr.sys
    disk.sys

    These files also exist in Win 7 - I think they are exactly the same.

    However when updating the drivers for the device, it wants a .inf file to install with, and wont accept .sys files.  I'm not tech savy enough to know why that is, but I assumed partmgr.inf and disk.inf would do the trick, but when I tried to install the device with those .inf files, it said that they did not match my device and would not install.

    At this point I've given up and am content with using another OS to pull the files off the drive.  I'll just wait for MS to sort this one out in their own time.

    Thanks again for all your effort.
  • Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:24 AMNano Warp Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Allen V M,
    partmgr.sys and disk.sys confirms that Windows Vista sees it as a drive. Sorry to hear that you have given up.  Therefore, I have two parting suggestions, in case you are tempted to try again.

    Unit is in drive mode, in the cradle, and powered on. Connect the unit to the computer. Open control panel. At the top right, in the view by: drop down box> select an icons view.
    Locate autoplay and open it. Check to see if there is a device at the bottom, which may be the HVR-if so, set it to allow auto play.

    Also, if you have anti-virus software installed on Win 7, review the settings to determine if it is blocking the device.

    Because this is a business class device, email Sony and ask if they intend to support this device in Win 7.

    Best Regards.
    The problem with troubleshooting is that trouble shoots back.
  • Saturday, November 21, 2009 1:54 AMAllen V M Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     Answer
    Hi guys,

    The solution to this problem is as follows for anyone who still can't get their HVR-MRC1K to work in Windows 7:

    Right click on Computer and click Properties, then Device Manager
    Double click IEEE 1394 Bus host controllers
    Right click on the one you have listed under this heading, click Update Driver
    Click 'Browse my computer for driver software'
    Click 'Let me pick from a list'
    Select '1394 OHCI Compliant Host Controller (Legacy)'
    Install that driver.  You may need to reboot.

    Mine now works - hope this works for you.  Good luck guys
    • Marked As Answer byAllen V M Saturday, November 21, 2009 1:55 AM
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  • Wednesday, January 27, 2010 3:43 PMnaples_vidiot Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Hello,
    Hope someone can help. I have the Sony HVR-MRC1 and the Sony Recording Unit Utility Software that came with it from Sony. I've never installed it (Sony Recording Unit Utility Software) into my PC because it (HVR-MRC1) is recognized/opens and files can be copied/pasted directly from the HVR-MRC1 when plugged into my firewire.  I NEED to install the software because I need the stitching done on long shoots.  This software is for Vista and previous OSs.  I just now loaded 64 Windows 7 and would like to know if the software can be installed now and will Windows 7 recognize it or ask for updates, etc. etc. etc.?  Does Sony have updates for the Sony Recording Unit Utility Software or am I on the wrong help post? Thank you for your time and assistance.
  • 11 hours 15 minutes agoveriatech Users MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers MedalsUsers Medals
     
    Thank you!  This solution worked!  I can now connect my HVR-MRC1 video recorder to my Windows 7 OS to offload my footage during shoots... of course, this is only a temporary holding place as I use Mac & Final Cut for video editing, but I have a PC laptop for offloading footage during long shooting events so it is crucial to my video production workflow!  Thanks for this answer Allen!