1394 port?

[caduceus]

I have a Dell Dimensions 4550 home pc.
I am trying to capture some digital cam footage, and the editing software is saying it needs to be connected to the 1394 port.

Would my pc naturally have one? And what would it look like? Pics very helpfull!

Thanks
Cad

[nighthawk]

you'll be looking for a fire wire port then.

depending on the machine, it'll look like a usb plug with a pointy end, or a tiny port which looks like a B on it's side.

google for 1394 or firewire.

[LongQ]

Not sure how old the Dell model is and not all Desktops have Firewire but many notebooks do these days.

Assuming you are running XP, click on START > then Right Click on My Computer (or just right click on my computer if you have a fast way to get at it.) Select PROPERTIES and them open up the HARDWARE tab and click on DEVICE MANAGER. You should see an entry for IEEE 1394 Bus Controller(s) if you have a Firewire capability.

If not you can get a card to use in a spare PCI slot for not too much money. Assuming you have a spare PCI slot.

[andybuk99]

the port will look like one of these
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Fi

[snapper seven]

Bizarrely I have just put a firewire port in my Dell pc this morning.
I simply went to Maplins and bought a IEEE 1394a 3-port Host Adaptor. Only £20. Make sure you buy a Firewire 6 pin cable too. Got one again in Maplins for a tenner. You need a 6 pin (male) - 4 pin (male).

To fit the port simply remove the PC casing, if you have the same type case as mine then just one side panel slides off by turning the black 'L' shaped knob on the back.
Then you will have to remove one of the blanking plates at the bottom of the pc and fit the firewire port as described in the instructions - it's really easy you just need to slide the board into the free slot.

If you have XP then the pc will automatically recongnise the new device.

After that you are free to capture video. When you plug your video camera (using the firewire cable) into one of the firewire ports it should automatically proompt some options including capture vudeo. Windows Movie Maker is the most likely default that will open if you have it.

I'm now off to download hours of film...yipee

Edit to say I found this link useful
www.simplydv.co.uk/infobase/about_firewire.html

Edited by snapper seven on Sunday 26th November 14:19

[snapper seven]

Actually one question I have is that Windows Movie Maker breaks the footage into clips, I guess recognising when the camera was stopped/paused yet when I view the footage on Explorer it simply shows one file. Can I save the clips separately somehow?

Cheers

[LongQ]

caduceus said:

Would my pc naturally have one? And what would it look like? Pics very helpfull!

Did you get a cable with the camera? Maybe an adaptor for 4 to 6 pin connectors as well?

[RobDickinson]

According to the Dell specs that PC does NOT have a 1394/wirewire port.

Unless your video device has USB2 also then you can add a PCI firewire card fairly easy.

Here is one at dabs for 20 quid.