Thanks so much for the quick reply. I reinstalled XP Pro Svs Pk 2 with all the updates, plus installed VMS Platinum ver 6.0. After the HD crash I had to reinstall the graphics driver, so it should be the same as before. I'm not familiar when you referred to "the library that captures". Is that something I can reinstall or edit?

Thanks

All I can say is please download the VMS8 trial version (don't worry, it won't overwrite your old installation) and see if that works. If it's the library that crashes, you can't do anything about it.

Thanks, I'll give it a try now and let you know what happens.

1) Are you sure you fixed your computer? Is it virus free? Are you saying that vegas caused your crash or was it something else? Are you using the same hard drive or a new one? When is the last time you did a check disc for your hard drive? Have you checked your system device manger to make sure you have no conflicts?
2)By dv cable I take that to mean a fire wire cable? yes? Your not using usb are you?
3)have you checked all the settings for the video capture? is it set to control the camera ?
4) have you tried to capture in windows movie maker?
5) do you have a friend that can let you try to capture a little bit of your video to confirm the camera/ tape/firewire is okay?

I downloaded VMS 8.0 and still the software will not capture. I can control my camera, just cannot capture the video/audio except for the 1st frame.

rustier: Let me see if I can answer some of your questions - I appreciate you taking the time to make suggestions, as I'm desparate.

1) I fixed the computer as it's up an running all software I use. I ran a virus check and it's clean. No vegas did not crash the HD, i believe it was a bad drive. Starting making all kind of noise (I thought it was the computer fan making the nosie). Once I shut down - nothing. I installed a new hard drive, and there are no conflicts.

2) Yes, I'm using a fire wire cable.

3) I've checked all the settings for the video capture, for capture it gives me two choices 1) Microsoft DV capture 2) ATI Rage Theater. Neither choice will capture.
Microsoft capture controls the camera through Vegas - I can use the play, stop,pause, etc buttons on Vegas and it will operate the camera.

4) No I have not tried Windows Movie Maker, but will do so after this post.

5) No friend to test camera/tape/firewire.

Thanks for you help

rustier: I cannot capture in windows movie maker either.

Did you try VMS8 still? Please do. If you can't capture either, then as I said above, it's possibly a firewire problem, OR, the policies/anti-virus/firewall of your PC do not allow you to use the firewire hardware.

Eugenia: Yes I installed VMS 8.0 and still could not capture. I'm going to install another firewire card and see what happens.

Oh, wait, it's actually a PCI card... have you actually installed the right driver for your previous firewire card? Maybe you can get away with it by finding the manufacturer for that card and downloading the right driver for it.

FOUND THE PROBLEM !!! My capture card had gone bad! I installed another capture card, and everything started working as before! My stress levels were starting to peak. Now, I feel like I can breathe again!

Thanks to everyone who gave some great suggestions. Your suggestions helped me to narrow it down. When I was answering yes to so many of the suggestions I started thinking maybe it's not software, but hardware. Put in a cheap firewire capture card, and presto!, it works like a champ. I can't believe I had to go through all this time consuming troubleshooting to find out. Oh well, live and learn.

This was my first post on a video forum and I'm so thankful all of you took the time to give me suggestions. This is a wonderful resource.

Now back to what I enjoy best - video editing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!