airborne_artist,
As you have found, getting video cameras to talk to computers via Firewire is not as straight forward as it should be.
Here is a
link to a forum on JVC camera / Firewire problems. The link is to page 2 where replies to problems put to JVC and Microsoft have been posted halfway down. There are a number of possible solutions suggested in subsequent posts and maybe one of them will help. Alternatively you can follow the links in the posts to other forums (fora) that offer help.
One implication is that JVC don't/didn't support Firewire problems and that Microsoft don't provide drivers for all cameras. Here is a link to Microsoft's
list of video cameras that have drivers included in Windows XP. I hope that yours is on the list, if not you may have to try to get a driver from JVC - if they do them.
Your original suggestion of borrowing someone else's non-JVC camera is a good one as if it works then at least you will know where you can borrow a camera! (Yes I know that it is not a helpful long term solution for you. Sorry.)
Stupid question #1 but you are using the camera in it's play mode and not in it's record/camera mode when you attach it to the Dell?
For your info the Firewire card that I have installed in my Dell computer is an ADS PYRO PCI 64, as recommended by my editing software manufacturer. Post #39 on the forum linked to above mentions that JVC Technical Support told him that JVC cameras were designed to talk to TI chips/chipsets on Firewire cards, (info from Feb 2004), and I see on the ADS
website that the PYRO PCI 64 does in fact use a Texas Instrument chipset (TI) and that they can be supplied with or without software bundles. (These Firewire cards can sometimes appear on eBay.) Perhaps in addition to JVC you might be able to get some advice from ADS as they have an ask an expert
section (needs registration).
(Mods I hope that the above wasn't too commercial. I am merely an end user not a retailer or a dealer/seller for ADS!)
Without wishing to depress you I have also found it impossible to get some cameras/vtrs to talk properly and this applies to both Windows and Macs. So even by changing the Firewire card it may still not be possible to get your JVC to work.
I don't know how good Nero is at talking to different Cameras but most reputable editing software manufacturers have a list of camcorders etc. that they have tested their software on posted on their websites. Most however are full of provisos as to what you can't do with each model.
Best of luck with your problem as I have been there on several occasions.
eticket
ps What is the full model number of your camera as this might help us to track down a solution for you?