I'm writing this on the the back of 12 frustrated hours in front of my computer.
OK I'm on a Mac Pro with Tiger 10.4.11 and I've had Parallels for 15 months and I'm running it with Windows XP Service Pack 2. I purchased Parallels with build no: 2521052007 fom a UK store. I couldn't get my Sony Handycam to work in USB streaming mode. Parallels USB devices can see it as " Sony Handycam DCR-30". I checked and and unchecked the entry in the USB devices list and the device appears and disappears in the list when I turn it on and off but it won't work with anything (Skype for instance). After hours of searching for drivers etc I gave up. I then decided that I should try upgrading, so I downloaded the latest version from Avanquest's site in the UK . I removed Tools, rebooted, backed up the Parallels folder, uninstalled old Parallels, installed the new version and (of course) it wouldn't accept my original security key. I then sent a message to Parallels support, but have had no reply (maybe because it's a weekend). So I uninstalled new Parallels, reinstalled original Parallels from the CD and then discovered (doh) the update feature in the Help section and have now updated Parallels to build 3324 - the most recent version possible by this method. Everything back to normal. This took me seven hours of forum searching, downloading drivers etc. STILL my USB camera won't work.
So am I using an old version (2.5?) of Parallels which I've upgraded as far as it will go ? if I have to pay and get the newest version, will my Handycam work in USB streaming mode with Skype and other video capture programs ? I work with Camtasia 5.1 and that's why I need this to work. Not sure if the camera will work with firewire in the latest version of Parallels, but Camtasia won't work with firewire anyway, it has to be a USB camera.
Last edited: Aug 31, 2008