Ugh...Is There Any Way Around Driver + Camera Requirement?

[adamr316]

In the past I've rented the HVX200 for documentary shoots and some other stuff. Recently I had to restore my computer when it came down with a virus. I tried reinstalling the P2 drivers so that I can use P2 Viewer and lo and behold Panasonic requires you to have the camera plugged into the USB port for it to install.

SCREW THAT!

Why did Panasonic make this so? Now in order for me to view my footage/edit it with Raylight i need to rent the camera again or possibly convince the rental house to allow me to lug my desktop PC to their place and plug in hopefully for free. I don't want to start a flame war here but the Sony XDCam EX has no such "gotta have the camera plugged in" requirements for either their Clip Browser software or their ExpressCard drivers.

I guess this minor inconvenience is like Sony's lack of allowing end users to install firmware upgrades on their own, so we're equal now, LOL.

Is there anyway around this? This one-time dongle requirement has me pretty peeved at Panasonic right now...

[David Shawl]

I don't think you need to connect up a camera to install P2 Viewer or Panasonic CMS. You do need to for the P2 Drivers. Unless you are trying to read P2 Cards, I think you are fine with just P2 Viewer.

[adamr316]

When I try to install P2 Viewer it says it needs the Panasonic drivers. When I tried to install the drivers it says hook up a P2 camera now...which I don't have. I'm not trying to read P2 Cards...just the files that are on my hard drive(s).

[Dubdriver17]

Thats only if ur installing the drivers to pull files off the camera. The P2 drivers should install before it gets to that point.