Sony Picture Package VCD maker

I'm asked if I can transfer some video footage from a Sony Handycam DCR-HC35. Sounds simple enough so I happily install Sony's software package "Sony Picture Package VCD Maker".

Problem 1. After the install routine has completed I try hooking up the camera. A warning flashes up that I should have installed Macromedia Flash Player. This'll sound odd perhaps, but I don't need Flash on my machine, so I've never installed it. If webmasters are daft enough to craft websites using Flash that's their lookout and their loss.

Problem 2. I bite the bullet and install Flash (having a feeling I will be rolling back the machine with a system restore or maybe formatting the whole drive again to clean this mess up...) and guess what? The Sony software doesn't recognize my DVDRW drive. The real stinger is my computer is a Sony Vaio - they don't support their OWN HARDWARE.

Then it occurred to me that I'd been going about it the wrong way. I already have Nero and the "Nero Vision" part of the suite does video capture. Now Nero DOES recognize my DVDRW drive so I thought I'd be onto a winner. Unfortunately, it CAN'T recognize the Sony Camcorder!

The only thing left to try would be to re-install the copy of Adobe Premiere that came with the laptop originally but I'm loathe to do that due to a complete lack of faith that it will actually work, and my undying hatred of Adobe in general.

Next attempt will involve some actual video capture hardware. Let's face it, there must be a way to get this to work.