USB is well known for such omissions. Try again, but with firewire.
I use WINDV without a hitch but don't have the HC42. I have yet to find such a problem when I use firewire.
Bob
I just got a Sony DCR-HC42. This replaces our eight-year old Canon ES870. After two emails with Sony customer support and some online research I'm told that with digital camcorders the USB or firewire download to the PC strips the date and time (which are part of the DV format) out of the data stream.
The HC42, idiotically, doesn't have a feature to overlay the date/time into the video image itself. And I've found discussions online that say this feature is usually no longer included in camcorders.
This is nuts. Many buyers of camcorders are parents who want to document family events. Having the date and time makes a huge difference in enjoying videos later, since it helps you know what you're seeing.
It's really odd that technology would lose a capability in this way.

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