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Resolved Question

Handycam Utility

Mar 12, 2015 4:17AM PDT

I just installed the Handycam utility and I am receiving an error message saying "Unable to Retrieve the Management Information".

I have the camera connected via the USB cable and I have the "Connected" message on the camera.

I have installed this utility on two different computers, and I receive the same error message on both of them.

Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong.

Discussion is locked

lakeeney has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
Tell a little more.
Mar 12, 2015 4:29AM PDT

Almost no handycam MiniDV transfers video over USB so can you confirm what you are trying to do and which model you have?

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Reply
Mar 12, 2015 4:40AM PDT

The camera is model # HDR-SR11.

This is not my camera and I am not familiar with this camera. I was asked by a friend to move the videos from this camera to my computer and burn a DVD for him. He gave me the CD that came with the camera and I just assumed that the "Handycam Utility" program would allow me to do this.

How does one get the video files from the camera to a computer?

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PMB or something else. SONY WRITES MORE AT LINK
Mar 12, 2015 4:46AM PDT
https://us.en.kb.sony.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/30011/~/error%3A-unable-to-retrieve-the-management-information.

It appears this is not as simple as installing and running. You have to set the camera to some mode first.

The thing is that if the HDR-SR11 has a HDD MODE then no transfer software may be needed. You'll just have to copy over the video files and create the DVD as you normally do.

Besides that, you can't install PMB directly from the CD!
https://esupport.sony.com/US/p/news-item.pl?news_id=376&mdl=HDRSR11 notes this and more.

All I can write is "What a mess."
Bob
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What a mess
Mar 12, 2015 6:05AM PDT

I will check out the links you provided. I hesitate to make changes to the camera as I am afraid of deleting some of these once-in-a-lifetime videos he has on this camera.

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Then I fear a dead end.
Mar 12, 2015 6:15AM PDT

If you don't change the camera mode it seems like it should never work.

The HDD MODE is "the portal" from what I see. That and the rather pre-historic install steps. Folk are not very accepting of such arcane installs.
Bob

Best Answer

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don't know that particular one
Mar 12, 2015 4:48AM PDT

but most I've seen you have to turn the setting on the camera to turn on the portal for the access. You mention putting the program for the computer, but have you gone through the settings for the cam?

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It's awful.
Mar 12, 2015 5:00AM PDT

If you want to see a dinosaur in motion today, read the Sony articles.

-> REALLY? <-

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portal access
Mar 12, 2015 6:11AM PDT

I am not sure how to turn on the portal for access.

Hopefully I will find this information in the links Bob provided.

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Problem solved.
Mar 12, 2015 8:47AM PDT

Thanks everyone for your input.

I found the answer in the links that Bob provided.

The problem was I was selecting the wrong mode for transfer. The file suggested clicking on the button which looks like a pill with a double ended arrow, and the word "computer". I kept trying the other mode which looked like the one I thought I should be using.

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Thanks for the report back.
Mar 12, 2015 8:51AM PDT

It's always a little iffy since I can't see what you see.
Bob

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Solution
Mar 12, 2015 10:13AM PDT

Thanks for your help Bob.