import media

I have a new dell vista with plenty of "stuff" for pictures and movies
however, for whatever reason and may be it is because I am older and not
technical oriented to some extent, I cannot import from my mini dvd camcorder
either in Windows moviemaker or Pinnacle Studio Plus. Have read all and
cannot do...have it connected with 1394 to computer which Dell installed,
into my camera in the dv slot, turned to play, it recognizes the model of the
camera but neither progam will import anything video or audio. PLEASE HELP,
I have been working on this for 2 months and cannot get the answer.