USB Device not recognised

Hi
I'm helping a friend figure out how to get the movies off her camcorda.
It's a Panasonic NV-GS25 Mini DV. I installed the sotftware that came with it onto my machine. My machine is a Dell Demension C521 running XP service pack 3.
The software that came with the camcorda is :
Motion DV Studio. Version 5.3E LE (I did install the software before plugging in the camera via USB)
(Maybe I need better software ?)
The install Cd also came with drivers. When I tried to install those :
"Mass storage driver for Panasonic DVC"
I got a message reading :
"Usb equiptment operates with the driver installed standard. You do not need to install a driver"
When I pluged in the supplied USB cable to the camera (not into the DV port, but another one, don't know what it is sorry) and then into the PC's usb port, nothing show's up as a drive on my machine. I tried restarting my machine with the camera on and again with it off (it told me to remove the usb plug anyway when I tried to start the computer with the device connected)
I've tried installing Microsofts "Hot fix" to make sure it picks up the drive but apparently because I'm on XP Service pack 3, that's already sorted.
There doesn't seem to be any drivers available for this camcorda ? Even on the panasonic web site ?
Do I perhaps need a DV to USB cable ? Though I saw one post saying DV to USB doesn't work ?
Can anyone help ?
There's video on this camcorda of her partner who is very sick and may die soon. Sorry for the sad story but really want to get this sorted for her if possible.
Cheers
Matt