How do I get tape film from A Sony Video camera onto my computer without the camera?

Use the lead and software which came with the camcorder when new

You have a transport problem with the tape feed. If you are up to working in small spaces without damaging adjacent parts, you can try and clean the pinch roller and capstan drive system with alcohol on a Q-tip. Sometimes, there are special cleaning tapes your can purchase that will do the same thing. Assuming that the transport is dirty, you may have a shot at it. If it's excessive wear instead, it's shop time. One more thing. DO NOT USE A CRINKLED TAPE IN YOUR CAMERA. IT WILL TEAR UP THE VERY DELICATE TAPE HEADS PERMANENTLY.

Well yes you are quite right, 1000's of people all over the world are having major problem with this silly idea of DVD disks being used in movie or any other cameras, DVD is simply not reliable enough to store data on like films, I am a big movie maker, have been over 30 years now, only will use 8mm Video tape, as I like my movies to work, not end up with no movie to look at.
I hope as many people as pos call Sony as I have and tell them we want 8mm tape only, no silly rubbish media, our film are too important to us I feel.

Page 87 of the USER MANUAL Canon ZR200 LINK

for to import from the Sony handy-cam you need a firewire cable ..not a rca..this one will only help you see the video on a tv ...but you will not be able to import them into computer ...
just ask at the store..and take the camera with you ..
another thing the camera may support even a usb cable that may be available in the box that it came with (infact the iLink cable should be there too )
so ..this is a link to a video I use to explain in detail the procedure to import fom minitape of sony handycam.
.http://www.5min.com/Video/Windows-Movie-Maker---import-from-a-DV-tape-6876
after have them into the windows movie maker..just drag them to the story board..(join them if you need) ..and save them by finishing movie...and save to computer ..in best for computer mode...after that just burn them to **** ..using Nero ..or if they are small enough to get into a cd ...use window feature for burning ..

A C31:40 error indicates that the drum (the spinning video head) is either not spinning or is not supplying a signal to the main computer to tell the computer it is spinning. It could be a bad drum or a loose connection. It will likely take a qualified technician to verify the diagnosis.

Look for the output jacks on your camera, hook them to your computer's audio/video input. Try accessing the recording utility on the computer then upload footage through NTSC format. You can then edit the footage. If your camera and computer utilize S-video, use them for best resolution

I don't know about the PAL version, but the NTSC version does. It automatically detects the type of tape and adjusts.

There is no problem on your camera, DCR-HC19E is PAL system(European system) DCR-HC20 is NTSC(American system). Are you in US or Europe? I think your TV is NTSC, cause the tape recorded on DCR-HC19E you played has no color. To confirm, connect your HC20 to TV in camera mode, not recording yet, just look at the TV as your monitor, If its in color, no problem, just erase the old video recorded on the HC19E, but if its important to you, you can convert it to NTSC using a PC. thanks

try to clean the video head...i advise to use a blank tape and fastforward it until the time code counter display...you should on it the menu of the camera..