Sony Handycam Isn't Recognized By Computers Handycam?

One runs Windows 7 64 bit and one runs Vista. I have a Sony Handycam which I cannot get eith computer to recognize. I have tried all the suggestions I have found online including at Sony's site. The software drivers they tell me to load won't load. It seems that a number of people have been able to get their camcorders recognized by using a firewire, but my computers don't have firewire ports. Seems they went by the wayside when USB 2.0 became broadly available. Anyway, I would like to download the videos I shot to my computer, but don't know what to do at this point. I know I can go to a service and have the content transferred to discs, but it certainly seems there is an answer to this - and I am just missing it