how do I get my windows XP Pro to recognize my Sony Digital Movie camera?

Windows XP is just an operating system. What are you expecting it to do? Most people want a video editor - like MovieMaker - to recognize the camcorder.

Which camcorder?

If your camcorder is miniDV or digital8 tape based, your computer needs a firewire port. Connect the DV port of the camcorder to the computer's firewire port with a firewire cable. USB won't work. MovieMaker under XP cannot deal with HDV - only DV. If your "digital movie camera" does HDV, Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere float to the top.

Hard disc drive and flash memory camcorders use USB to copy the files - you may need a converter. StreamClip works well - there are many others. You may need to load drivers from Sony. MovieMaker under XP cannot deal with AVCHD. If your "digital movie camera" does AVCHD, Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere float to the top.

Standard definition consumer DVD based camcorders need to have the disc finalized in the camcorder. Take the disc out and put it in the drawer loading DVD drive in the computer and rip it with something like HandBrake... MovieMaker likes avi and wmv files. If your consumer DVD based "digital movie camera" does AVCHD, Sony Vegas and Adobe Premiere float to the top.

the device would of come with a small mini disc or standard disc with a driver , you will need to load this in order for xp to recognise it . if it doesnt automatically when you plug it in viusb