Using Win7 I'm trying to download/copy AVCHD videos from a Canon camcorder.  When I connect the camcorder I see nothing in My Computer even though the camcorder tells me its connected via USB.  Canon said I need some sort of AVCHD program that will recognize these type of files.  They recommended Windows Essentials 2012 which I downloaded.  But it appears to be a player only.  I don't see how to even make it look at all my files.  When I use the open function it doesn't see the camcorder either.  Its like these files are invisible.  Pixela makes some sort of software but they are only selling it.  It seems incredible that Canon doesn't provide a driver that will allow a user to simply copy the videos over to their computer.  Of course if I hadn't been so clueless I would have opted to record on to a SD card and use a card reader and just avoid all this silliness.  

Right now I have valuable videos I need to copy to my computer.  Is there any way?  Its so frustrating when you plug something in and Windows 7 just doesn't see it.  This happens often with a tablet and phone I connect.  Sometimes there, sometimes not.  I have no idea what affects it.  I thought I might be able to use the camcorder itself to copy the videos to the card but there doesn't seem to be any way of doing this as I don't own a car new enough to facilitate this. I have a SD card 4 and it needs a 6.  

I'd really just like to get this to work properly so I don't have to use a card to record and a card reader to copy over.  

Why Canon doesn't just provide the proper driver on their website is a mystery.