How do I get video off my Sony Handycam dcr-hc36 onto my laptop so I can edit it and share it?

I bought the camera second hand so I didn't get any software or cords with it...

My laptop is an HP Pavillion dv6000.

The Sony HDR-HC36 is a miniDV tape based camcorder. Video is transfered from the camcorder to the computer using a firewire cable connected to the camcorder's DV port and the computer's firewire 400 port.

USB will not work. A firewire to USB converter will not work.

You did not tell us what kind of computer, but if it does not already have a firewire 400 port (IEEE1394a - same thing) adding one is possible - if the laptop has a PCMCIA slot.

http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4098172...

I have heard the Dynex cards aren't very stable...

Anyway, if you get this card, you will also need a 4-pin (camcorder DV port) to 6-pin (firewire port on the Firewire card) IEEE1394a (i.Link - same thing) cable. The firewire cable is not included in the box when the camcorder is new, so you aren't missing anything.
http://shop4.outpost.com/product/4338375...

If your computer does not have a built-in firewire port or a PCMCIA port, then the other option is to use the AV cables you would normally use to connect the camcorder directly to a TV. If you don't have those, the only source I know of is Sony.
http://servicesales.sel.sony.com/ecom/ac...
Then connect that to an analog/digital bridge
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us...

If you have a mini dv (cassette) camcorder鈥?
Your dv camcorder needs a firewire connection (ieee 1394) in order to download video, your laptop probably did not come with a firewire port, so you will have to buy one and install it, (make sure you have an extra bay for the firewire card) since most computers (except possibly brand new) don't come with a firewire port, your camcorder did not come with a firewire cord so you have to purchase a cord too. Your camcorder uses a USB cord for downloading stills from your camcorder. Make sure your camera is in playback mode.