can you convert home movies from  mini DV cassettes or 8 mm to DVD
format ?  and how?

The quick answer is yes 

It requires a TV-in Card (either as part of your Vga card or
seperately) which you hook up to either your vcr or camera , then
record the movie in question on your hard disk ,

After you have put the movie on your hard disk you can use video
editing software to make any changes you see necessary and then by
using a DVD burning program like for example Nero  burn it to a DVD or
any other kind of media (VCD and the like)

If you know someone that has a digital video camera (or if you have
one) you can hook the old style camera in to the plugs on the new one
and record right to a tape.  Once you do that you can import the video
in to the computer via Firewire just like a video shot with the
camera.

I am assuming that these digital video cameras are more common than
Video capture cards.  If you want the process step-by-step then let me
know and I will post as an answer.

Dear Ceknox1,

There are a couple of possible solutions available.  I would need to
know whether or not you would require that this be done on your
Computer System?  There are currently DVD-R/W recorders available that
would allow you to connect your Mini DV or 8 mm playback device
directly to the recorder, which then would allow you to burn or create
your own DVD disc. Some of these recorders have advanced editing
features that will allow you to be creative.  Your local electronics
stores are an excellent source for a hands on experience with these
newer electronic recorders, or try the following URL below for further
information:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-YAGZfTEE7Vw/cgi-bin/prodgroup.asp?s=0&cc=01&g=69800&est=&search=dvd+recorder


Should you choose to use a computer system, then 3 things will be required.
1. A Hardware Capture Device That Allows You To Connect Your Mini DV
or 8mm Playback Device To The Computer System.

2. A Video Software Capture Program.  Your Windows or Apple Operating
System May Have Already Included This Type Of Program As Part Of The
Operating System.  This Would Depend On The Operating System Version?

3. A DVD R/W Drive. It Is Possible Depending On The Computer System
For This To Be Either An Internally Installed Device or Externally
Installed Device, Again This Would Depend On Whether Or Not The
Computer System Is Capable Of Or Configured To Support The Type Of DVD
R/W Harware Peripheral You Choose(internal or external).

There are many internet hobbist sites and bulletin boards that have
vast amounts of information on what you are asking about. I would
suggest a Google search for "How To Video Capture On A Computer
System."  I included such link below this line as starting reference
for you.  Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

http://www.aboutvideoediting.com/

Sincerely......Hard Drive

This is very easy and simple. ther is lots of way to do this. 
way no 1:
you don't need alot har drive for saving your VHS. look if you have 40
GB right now in your computer then it will be alot. at least you have
to have 20 GB in you computer to do this. i did this alot time. still
i m doing it. i am doing thos WWF VHS cassets. and some other like my
marrige. i did alot of this work. ok forst of one if you want to save
those 500 hour of videos on your hard drive then that's totally bad
idea. because you don't want to stuck your computer. so best way is to
save those video on your dvd through dvd burner or if you don't have
dvd burner then save it on CD R. that's depend on you whichever you
choose. If you wanna choose dvd then buy it from ebay. if you are rich
then you can buy it from anywhere. but if you don't want to pay $50 to
$80 for those dvds then use cds bcuz you can get cds free like free
after rebate. that's wat i m doing. if you don't have dvd burner then
i strongly recommended you to use cd's to burn those. but ther is
problem on putting those videos on cd's. you need dvd player which can
play vcd's, svcds. and you can get those kind of dvd player for only
under $40. If you want to buy that kind of dvd play then go on
<www.bestbuy.com> and search for Cyberhome DVD Player. or if you
already have dvd plyer which can play this vcd (if you want to burn on
cd's). then you don't have to worry. but if you have dvd burner then
burn it on dvd bcuz probably you will need only 10 to 12 dvd's. and
for cd's you will need more. bcuz one dvd can keep 3 cd's in it. now
you need TV Tuner card. you can search on google to find a card. i
bought from <www.tigerdirect.com>  don't buy from ebay bcuz it will be
expensive because of shipping. ok then install it in your cpu in you
pci slots. make sure whenever you buy TV tuner card then you have same
output as back of your vcr. now install drivers and and connect your
VCR by plug in those audio,video wires in tv tunercard. and there will
be software installed in tv tunercard so when ever you connect then
your comeputer will find new hardware and then you need to follow
instruction and then you can watch you video on your pc. now inthat
software there will be saving or recording button then save it
wherever you want on your PC and then folle this instruction for every
cassets. but i recomanded you to don't buy hard drive  bcuz it can
mess up with your PC. so if you have 20 GB in your PC then one dvd can
save to 4.7 GB so record cassets on you PC till 4.7 GB and burn that
on your DVD then delet that 4.7 from you PC and record another dvds. i
am doing this way so i didn't have to buy new hard drive. If you wanna
burn on CD then record each clip till 65 minutes do not depend on MB
on cd you have to depend on minutes. 65 minutes video will be best.
udr Tmpeg or use VCDgear software. you can get information from google
about those softwre. they will chage your video format to good
quality. i recomanded you to use Tmpeg. then  burn on Cd or DVD.
whichever you choose. and now you can see on DVD player. make sure
your dvd player can play DVD+- R and DVD +-RW otherwise burned dvd's
will not work on dvd play. i baught that cyberhome dvd player and it
can play every formates. For burn on dvd or CD you can use Nero 6
ultra Edition. don't go to buy that software it's 30 days trial
Edition on website <www.nero.com> then you can put your those mpeg
converted file on dvd or cd. nero can burn on both dvd and cd. if you
want nero 6 permanent then let me know i'll give you serial code. i'll
give you serial code for nero.

other way:
above way was too long so when i learned it then i did couple time
this method. but not anymore. you can go to any electronic store and
buy DVD Record player. which can play and record dvd. you can buy
that. it's worth $250. and you can give that back in 15 to 30 days.
that depend on store. so you an buy that one and buy DVD RW then go
put your dvd blank media in dvd record player and put your casset in
you VCR. and just play record button in your dvd player and it will
burn dvd's. if you wanna choose this one then make sure you buy dvd RW
bcuz you can write over on DVD RW. bcuz sometime it mess up. it never
did with me bcuz i was useing dvd RW. after you record every cassets
then you can give that dvd player back to the store and you can get
your refund. so let me know which one you liked. and which one best
work for you.