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Q: Sony Handy Cam ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   3 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Sony Handy Cam
Category: Computers > Software
Asked by: albertr-ga
List Price: $5.00
Posted: 18 Oct 2006 10:03 PDT
Expires: 17 Nov 2006 09:03 PST
Question ID: 774725
Hi, I have a Sony Handycam DCR-DVD105 that uses mini discs. My
computer does not, as of yet, have a DVD burner but I want to capture
and save the video images from the rewritable mini discs so I can edit
them and reuse the minidisc for more images. I will eventually get a
DVD burner and will want to put the video on standard DVD's.
Sony supplied me with a basic Nero program but I don't seem to be able
to make it work. I also tried DVD Copy Pro but that didn't work
either.
I am using an HP laptop running Windows XP Home.
Thanks, Albertr

Request for Question Clarification by denco-ga on 18 Oct 2006 18:34 PDT
Howdy albertr-ga,

It might help researchers to know what which model of HP laptop you have,
and what happens when you place one of the mini-discs into your laptop.

Thanks!  denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Clarification of Question by albertr-ga on 20 Oct 2006 07:50 PDT
My HP laptop is a pavilion ze5400 with pentium 4 processor. Other #'s
attached are ze5475ca.
When I install the minidisc I can play it only. Typically Windows
Media Player automatically opens and I can play back my video. I have
no idea how to copy the minidisc to the hard drive although I think I
should be able to.
Thanks, hope this helps
A
Answer  
Subject: Re: Sony Handy Cam
Answered By: denco-ga on 20 Oct 2006 11:45 PDT
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Howdy albertr-ga,

First, here is how to copy a video file from the minidisc to your computer.

Place the minidisc into your computer.  If Windows Media Player opens, just
quit out of it.

Next, go to "My Computer" and right click on the DVD drive, then left click
on "Open."  You should see a folder named "DCIM."  Open it, and inside of it
should be at least two folders.  Open the one named "VIDEO;" most likely it
will be named "VIDEO_TS."

Inside of that folder should be your video files.  If there is more than one
you should be able to double click on one and preview them in Media Player
to find the one you want.

Once you locate the one you want, right click on the file name, then left
click on "Copy."  Then go to "My Documents," and then "My Videos," right
click within that folder, and left click on "Paste."

It might takes a little bit of time for the file to get copied, but that
is what you want to do to copy videos from your minidisc to your computer.

If you have any problems with the above steps, make sure you ask for some
clarification, so I can help you get the job done.

To edit your videos you will need to get a program such as Pinnacle Studio.
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/PublicSite/us/Products/Consumer+Products/Home+Video/Studio+Family/Studio+version+10_5.htm

"Introducing Studio version 10.5, the most complete, powerful and easy-to-use
home video editing software available today."

There are all sorts of video editing software packages out there, but when
you go to buy some, you will want to make sure it can import MPEG2 videos, as
that is the format the DCR-DVD105 creates.

If you need any clarification, please feel free to ask.


Search strategy:

Looked through the DCR-DVD105 manual on the Sony website.
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=DCRDVD105&region_id=1

Personal experience with video editing and file copying.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

Request for Answer Clarification by albertr-ga on 23 Oct 2006 09:27 PDT
Hi, I should have actually done it before I commented. I think your
answer is spot on but I also think I had a bug awhile back that
attached wierd file extensions on my most of my files including
videos. File extensions showing up are .BUP; .IFO; .VOB; .VRO.
Windows XP doesn't recognize any of these extensions. So I can't work
with the files. I downloaded Windows registry repair pro which cleaned
up a lot of the corrupted files on my computer but not these media
files.
If this should be asked as a second question let me know I'll do it that way. 
One other thing to remind you I don't have a DVD burner in this computer.
Thanks,
Albert r

Clarification of Answer by denco-ga on 23 Oct 2006 11:59 PDT
Howdy albertr-ga,

The "AllforMP3" website addresses your file extension problem.

"What are .IFO, .VOB, and .AOB files? How can I play them?"
http://www.allformp3.com/dvd-faqs/410.htm

"The .IFO files contain menus and other information about the video and audio.
The .BUP files are backup copies of the .IFO files. The .VOB files
(for DVD-Video) and .AOB files (for DVD-Audio) are MPEG-2 program
streams with
additional packets containing navigation and search information.

Since a .VOB file is just a specialized MPEG-2 file, most MPEG-2 decoders and
players can play them. You may need to change the extension from .VOB to .MPG.
...
You may also run into .VRO files created by DVD video recorders using
the -VR format. In some cases you can treat the files just like .VOB
files, but in other cases they are fragmented and unplayable."

So, the first thing to try is to rename a .VOB file to a .MPG file and see if
that plays.

You are still going to need a program such as Pinnacle Studio to edit them.

As for an DVD burner, the commenter is correct in that you will want an
external one to use with your laptop.  There are several you can choose from,
many for under $100.00, such as this one, as listed on the PriceGrabber site.

"Sony DRX-820U External Dual Layer DVD±RW Writer"
http://www.pricegrabber.com/p__Sony_DRX_820U_External_Dual_Layer_DVD_RW_Writer,__18072638/

"DVD+R Double/Dual Layer burning and standard dual format 4.7GB DVD burning
is supported at 16X max."

The above DVD burner, just like other ones similar to it, hook to your laptop
via a USB cable, and can be used to not only create DVD movies, it can also
used to back up the files on your laptop, create music CDs, etc.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher
albertr-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars and gave an additional tip of: $1.00
Thanks so much your answer did the trick. It didn't occur to me for a
long time to ask a Google researcher I'm glad I finally did. Now I can
reuse my rewritable minidiscs.

Comments  
Subject: Re: Sony Handy Cam
From: research_help-ga on 18 Oct 2006 13:19 PDT
 
I would recommend a Sony standalone DVD burner.  It hooks right up to
your video cam and makes DVDs at the touch of a button.  It should
cost $150-$200.
Subject: Re: Sony Handy Cam
From: albertr-ga on 23 Oct 2006 09:29 PDT
 
Re: the Sony DVD burner. Can it also hook up directly to my computer
to be used in other applications?
Subject: Re: Sony Handy Cam
From: denco-ga on 23 Oct 2006 12:03 PDT
 
Glad to be of assistance, albertr-ga, and thanks for the kind words, 5 star
rating and tip.  It is greatly appreciated.

Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher

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