Burning video to dvd

country_gurl

ok idiot here bought a video camera - one that doesn't need any tapes and connects to computer - thought i was going to download onto dvds and off i go. WRONG! Never thought to check could my computer - hp pavillion windows xp - burn videos. It doesn't.
I then went out and bought an external dvd rw that connects up by usb. I've tried to work it but can't. I can go as far as burning the dvd - although it only allows me to burn dvds that can be used on a computer not on a player as it says i need other software to do that - but can't actually view it when i press play.
When it asks me to place blank disc in before burning the hard disk drive of my computer opens and i've tried putting in external dvd but doesn't recognise it.
If anyone has any ideas or help i'd be grateful - i don't mind buying a new video camera with actual tapes in it its just that there's video's of my son since he was born. I want to make a hard copy of these and don't mind if its only on a computer that i can view them.
The external dvd player is a liteon ez dub from argos

Amalgam

country_gurl, it will help you to get better answers if you point out the brand and model of video camera, then people will know the likely format you've got video recorded as.

country_gurl

sorry knew i was leaving something out. Its a hyatchi dz hv55e high definition.

country_gurl

anyone able to help?

inforfun

What is the file format of the video on the camera?
I reckon that in order to create a dvd that will play on a stand alone dvd player you will need to convert the file on the video to dvd format.
There are quite a few programs that can do that, freeware as well as some you have to pay for.

A good website with lots of "how to" guides is www.videohelp.com

Amalgam

country_gurl wrote: »

sorry knew i was leaving something out. Its a hyatchi dz hv55e high definition.

I couldn't find a model, there is stuff similar sold by Hitachi, an HD & SDHC HD camcorder.

country_gurl

thanks guys, appreciate help.
Its a hd one - from argos again - never buying anything out of there again lol.
its coming up on my computer as an mp4 file. I don't even need to play on a "normal" dvd player just something that i can play on any computer iykwim.

Amalgam

You'll need to re-encode that to get it to play on a normal DVD player.

mp22

try this www.softpedia.com/get/Multimedia/Video/Video-Players/MP4-Player.shtml

inforfun

country_gurl wrote: »

thanks guys, appreciate help.
Its a hd one - from argos again - never buying anything out of there again lol.
its coming up on my computer as an mp4 file. I don't even need to play on a "normal" dvd player just something that i can play on any computer iykwim.

With this one you can convert anything to everything.

MP4 player you can not go wrong with VLC . That one plays about anything you throw at it.