Connect your video camera to your computer

Connect your video camera to your computer

You've shot some video with your new digital video camera, and you want to import it into Windows Movie Maker so that you can edit it into a movie to share with your friends. Or, you've got hours of footage on old Hi-8 or VHS tapes that you want to edit and burn to a DVD for an upcoming family reunion. Either way, your first step is to connect your video camera to your computer.

The best way to connect your video camera to your computer depends on the type of camera you have. This list starts with the best option, so choose the first one that your video camera supports:

Tip: If you have an older video camera, such as a Hi-8, VHS, or VHS-C camera, you will need to connect using analog video (described near the bottom of this page).

Download video from your camera to your computer

Download video from your camera to your computer

The first step toward creating great home movies is to download your video from your camera to your computer. Once you download your video, you can edit it into an exciting movie that you can share with friends across the Internet or watch on your TV.

Depending on your camera and connection, there are several different ways to download video from your camera to your PC:

Top of page

How to download video using a USB or analog connection

Though a USB cable or analog video connection is not as easy to use as an i.Link connection, you can still download video to your computer by manually rewinding your camera, pressing the play button, and then starting the capture.

To download your video

Setup Parental Controls

If your computer is connected to a domain, Parental Controls aren't available.

You can use Parental Controls to help manage how your children use the computer. For example, you can set limits on the hours that your children can use the computer, the games they can play, and the programs they can run.

When Parental Controls blocks access to a game or program, a notification is displayed that the program has been blocked. Your child can click a link in the notification to request permission for access to that game or program. You can allow access by entering your account information.

To set up Parental Controls for your child, you'll need your own administrator user account. Before you get started, make sure each child that you want to set up Parental Controls for has a standard user account. Parental Controls can be applied only to standard user accounts.

In addition to the controls that Windows provides, you can install additional controls, such as web filtering and activity reporting, from a separate service provider. 

To turn on Parental Controls for a standard user account

1. Open Parental Controls by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts and Family Safety, clicking Set up parental controls for any user.‌ ‌ If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

2. Click the standard user account that you want to set Parental Controls for. If the standard user account isn't set up yet, click Create a new user account to set up a new account.

3. Under Parental Controls, click On, enforce current settings.

4. Once you've turned on Parental Controls for your child's standard user account, you can adjust the following individual settings that you want to control:

   • Time limits. You can set time limits to control when children are allowed to log on to the computer. Time limits prevent children from logging on during the specified hours. You can set different logon hours for every day of the week. If they're logged on when their allotted time ends, they'll be automatically logged off. 

   • Games. You can control access to games, choose an age-rating level, choose the types of content you want to block, and decide whether you want to allow or block unrated or specific games. 

   • Allow or block specific programs. You can prevent children from running programs that you don't want them to run.

Change your screen resolution in Windows 7

Change your screen resolution

Screen resolution refers to the clarity of the text and images displayed on your screen. At higher resolutions, such as 1600 x 1200 pixels, items appear sharper. They also appear smaller so more items can fit on the screen. At lower resolutions, such as 800 x 600 pixels, fewer items fit on the screen, but they appear larger.

The resolution you can use depends on the resolutions your monitor supports. CRT monitors generally display a resolution of 800 × 600 or 1024 × 768 pixels and can work well at different resolutions. LCD monitors, also called flat-panel displays, and laptop screens often support higher resolutions and work best at a specific resolution.

The larger the monitor, usually the higher the resolution it supports. Whether you can increase your screen resolution depends on the size and capability of your monitor and the type of video card you have.

 

Text and images are sharper but smaller at higher screen resolutions.

 

Screen Resolution in Control Panel shows the recommended resolution for your monitor.

Native resolution

LCD monitors, including laptop screens, typically run best at their native resolution. You don't have to set your monitor to run at this resolution, but it's usually recommended in order to ensure you see the sharpest text and images possible. LCD monitors generally come in two shapes: a standard proportion of width to height of 4:3, or a widescreen ratio of 16:9 or 16:10. A widescreen monitor has both a wider shape and resolution than a standard ratio monitor.

If you're unsure of your monitor's native resolution, check the product manual or go to the manufacturer's website. Here are typical resolutions for some popular screen sizes:

• 19-inch screen (standard ratio): 1280 x 1024 pixels

• 20-inch screen (standard ratio): 1600 x 1200 pixels

• 22-inch screen (widescreen): 1680 x 1050 pixels

• 24-inch screen (widescreen): 1900 x 1200 pixels