Sony Camcorder download to PC - help needed, please!

[soapybubbles]

I've got a Sony DCR DVD92E Handycam and if I'd known how hard it would be to get the video files off the mini-dvds and on to my PC, I would never have bought it There was no software disc supplied and I'm going nuts trying to find a way to upload to my PC. If I put a finalized disc in my DVD drive and open it to view the files, each section of film has multiple file types, none of which I recognize.

This is my first video camera and I'm fairly computer literate but I don't want anything complicated, I just want to be able to keep my films on my PC (well, eventually copied onto DVDs) and clear the mini-dvds so I can use them again. I've been using my PC running XP but I have another running Windows 2000 but I don't know if that would make any difference.

I've downloaded the Sony Vegas Movie Studio Platinum Edition which I read about here but just looking at the wizard totally boggles my mind. Doesn't anyone do a straightforward Plug and Play, Drag and Drop-type application? I don't need to create Hollywood blockbusters. I've also read about Womble, is that any easier? Is there a simple solution to this? Can anyone help, please?

PS Why on earth is Sony making life so difficult in this case?

[mmace]

the .vob files can be put on your PC and then rename them to .mpg and you can then view/edit them

[Andy98765]

It would have helped if your camcorder had a DV out facility (Firewire), that way PC software could do everything including controlling your camcorder. It is not the fault of Sony not giving you software as the camcorder was never designed to be used in conjunction with a PC in the first place.
The advice given in the last posting is the best you can take for now.

[redsox_mark]

I use Sony Vegas (full version, even more complex!) and it does have a learning curve, but is very powerful. As well as renaming the files, you can use the “import DVD camcorder disc” function; this will convert the VOBs into multiple smaller .mpg files which are easier to edit.

Womble is less powerful so in that way easier, though it’s interface isn’t really “plug and play”.

Probably the easiest software to use is Ulead DVD Movie Factory; it’s also cheap. It will edit your camcorder discs. You could try that.

[soapybubbles]

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I like the sound of copying and renaming the files so I'll give it a try.

I didn't realize this camcorder wasn't intended for use with a PC (Thanks, Andy98765, I thought they all were - shows what I know! My bad) I guess it was a bit ambitious for my requirements. Don't get me wrong tho' - apart from this little issue, it's a great camcorder!!

Cheers, all!