Q. I am trying to get some home movies and art lessons I did many years ago from VHS tapes onto DVD. I have a Windows XP Media Center computer and a VHS player. I just need to know what to plug into what. I called the maker of the computer, but they wanted to charge me for an answer. I could barely understand the person, anyway. Thanks for any help.

A. It can be so very frustrating trying to get help from most computer makers and software publishers. If it’s any consolation, it happens to me, too.

In theory, transferring VHS to DVD is simple. Just transfer the tapes into a digital format on your home computer. Edit your videos and create a video masterpiece.

Afterwards, your digital video can be saved or burned to a DVD. Keep in mind this is no hour-long project. Your best bet is to reserve a weekend, or maybe two.

There are basically several ways to do transfer a VCR tape, which is analog, to a digital format that a computer can use. You can use a TV tuner card, or just use a DVD recorder. Heck, you could also use a camcorder or pay someone to do it.

Since you are using a Windows XP Media Center PC, I bet you already have what you need to do it. So, let’s work with what you have.