I need to transfer my comcast dvr recordings either to my computer for later transfer to dvd/cd...or do a direct burn from the DVR to one of those media. I have an HP Pavilion 6112 which has a dvd burner. So...is it possible? That is, directly into my computer or to the DVD burner in my computer. And if it is possible...what connections would I use in and out? I have Vista and windows media center on board. Thanks in advance!

What dvd software (what's the name of it) came installed on the pc? If your pc has the component input plugs-yellow video, red/white audio plugs either in front or back of the tower, you could connect the dvr to the pc and record to the pc drive using the installed dvd software program.
Connecting the dvr to the pc would involve moving one close to the other, which would be a hassle. Short of buying a dvd recorder to record from the dvr to a -RW (rewritable) disc, that's one way of doing it.

Would you happen to have an old stereo vcr? There's a 2nd way, a bit more involved, though. I have an HP Media Center PC, and in order to connect a cable line to it, I had to run one from the 'output to tv' jack on a nearby vcr, to the cable jack in back of the pc. Whenever the vcr is turned on, the feed from the vcr can be seen on the Media Center's tv tuner channel 3-blacking out cable reception on all other channels. So if your connect your dvr to a vcr, then run a single coaxial cable from the vcr to the pc, your can pick up the dvr feed over the vcr's line input channel thru media center on channel 3.
Playback your show, and use media center to record it. It will possess the name of the program that's listed for channel 3, but you'll have it on the pc, and can rename it, and then edit with your dvd software before burning to a disc...

And depending on what the shows you've recorded are, you may run into copy protection issues, on pay tv recordings for instance...

Thanx 4 the info anyway:)!

Westly..thanks, but I don`t have any of those inputs on my PC. No component..no coax...Bummer. Any other remedy apart from buying a DVDR?

Considering the investment in time, aggravation and money required to successfully capture video/audio on your PC, the rather modest cost of a DVD recorder isn't a bad choice. It's also likely to be the best choice for quality. Software alone, for capturing and editing, could exceed the cost of the recorder. Not to mention having your PC completely tied up for hours at a time.

RDGrimes..true enough. But I only wanted to copy the recordings on my old DVR..and I just bought a Toshiba A3 HD_DVD player as well..so buying a recorder is another expense I hoped to avoid. I wonder...is there an all in one HD-DVD player/recorder/upconverting unit that you`re aware of in the $250 or so range? I suppose I still have time to return/exchange the A3...

RDGrimes..true enough. But I only wanted to copy the recordings on my old DVR..and I just bought a Toshiba A3 HD_DVD player as well..so buying a recorder is another expense I hoped to avoid. I wonder...is there an all in one HD-DVD player/recorder/upconverting unit that you`re aware of in the $250 or so range? I suppose I still have time to return/exchange the A3...

Forget about a HD-DVD player/recorder - we'd all like one of those! ;)

You may be able to do what you want using a fairly cheap USB converter unit, depending on how critical you are about the quality. You can buy some cheap USB units which have S-Video or Composite inputs and come bundled with capture software (cheap meaning less than $50 to $100). But be prepared to spend some time learning and trial and error attempts to get an acceptable product.

You could probably find a good used DVD recorder for about the same price (maybe even an older new one) and it may be less hassle in the long run. And it will also play your DVDs. ;)

My decision point would revolve around how much editing I wanted to do. Far more capable editing features on the PC. But beware! Get into it and you will spend a lot more. Trust me. I know. ;)

Good luck!

RDGrimes..true enough. But I only wanted to copy the recordings on my old DVR..and I just bought a Toshiba A3 HD_DVD player as well..so buying a recorder is another expense I hoped to avoid. I wonder...is there an all in one HD-DVD player/recorder/upconverting unit that you`re aware of in the $250 or so range? I suppose I still have time to return/exchange the A3...

You *could* just get one of the really low end DVD recorders (jeez, they're sometimes showing up under $50 in sales nowadays) and just record your
shows to a rewritable disc live -- then 'rip' the DVD on the computer.

Thanks Mattack..it`s beginning to look like the easiest solution. Not sure if I understand you correctly..record it to a DVD-RW disc. But why "rip" that to a DVD on the computer. Why is that necessary if you`ve just burned it to a disc?

^^ Ripping a -RW disc to the pc, would be for editing and creating fancier menus with a dvd software program. DVD recorders have very simple menus, that can get tiresome looking at over time. If you don't care for that, then you would've have to do all that, just a dub to a dvd-r, would suit you.

Was in Walmart today, and they carry a dvd recorder/vcr combo unit with the new digital tuner from Magnavox for around $189. If you can, give it a try, and if it doesn't suit you, you can return it.

Westly-C..thanks. I really hate it when I have to expose my ignorance but...how is the new digital tuner significant?

If you're on cable (not satellite), a digital tuner (which has been required in all new recorders since last March) allows you to record directly off the cable, any digital channels that your cable company has not encrypted. Usually this means the HD feeds of your local broadcast stations. These can have significantly better picture quality (even after down-rezzing to SD) than the analog or digital SD feeds of those stations that your cable company provides.

Note that these unencrypted digital channels are usually available even if you're signed up with an analog package ("lifeline basic" or "extended basic").

And if you ever decide to try receiving digital over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts with an antenna, a digital tuner will pick those up, too.

Radio Shack had a recorder on sale recently for under $40. No kidding.

WalMart has the SV2000 or a similar Magnavox DVD Recorder for $49 in many areas. I own an SV2000 with VHS (forget the actual model#) and like it just fine. Keep in mind both (I think) have only analog tuners, but either would be fine for archiving from a DVR.

Thanks to all of you guys for your suggestions! I guess the recorder is the way to go. Just one last question though. On the back of the DVR where I have the recordings..there are component connections, USB, ethernet..and DVI-D out. Which would give me the best quality when "offloading" my recordings to the DVD recorder. I`d guess it would be the DVI-D. What kind of inputs will I have on the DVD recorder?

Thanks to all of you guys for your suggestions! I guess the recorder is the way to go. Just one last question though. On the back of the DVR where I have the recordings..there are component connections, USB, ethernet..and DVI-D out. Which would give me the best quality when "offloading" my recordings to the DVD recorder. I`d guess it would be the DVI-D. What kind of inputs will I have on the DVD recorder?

You are limited to analog video and audio, which means that S-video and L-R audio jacks are the best you can do.

Hmm..so about the same quality as transferring them to tape?

Hmm..so about the same quality as transferring them to tape?

Don't worry, they will look WAY better than on tape, even S-VHS tape.