in the posts that replied to your inquiry - even though they were iMovie specific, you could replace "iMovie" with the name of your video editor of choice and Operating System of choice and do the same thing.

1) Save the edited video project and identify that saved project file. DO NOT use the video editor's "burn DVD" routine - but use Windows XP to copy the saved project file to DVD... and burn that DVD. This is a Windows XP routine to make a data-DVD... not a movie DVD that can be played in a DVD player. This is called a "data archive". Since we don't know what kind of computer hardware you have, we don't know if you have a single layer or double layer DVD burner - or if you have a DVD burner at all. A single layer DVD can hold up to 4.7 gig of data and a double layer DVD can hold up to 8.5 gig of data. If your video project is larger than that, then it will not fit... Be advised that DVD media is not normally considered a stable archive media. If you choose to go this route, make at least two copies, they should each be placed in a plastic storage case and stored in a cool, dry, environment - preferably in a waterproof, fireproof, securable container. The two copies should not be stored together.

2) Get an external hard drive (or two) and copy the edited/completed/saved video project file from the computer to the hard drive(s). Because hard drives are electromechanical devices, they too are not considered true archive devices. As with the DVD "archive", putting the files on multiple hard drives would be a good idea. Either two separate drives or a RAID array. Better yet, offsite...

The problem with either method above, assumes that when you are ready to burn to a BluRay or HD DVD your then-current video application will be able to read those files. It might not. Since we don't know what video application you are using, the suggestion was made that you save your edited/completed/saved video project file in another format that would keep the HiDef detail... This would most likely be an mp4/AVI type file that, depending on the length of the video clip(s) in the completed project, could be a pretty large file - but it will be a file smaller than the video editing application's project file. This saved video file can be stored in the same manner (DVD or hard drive) and would then be re-imported to your current video editor or DVD menuing application when you are ready to burn HiDef.

You *could* also copy the edited/completed/saved video project file out to a memory card - but that is an expensive way to go and I have not seen any shelf-life information on using memory cards for archiving data.

Sorry to have made this so painful for you.

I appreciate that you have a "new modern camcorder with the latest technology to record your video". I hope it does well for you.

Recording the video is only a part of the equation. All the time you *thought* you would save and all the effort you thought was made easier (copying the data files to your computer for editing) just ran into one of the several reasons why we continue to suggest miniDV tape as the preferred method. With miniDV-tape based machines, when the edited/completed/saved video project file is ready, you merely export the project back out to your camera onto the inexpensive miniDV tape. That, along with the original footage becomes the archive - and digital tape IS an acceptable from of long-term data storage (also in a cool, dry place like the DVDs).

Oh... I am 50... I understand Wink