Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Sony HDR-XR150 High Def Cam & Carbonite Online Backup Issues

Nov 24, 2010 7:20AM PST

Hello,

I recently purchased a Sony HDR-XR150 Hard Drive Camcorder. I have always been a firm believer in backing up important data on my Desktop computer (Dell, Windows Vista) using Carbonite.

What I have learned about this (and probably most other) Hard Drive camcorder is that one cannot simply connect the camcorder to your desktop or laptop via USB and simply have the camcorder read as an external hard drive, so that you can simple copy and paste the videos to certain folders, etc? Instead, with Sony you must install and use their software call PMB (Picture Motion Browser) in order to transfer your videos from the cam to your desk top.

The issue I have run into with this technique is that once the videos are transferred to my desktop using the Sony PMB software, Carbonite cannot recognize and backup the video files. Thus I am left with many important videos of family and events that are not backed up.

Here are my questions:

1. Is there some way of being able to copy/paste videos directly from the camcorder without using the PMB software, so that Carbonite can recognize the file? I've tried and it doesn't work.

2. If the answer to question 1 is no, what options exist to safely back up my video files without burning every single one onto a DVD disc? I did a copy and paste to an external hard drive that I have and the files were not readable, probably because PMB is not installed on the external HD. However, it did save the copy onto the external hard drive, but the file name looked strange

3. Are there any Flash Memory or Hard Drive High Def camcorders other than Sony that allow the camcorder to be read as an external hard drive, thus allowing you to simply copy and paste files to your computer?

Thanks in advance,

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
easy
Nov 24, 2010 3:23PM PST

when connected to ur computer the cam should show as a ext device. just navigate to the .MTS files and drag them to ur computer

- Collapse -
also
Nov 24, 2010 3:25PM PST

also either the backup system is flawed or ur doing something wrong, theres no reason it shouldnt be backing those files up

- Collapse -
Did you find a way?
Feb 1, 2011 5:11AM PST

Did you ever find a solution to this problem? I am having the exact same problem and would love to backup all my video files ASAP without having to burn each one to a DVD.... what is the solution?
Is there an online site that will back these files up that can change them into High Quality Video files to burn later?