How to Record From a DVR to a Flashdrive

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A flash drive is a compact, portable hard drive useful for storing files.

A digital video recorder stores video on a hard drive in a similar manner to that of a computer's hard drive. To copy the contents from the DVR to a portable flash drive, first copy the file from the DVR's hard drive to the computer's hard drive. The procedure requires the use of a digital transfer box, of which there are a number designed primarily for transferring videotape to a computer--for example, the Roxio Easy VHS to DVD or the iON Audio VCR 2PC. All the needed software for the computer is included with the digital transfer box, and the process will not negatively affect the DVR in any way.

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Step 1

Place the DVR next to the computer. Plug one end of a S-Video cable into the S-Video output on the back of the DVR. Plug the S-Video cable's other end into the S-Video input of the digital transfer box.

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Step 2

Plug the left and right RCA plugs at one end of an audio cable into the left and right RCA outputs on the back of the DVR. Plug the left and right RCA plugs at the other end of the audio cable into the left and right RCA inputs on the digital transfer box.

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Step 3

Plug the USB connector of the digital transfer box into a USB port on the computer. Eject the computer's DVD drive's disc tray. Insert the digital transfer box's installer disc.

Step 4

Double-click the icon of the installer disc when it appears on the desktop. Double-click the installer program that appears inside of the installer disc's window. Follow the menu commands to install the digital transfer program onto the computer's hard dive. Eject the disc and restart the computer.

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Step 5

Launch the digital transfer program by selecting it from the "Start" > "All Applications" pop-up menu. Click the "Next' button on the program's main screen to go to the "Video" screen. Check the "S-Video" checkbox. Click the "Next" button.

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Step 6

Check the "Stereo" checkbox on the "Audio" screen. Click the "Next" button. Name the digital file that is going to be made from the content on the DVR in the "Name" column on the screen. Click the "Next" button.

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Step 7

Turn on the DVR. Press the "Media" button on the remote control. Select the content that is to be transferred to the flash drive from the list of choices presented on the screen. Press the "Play" button on the remote to start the content playing.

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Step 8

Press the "Record" button on the digital transfer program's screen to start recording the DVR content. Press "Stop" when the content finishes playing. Click the "Next' button.

Step 9

Click the "Save" button on the new screen. Select "Desktop" from the "Locations" pop-up window that appears. Click the "OK" button at the bottom of the window. Quit the digital transfer program once the pop-up window disappears.

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Step 10

Remove the cables from the computer, digital transfer box and DVR. Insert the USB connector of the flash drive in a USB port on the computer. Wait for the icon of the flash drive to appear on the desktop.

Step 11

Drag the digital file that was made from the DVR's content onto the icon of the flash drive. Wait as a copy progress bar appears, fills in from right to left and then disappears. Right-click the icon of the flash drive. Select "Eject" from the pop-up menu. Remove the flash drive from the computer's USB port.

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