Digital Home Advisor

With Windows Movie Maker, importing and editing high-definition footage is as easy as leaping out of a plane. So, first things first, let's get that footage from camera to PC.

See also: How to edit HD video with Windows Movie Maker

1. Launch Movie Maker by clicking on Vista's Start button and choosing it from All Programs. Click on the 'Import video' or the 'Capture from video device' option, as appropriate. If you're going to import video directly from your camcorder, ensure that it is switched on and connected to your PC.

2. Windows Movie Maker's Autoplay dialog box should pop up. Set the camera mode to play - this is often labelled VTR or VCR on the camera. Movie Maker should recognise your camera and display the Import Video dialog. If you don't see this window, choose File, 'Import from digital video camera' from the options listed on the left.

3. Type a name for the file you wish to import in the Name box. Select a save-to location from the list, or click Browse to choose another. Choose a video file format from the Formats list; choosing 'Windows Media Video File (single file)' creates a single Windows Media Video file with all the footage on the tape.