How To: Import DV Video on Windows 7 using Windows Live

Colin M | July 17, 2009 | 5:21 pm

If you (like me) have recently plugged a DV camera into Windows 7 for the first time, only to find that the “Import Video” wizard you’re used to from Windows Vista has vanished, fear not!

How to get the Import Video wizard back:

Rest easy; the wizard is not dead forever, but merely moved from inbox Windows to the Windows Live Essentials pack.  Here’s how to get it working just like it used to:

  1. Install the Windows Live Essentials pack.  In particular, you are going to need at least the Windows Live Photo Gallery, and probably the Windows Live Movie Maker if you want to then do something with your video.
  2. Plug in your camera.  Windows 7 should automatically install the necessary drivers.
  3. Launch Windows Live Photo Gallery (not Movie Maker).
  4. Click File -> Import From a Camera or Scanner.
  5. Select your device, then click Import.

You’ll now see the Import Video wizard you’re familiar with.  Voila!

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3 Responses to “How To: Import DV Video on Windows 7 using Windows Live”

  1. rgag says:
    August 11, 2009 at 10:40 am

    This is absolutely great! Thanks a million for the tip! It saved me a great deal of trouble.

  2. Robert Melchionda says:
    June 27, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    I followed that advice – it did not work! According to my research thus far, I have a “tape” DV camera, a Sony DCR-HC21. Windows 7 will not work with a Digital Tape Camera. Only VISTA with the ILINK will work! Once again, Microsoft took a giant leap backwards with the introduction of Windows 7 by removing features. WIndows Live Movie Maker is a mere shadow of Windows Movie Maker 2.1! The 2.1 program was great, then came 2.6 with less features.

    I am still trying to figure out how I can import my video and what software I am going to have to purchase for this new problem. I can only hope I can find something as easy to use as WMM 2.1, and as powerful.

    Robert

  3. Colin M says:
    June 27, 2010 at 10:02 pm

    Hey Robert,

    Sorry to hear you are having difficulties getting your camcorder connected to your Windows 7 machine. If you’ve still got some time, stick with Windows 7 and Windows Live Movie Maker, and work on the setup you’ve got. I can definitely say that “tape” / mini-DV cameras (as well as hard drive, flash memory, and other storage formats) have worked well for me on Windows 7 so far. (I was actually importing from a tape DV camera when I wrote this post.) The “ILINK” term you see on your camera is actually just Sony’s marketing name for the industry standard IEEE 1394 or “firewire” interface, and your camera should be supported using this interface with Windows 7.

    Please see Sony’s site for more information on their Windows 7 support, and to download the Sony software that came with your camera: http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/swu-list.pl?mdl=DCRHC21&LOC=3. Choose your version of Windows 7 from the drop down box there for more details.

    Hope that helps and good luck!

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