Transferring video files from the JVC Everio GZ-MG21U to PC (Windows XP)

Ok....first off i feel your pain i got this camcorder for christmas last year and to my disapointment it took me days to figure this out.
there are several ways to do this but personaly i use this method and ill warn you now it includes a tiny bit of jargon.

1.plug in the camcorder

2.select "Play back on computer" on the camcorder menu

3.when the computer finds the camcorder it will find two hard drives, one ending in SD and one ending in HDD.

4.click the one ending in HDD (The one ending in SD will open up a folder containing your photos taken on the camcorder)

5.open the file named SD_VIDEO

6.now heres where it gets tricky, open the a file that should be named PRG007 the number on the end defines the more recent project you have filmed (Say if you filmed yesterday your data would be in PRG007 but if you filmed today it would most probably be in a new folder named PRG008.

7.now you going to see all you files .TOD is the camcorders own video file and .MOI is the thumb nail the camcorder uses during play back, select all of the files you want with the .TOD extension and COPY not cut COPY them to your desired location.

8.now you have you files that windows wont play because it doesnt recognise them, you now have to go through every file Right click>Rename>Highlight ".TOD" and type/replace it with ".avi">Click "Yes" if a little box pops up.

9. Your files should now be playable if they dont play straight away its because they have a large file size so if and when media player just shows a black screen click the stop button on the player, wait for it to do its stuff and then click play.

This can be a long painfiull thing to do but ive done it a few times now and after the first few it becomes natrual, easier and faster than the folowing method. wich contains almost no jargon but takes alot of time

1. Follow steps 1&2 from the last tutorial.
2. Install the disk that came with the Camcorder.
3. Install both programs, one is for viewing your footage quickly and one is for editng.
4. Open the program named "Powerdirector express" create a new project File>New
5. Click the tab near the top named "LOAD MEDIA" a little pic of an open file
6. Nvigate to your files using steps 4 to 6 from that last tutorial.
7. Higlight all of the files u want and import them.
8. After a long time it should have loaded them into the project library.
9. Drag them into the timeline editing any that are to long or add any cheap effects if you choose. i wouldnt.
10. Highlight the whole time line and click the tab at the top named "PRODUCE".
11. You probably want to "Create a file" if you dont your on your own.
12. Heres how to "Create a file", change your output directory on the left hand side. and click next.
13. Chose the avi method (Better compatability and speed).
14. Now the rest is up to you to play around with the settings to suit what you want to do next but make sure you click and search around all of the buttons available and ensure any quality settings are set to the highest and any aspect ratio settings are set to 16:9.

Enjoy the camcorder, after you get used to it you will love it.