Says "protected" and buzzes when new tape is put

I Think the cable you mean is a Fire wire cable.

Camera's and tapes, I take it its a mini DV tape movie camera.

Assuming so, on the spine of the DV cassette there's a small plastic slider, open = protect, close = write. I can only think of this as being the issue.

If it is a software problem, to be honest, wouldn't even copy to PC, I'd copy to a dvd recorder with a hard drive, edit it there then burn to dvd.

Try a new tape, or put a piece of tape over the hole found in the back of the tape you are using. If the record safety tab is still present it may be bent. A piece of tape will rectify this too.
The tab is there to protect the tape from being recorded over by accident. If removed or bent slightly, the vcr will detect it and will not record on the tape.
Most VCRs will eject the tape, or show some kind of error message.

On the mini-DV tapes I have, the protect tab is a slider- it does not come out of the cassette. If you look at the back edge of the tape, where the long label goes, the protect tab is at the right hand end. When it is set to prevent recording it will look like a little square hole, but there should be a tiny edge of the tab showing (mine is green) which you can pull across with a fingernail or sharp object to cover the hole and allow recording.

Mini-DV tapes have a small physical switch on them to protect the contents from being overwritten. It is probably just that this switch is set, not a problem with the camera.

you are prohibited from recording on thips tape. This is because the red tab on the side of the tape that faces you when you are inserting the tape inside the camera has been put in 'SAVE' position . to be able to record o the tape you need to use your fingernail to slide the red tab to the 'REC' position.

to help you understand this issue:
Tape and recording protection
The write-protect switch (right) prevents accidental erasure. .
To prevent the recording on the tape from being erased, there is a small write-protect tab that can be moved to one of two positions, labeled "REC" and "SAVE". Comparing the sliding tab to a door, the tape is in the "REC" position is when the "door" is open and the "SAVE" position when it is closed. (Not all tape cases have markings for this information!) The tape can only be recorded on (or recorded over) when this tab is in the "REC" position. This is an improved version of the VHS write-protect tab, which prevents erasure after it has been (permanently) broken off.

you are prohibited from recording on thips tape. This is because the red tab on the side of the tape that faces you when you are inserting the tape inside the camera has been put in 'SAVE' position . to be able to record o the tape you need to use your fingernail to slide the red tab to the 'REC' position.

Ive extracted the following article for you from wilkepedia to help you understand this issue:
Tape and recording protection
The write-protect switch (right) prevents accidental erasure. .
To prevent the recording on the tape from being erased, there is a small write-protect tab that can be moved to one of two positions, labeled "REC" and "SAVE". Comparing the sliding tab to a door, the tape is in the "REC" position is when the "door" is open and the "SAVE" position when it is closed. (Not all tape cases have markings for this information!) The tape can only be recorded on (or recorded over) when this tab is in the "REC" position. This is an improved version of the VHS write-protect tab, which prevents erasure after it has been (permanently) broken off.

Does the tape play normally? Does this happen with several tapes when you try to record? Check the record protect tab on the lower left hand side on the facing end of the tape. If this is broken or bent it will not record, you can put a piece of tape tightly across the tab as a repair

My advice is that you should by a cleaning cassette. Put this in the camera and run it for 10 to 20 seconds only. running the cleaning cassette for a long time may damage the head.
good luck!
Luwangula

My Samsung camcorder one day displays protection. Used or new tape no difference. Used the menu options to remove protection and it gives me a play mode alert. Regardless I can not record in protection mode. Help!

put tape on the hole on top of the tapes and you shoud be able to record. its tape on the top or pull the top off i cant remimber which one it is but this is the answer.