Old camcorder videos? How to get them off safely

Many families have a camcorder in a drawer holding years of birthdays, holidays and school plays that were never copied anywhere else. Camcorders from the mid-2000s onwards recorded to an internal hard drive, built-in flash memory or SD cards rather than tape, and getting that footage onto a modern computer is not always straightforward. The camera may not switch on, the computer may not recognise it, or the camcorder may suddenly offer to “repair” or format its memory. This guide explains how to copy the videos safely and what to do if the camcorder or its storage has failed.

Which kind of camcorder do you have?

It helps to know where the footage is stored, because that decides how you get it off:

• Hard-disk camcorders such as many JVC Everio, Sony Handycam and Panasonic models from that era have a small hard drive inside the body. These drives are mechanical and can fail just like a laptop drive, especially after a knock or a drop.
• Built-in flash memory models store the footage on chips inside the camera. There is nothing to remove, so the camera itself usually has to work for you to copy the files.
• SD or memory card models store footage on a removable card, and some models record to both internal memory and a card.

Check the model number on the underside or in the battery compartment, and look for a card slot cover, before you start.

How to copy the footage safely

1. Use the mains adapter, not just the battery. An old battery can die halfway through a copy. If you no longer have the charger, buy the correct one for the model rather than a generic adapter of uncertain voltage.
2. Connect by USB and choose the computer or PC option on the camcorder’s screen. Most camcorders of this era then appear as a drive on the computer.
3. Copy the whole folder structure, not just the files you recognise. Older JVC Everio models store video as .MOD files with matching .MOI files in an SD_VIDEO folder, while some HD models use .TOD files. Many later HD camcorders use AVCHD, which keeps .MTS clips inside a PRIVATE/AVCHD folder alongside index files. Copying everything keeps dates, clip joins and playlists intact.
4. Check a few files play on the computer before you delete anything or hand the camera on. VLC media player handles most camcorder formats.
5. Keep two copies, for example one on the computer and one on an external drive or cloud service.

For card-based models you can also take the card out and read it in a card reader. If Windows or macOS then says the card needs formatting, stop and do not agree to it.

Warning signs: when to stop

• The camcorder offers to repair a database or management file, or asks to format the memory. These prompts usually rebuild or wipe the index the camera uses to find clips. Say no, switch it off and get advice.
• The camera shows a hard disk error, or you hear clicking, buzzing or repeated spin-up noises from a hard-disk model. Keep powering it on and the internal drive can be damaged further.
• Clips freeze, stutter or stop partway through when you copy them. That can point to failing storage rather than a playback problem.
• The camcorder will not switch on at all, even on mains power. The footage may still be intact on the drive, card or memory inside.

What can still be recovered

When a hard-disk camcorder fails, the small internal drive can usually be taken out and worked on in the lab like any other failed hard drive, including drives with head or motor faults that need clean room work. Footage on cards and many internal memory chips can also often be recovered after a card error, accidental deletion or a camera that died mid-recording, although clips recorded over or formatted repeatedly are much less likely to come back. The less the device has been used since the problem started, the better the chances. You can read more on our camera card, flash and external drive recovery page and our hardware drive recovery page.

What not to do

• Do not open the camcorder or its hard drive yourself; dust inside a hard drive can destroy the surfaces where your video is stored.
• Do not run free recovery software on a drive or card that is making noises or disconnecting.
• Do not record new footage on the camera to “test” it, as this can overwrite old clips.
• Do not throw the camcorder away because it will not turn on; the storage inside may be fine.

Need help getting your videos back?

If your camcorder footage will not copy, the camera has failed, or you have seen a format or repair message, switch it off and talk to us before trying anything else. We offer a free assessment with no obligation. Call Data Retrieval on 020 7064 4996 or request a quote online.