My camara wont download or play videos tht i have taken but oly pictures?

Question

so wht can i do is it something about the format but wht can i do

Answer 1

You're using USB; that's for still images.

Use a Firewire cable for video.  That's not USB.  If your computer has either a 4-pin or 6-pin Firewire port (also known as DV, i.Link, or IEEE 1394), then you're set; just buy the appropriate Firewire cable (your camcorder likely has a 4-pin DV/Firewire port), and use the video-editing program of your choice to capture the video.

If you don't have a Firewire port on your computer, you'll have to purchase and install a Firewire card, which isn't too expensive or difficult.

Just to confirm; I will guess that you're using a MiniDV tape camcorder, is that right?  If not, please give your camcorder's brand and model number.  Even if it is MiniDV, please give that information anyway.  It will help greatly.

For future reference, please try to search previous questions before posting one of your own; the answer to this question has been posted dozens of times.

Answer 2

If you have a mini dv (cassette) camcorder….

Your dv camcorder needs a firewire connection (ieee 1394) in order to download video, your PC probably did not come with a firewire port, so you will have to buy one and install it, since most computers (except possibly brand new) don't come with a firewire port, your camcorder did not come with a firewire cord so you have to purchase a cord too. Your camcorder did come with a USB cord and that is used for downloading stills from your camcorder.