I fear I am out of luck -- but to secure your sympathy and possible help I relate why this is so important to me.
My 95 year old mother passed away in early August. She was a life long resident of Northern Indiana -- except for the last 8 years during which she was in an assisted living facility here in Northern California.
Pursuant to her wishs, her funeral services were in Indiana where she was buried along-side her pre-deceased husband (my Stepfather).
Because of severe health issues of my own -- my Wife and I were not able to go back to Indiana for the services.
At my request the funeral home videoed the service for me on a Camcorder which writes to a 1.4 GB mini-dvd. (at least such a disc was delvered to me). Based on the coloration change on the "recording side" it appears that there may be 20-25 minures of data written to the Disk.
I cannot open the disk -- I have tried it on my Windows Xp Desktop computer, (with Windvd 8 gold) my Vista laptop (With Windows Media Center) and the built-in Dvd player of a TV.
Not knowing anything about current mini-dvd camcorders I have searched the internet and have reached the preliminary conclusion that if the person who recordered the mini dvd -- "finalized" the dvd -- I should be able to open and view this dvd with any of the above.
Because I can not -- I am guessing that the disc was not finalized, on all of the above machines there is "hunting" going on --based on drive noises and disc drive lights flickering.
Does any one know of a Service or Program by which the video data might be recovered?
Thanks for any help or insight you may be able to give; Even if it is confirmation that I am out of "Luck".
Thanks