Whether you are shooting pictures and videos on a digital camera or a digital video camera, usually you have two ways to get them off the camera.

One way is to take the camera memory card, also called an SD card, out of the camera and put it in the computer. Some computers have built-in slots for the memory cards. If not, you will need a card reader, which is a device you plug into your USB connection.

The other way is to connect a USB cable between the camera and the computer. The end that goes in the PC is standard, but the smaller end will vary by the camera. There is a size that is common, but regrettably, there is not a universal standard for the small end to the camera. Plug-in the two ends of the cable and make sure the camera is on and active (often I push the button to take a picture, and it wakes up the camera).

Then go to “Computer” or “My Computer,” and you will see at least one new drive showing. One of my cameras shows four drives, and I have to click on each to find the real one; the others give an error.

Next, open the drive, and you will either see all of your picture files or possibly a folder called “DCIM” most often. If the DCIM folder is found, open it; and if another folder is there, choose it and your pictures will appear. They may be split in multiple folders.

Now that you are in the folder with the pictures, you can copy the picture files to your disk drive just as you would other type files. You can use copy and paste, or select them and, with the other drive and folder showing, just drag and dropmthe photos from one folder to another.

Once you know they are copied, you can delete them from the camera, but first make sure they are on the PC, as it is extremely hard to undelete them.

Now that your photos are on your PC, you can edit them or print them or e-mail them as you want.

Thanks Sheba for the question.

Send your questions to Dwight Watt at dwight@dwightwatt.com. He teaches at a technical college in northwest Georgia and does consulting work for businesses and individuals. His website is www.dwightwatt.com.