In previous versions of Windows Media Center (before Windows Media Center TV Pack 2008) Windows Media Center recorded TV in the DVR-MS file format. In Windows 7, Media Center now outputs all Recorded TV to .WTV file format.

Unfortunately,  the WTV files do not “play nice” with video conversion applications, commercial skipping, etc. So, to do alot of the fun stuff with recorded media in Windows 7, we need to convert those pesky .WTV files back into DVR-MS files. Since Windows 7 Media Center records all programming to .WTV files, the first step we need to take is to convert our .WTV file to DVR-MS format.

Windows 7 has an easy built-in method for WTV to DVR-MS conversion.

First we’ll want to browse to the Recorded TV folder. Assuming you set it up in the default location, it will be found at C:\Users\Public\Recorded TV.

Right-click on the file you wish to convert and then select “Convert to .dvr-ms Format.”

The conversion process will begin. The process is very quick. It should only take a minute or two for typical show.

When the process is complete, you’ll have another file in dvr-ms format.

Converting the the DVR-MS file format will give you plenty of flexibility when it comes to converting your recorded video to other formats.