The TechZone published a guide about saving videotape memories
The problem is consumer VHS tape isn't be best format to use for long-term storage. Every time you play one of those tapes you wear away part of the image, you scratch the video, you destroy small portions of the memories. If you haven't played those family celebration tapes for years you may even be in for a rude awakening. The magnetic film may have aged and the images have disappeared. The coating may mysteriously peel away or flake off when the tape is played. The memory images are suddenly.simply memories.Guide To Saving Videotape Memories
