It is not called Publishing in Windows Movie Maker Xp (v2.1). Instead, it is called Finishing the Movie.
Read this tutorial on Finishing a Movie in Windows XP:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/moviemaker/create/savetopc.mspx
To change a Windows Movie Maker file into a .wmv, all you need to do is Publish/Finish the project in the program.Click on the Windows Movie Maker How-To link posted in the Related links section below for instructions on how to Publish/Finish your project.
You cannot Save/Publish/Finish a Windows Movie Maker project as in FLV format.
You do not have to convert it at all. When you publish/finish the Windows Movie Maker project (in this case, an Audio project) the process automatically converts the file format from a MSWMM to a .wma.In other words, Publish/Finish the project.
In the Windows Movie Maker program, exporting is accomplished through the Publish or Finish Movie options (depending on which version you are using). In order to convert a Windows Movie Maker project to Standard Viewing format, you have to Publish or Finish the movie.
YouTube does not accept Windows Movie Maker Project files (MSWMM). You have to Publish or Finish your video in Windows Movie Maker first. This process changes the project file into a Standard viewing format that can easily be uploaded to YouTube.Just remember... Publish or Finish the video before burning, uploading or emailing.
You can only play a .MSWMM (MicroSoft Windows Movie Maker) project in the Windows Movie Maker program.Until you Publish or Finish the .MSWMM project it cannot be viewed in a media player, emailed, uploaded or burned to CD or DVD. The only way to view or edit the file is in the program.
To change the video from a project file (MSWMM) to a Standard viewing format such as .wmv in Windows Live Movie Maker, you simply have to Publish it.
You have to Publish the video first (that is exporting). The process changes the Windows Movie Maker file to a Standard viewing format (and not a project file).
By Publishing the movie. (Tasks>Publish)
You have to Publish/Finish your WMM (Windows Movie Maker) project before you can view it, email it, upload it or burn it to CD/DVD.A .MSWMM (MicroSoft Windows Movie Maker) project file can't be viewed/edited anywhere other than in the WMM program.Visit the URL for instructions on Publishing/Finishing your WMM project:http://windowsmoviemaker-how-to.blogspot…
Click on File, Save Project. Choose a location to save the video project, name it and there you go!
Import pictures/audio you wish to use in the project. Place them as desired. Then Publish the video.