Is there any possible way to use an old PC (using windows XP) to be a DVR recorder for surveillance cameras. I am trying to save my family some money from buying a $1,000 DVR, but I dont know if it's even possible? Any clues?

E: Also, any possible way of viewing this via remote (like if we are home, we can see work through internet)

Yes it's possibles - multiple webcames + a copy of webcamxp should do it fine.

I dunno if this will help or not but.

http://www.winamp.com
http://www.winamp.com/remote

Download winamp and then it has a little application that you can get with it which is called winamp remote.
Basically you can view your computers music + video + photos from anywhere in the world as long as the home computer is connected to the internet.

Only problem i can think of is that you would have to find a programme that keeps constantly adding videos to the winamp library, otherwise they wont show up on the internet.

You may want to check out Q-See (http://www.q-see.com/), they make some complete surveillance kits that are mediocre for residential use. Their cards aren't as picky when it comes to chipsets as other companies (GeoVision) and their system requirements are pretty low...only downside is the video quality isn't that great and the software isn't as good as more expensive alternatives...their starter kit comes with 4 cameras and a PCI DRV card and only runs about $250 USD...

If you are doing this for a commercial location I wouldn't recommend anything less than GeoVision (http://www.geovision.com.tw/)...

I've seen Active Webcam which seems decent. Multiple webcams can detect motion, record jpg or movie, make a sound.
The captured files can be uploaded to ftp, or connect remotely with another copy of the program, or it hosts a webpage with the camera.
(seems their site is down at the moment, you can try the software from the usual download places)