DVD burning question

[Madonna]

I'm wanting to burn some files I have to DVD so I can play them in my DVD player. I was wondering which format is best to use to convert the files? I can use Nero and Cyberlink DVD, I'm just not sure which is best. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. :)

[pogohatesme]

My bf swears by Nero for all his burning stuff...he also downloaded a burn program called Alcohol 120.....but he said Cyberlink is a horrible program

[Madonna]

Ty for telling me. I never burned DVD's before, so since we narrowed it down to Nero, which format do I use? I'm sorry for being so ignorant, but I'm not a computer whiz, by no means :P.

[pogohatesme]

What format are the files in on your computer?  Are the .wmv or are they like pic in a .jpeg or what?

[Madonna]

They are all mpeg format, but I see that Nero automatically converts them...I hope.

[pogohatesme]

He says when you open up nero, go into nero express.  from there you go into the video section...he says it will give you 2 options SVCD and VCD....and you want to use VCD......it's the easiest and quickest route that he uses to burn and all his stuff always starts out in mpeg and comes out fine

[Madonna]

TY so much. I would have been lost for sure. :P

[pogohatesme]

No problem!  Lol that's what we're here for right

[Lish]

Try any of the Slysoft programs or DVD Shrink, which is a free program.  It works great and will convert the files for you O0

[Madonna]

Another question. It says I can only use CD-R for these discs. Isn't that just for music??? I have DVD-R discs, and I don't know how to convert them now... :(

[Country Lady]

My nero has a smart start option, I click on that, then at the top right it has a place to choose dvd or cd.  I click on dvd. 
Hope this helps.  I think my nero is ver.6.3

[Madonna]

I tried that, and the only option it allows me to use is CD-R. I found a program called DVD Santa (cute, huh?) that converts mpeg files to DVD-R compatability. It has to "shrink" the file so it can fit on a DVD-R disk. I looked up DVD shrink, and it will not convert these type of files, so I went to their forum. They said try DVD Santa, and it should work. So I'm waiting.......and waiting for this to finish to see if this indeed will convert. If not, I think I'll just give up.

[RC]

Madonna.. this may be a dumb question, but you did say that you never burned dvd's before.. do you actually have a dvd burner installed on your computer? It has to be a burner, not just a DVD-ROM drive, which is only capable of playing dvd's, not burning them. Since someone else said when they clicked on an option and it gave them a choice of CD or DVD, and when you do the same thing, it only has a choice for CD.. I was thinking maybe it detects that you only have a cd burner and not a dvd burner. I've never done this so I don't know about the programs and such that the others are talking about.. but just making sure you actually have the right equipment for the job.

[Madonna]

Yes, there is a DVD burner on my computer...it's just not recognizing the files, i guess. Or they're not in the actual DVD format to be burned.

[Madonna]

If I had went to all this trouble and there wasn't even a DVD burner, i would be so embarrassed i'd go hide in a cave. Sad thing being, I've done worse. :o

[RC]

lol.. and that is only why I asked that. Would hate to see ya go through all that because you thought your dvd drive could burn when it couldn't. Glad to know that's not the case.. although that still doesn't help with the problem you're having with it, but that was the extent of my expertise on the subject lol.

[Madonna]

I just burned my first CD and it runs great. Nero didn't do nothing but make me sit for an hour while files were being converted...to CD form :o. So, I used DVD Santa and it will convert ANY file. I had to shell out 30 bux, but at least it works like a dream for me. Well worth the money.

[ElitePirate]

You can try Alcohol 120%, it's a pretty good burning program.  It's able to burn DVDs, CDs, and I think DLDVD and DLCDs.  It can also burn images, if you know what those are...(.ISO, .CUE, .BWT, .CDI, .B5T, .CCD, .MDS, .NRG, and .PDI)
Here is alittle List of definitions for images...
.cue - Cue Sheets
.iso - Standard ISO images
.bwt - Blindread Images
.cdi - Disk Juggler Images
.b5t - Blink Write 5 Images
.ccd - Clone CD Images
.mds - Media Descriptor files
.nrg - Nero Images
.pdi - Instand Cd/DvD Images
Images are basically CD files
For example, when you insert a run from a CD, you are running from an image, usually a ISO or CUE, sometimes CCD.
That is all the CD is, it's one file.... when you copy a CD, you are taking the image from the original, copying and putting it on a CD, so that CD should work like the other one, when you put it in, it pops up what ever it should.

Anyways, if you are having trouble with burning a CD/DVD, make sure...
A. You have a burner
B. It can burn DVDs if thats what you want
C. You have a program that will work with them
D. The Disk you're using has no image on it
E. Make sure the Disk you're using has no files on it unless you change the burner to be able to write onto the same disk multiple times
F. <---- Don't get that next time you are in a computer class
G. If this all fails, I sudgest you do the following
         G1 - Read the Manual
         G2 - Put all of ur RWs in the micro wave on high for 10 seconds, watch the fireworks, and prepare to get to Best Buy or Radio Shack

Also, I sudgest you DONT use nero for burning DVDs.
One more thing, DVDs can hold 4.7 GBs, CDs can hold about .7 GBs, there is no way to make a DVD into a CD, like trying to make a 30 lbs weight melt into a 20 lbs weight with no stuff left over.

1 MORE THING!!!
Sorry for posting so much...hope I don't sound mean or anything, just trying to help...and don't put your stuff in the microwave either...

[Madonna]

I got it now, ty for your post. :) :o

[pogohatesme]

Sorry about all your problems Madonna.....we've never had a problem with Nero........and in answer to your other question, I always buy CD-R even to burn movies and TV shows to watch on my DVD player