How do I make a dvd?
 

Okay, here's what I have so far.

I have a Desktop, windows xp, HP Media Center, with all bells and whistles (which I've never used, but I want to start). New Mother board, new ram. Everything works fine.

I also have a Lightscribe DVD +- Writer/CD-Writer (I have no idea what this means).

I have a CD rom drive too.

Now separately from all this I have a portable dvd player. It's an Audiovox D1730. I have the battery pack and I have the electric plug thing. It works fine.

What I want to do is make a video using my webcam, put it on a dvd thing, and then take the dvd thing out of my computer, put it in my audiovox, bring it over to my friend and show her the dvd.

There is no computer in her house, she's an elderly woman, she doesn't get out much and I want to share my videos with her.

So let's say I have my vidoes on my hard drive (my sprouting videos for example), and I want to transfer them to a dvd thing.

The only discs I have in my house are over 5 years old.

They are blank Memorex CD-RW Platimum 650 mb 74 min things
On the front it says 2x 4x rewrite speed (????)

Can I use this Memorex thing to copy my videos and then once they are copied to the Memorex, can I put the memorex in my Audiovox and show my friend.

I don't know DVD from CD and This Memorex says CD-RW

Do I need to buy a DVD thing? Do they have this? I have absolutely no clue what to do.

I really want to put my videos (or any videos for that matter), onto a disc (I think this is called burning???) and play them on my portable dvd player.

This way my friend can see what's happening in the world. She really would get a kick out of this.

Thanks if you can advise.

Melody

P.S. I also have a question about the new 3D tv's that are coming out but I'll wait to post that. It's a doozy of a question

Wow
 

Hi Melody. I'm going to try to answer your questions, but am going to take them a little out of order.

The best way to describe the difference is to think of the CD player for our car. When you go to the music store, you buy music CD's to play in that. When you go to the video store, you buy/rent DVD's to play in your DVD player. Those players have different formats much the same way the old VHS has a different format than the DVD's.

Since CD's came along before DVD, some DVD players will also play CD's - but not all.

A CD holds 650 MB (megabyte) of data. There are 1000 MB in a GB (gigabyte). So, a CD holds 0.65 GB. A DVD holds 4.77 GB - about 7 times what a CD will hold.

Even after 5 years, the discs should still be good.

RW is short for ReWrite. This means that once you have 'burned' something to the CD, you can add additional data to it - but only using your same computer. You could not take it to another computer and add data.

The 2x 4x speed is how fast it will 'burn'. The discs you have will accept those 2 speeds. So, if you wanted to copy 60 minutes of video, it would take 30 minutes to copy, using the 2x; and 15 minutes to copy using the 4x. The user typically controls the speed based on the capability of their computer. By today's standards 2x and 4x is pretty slow - I typically use 16x.

Another difference in CD's is that they are either '+' or '-'. The CD's you have are '-'

You would want to check the user manual for your Audiovox to see what formats it will accept. You will be looking for CD-R or CD-RW. If you don't find that, then the answer is No.

If it will accept the CD-R format, then the next consideration is the length of the video. You shouldn't plan more than 30-minutes of recording time on a CD.

Lightscribe is a way of labeling discs. I would wait until you are familiar with the DVD itself.

The DVD is a combo drive. It will accept both DVD and CD, and it can 'write' (burn, copy) to DVD in either the '+' or '-' format. It can only write to the CD in the '-' format.

The other CD drive is strictly for playback or installation programs. You cannot write to it.

Having said all that, I would suggest that you purchase new DVD RW discs. But first check your Audiovox to see what format it will play. You will be looking for DVD+R, DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW. Since your DVD drive will create any of those formats, you want to purchase the discs that match what your Audiovox can play back.

Yes you can create DVDs with Media Center. I am not familiar with the HP Media Center, but strongly suspect that it is their name on the Windows Media Center. Here is the link to Microsoft's instructions:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...s-Media-Center

If those instructions don't look familiar, you will want to visit HP's website:

http://www.hp.com/#Support

In Step 1, choose the option for 'See support and troubleshooting information'. Then in Step 2, click the link for 'Start Detection'. This will find what HP products you have. From there you can locate the user manuals that should have the instructions for the Media Center.

Good Luck. I think what you are trying to do is wonderful. She will really appreciate it.

Excellent answers, I haven't done much cd or DVD recording so it's not a strong topic for me.

But I did find a Burning program the was easiest for me to use.

Ashampoo burning {free}
http://download.cnet.com/Ashampoo-Bu...=dl&tag=button

I tried quite a few and some were just too complicated, or too involved this one seems pretty basic and easy to use.

I did some photo DVDs to play on TV .

Well!!! I am going to try and wrap my 62 year old brain around what you wrote, and try to copy a video (3 minutes worth) from my computer to one of those Memorex thingees that I have. Then I will try and play it on my portable audiovox.

Oh, I downloaded the manual for the audiovox and on page 18 it lists the PLAYABLE DISCS

It just lists 3 types of playable discs. DVD, CD AND MP3

So I guess I will have to see if I can learn how to do this.

Good Lord.

If I succeed, I'll make a youtube video and you'll see if I was successful

And I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH for taking all that time to explain it to me.

Let's home my brain understood some of it.

lol

Melody

Okay. here's what I just did.

I actually burned my first cd. At least I think I did.

I placed the (I used Smart and Friendly CD-RW)in the dvd lightscribe thing.

A menu came up and I just said okay.

It brought me to this screen where it asked me if I wanted to burn a cd. Then it prompted me to download some REALPLAYER software and when I said OK, it downloaded but then my anti-virus Macafee thing told me that it could contain spyware and it would impact my registry so I did the "block" thing.

Anyway, I found a way to burn it. I clicked on "avi" files. It coped all the avi files from wherever avi files are, to this list on the screen.

So in front of me were all my videos. I selected one that I have up on youtube, called Sexy blouse. I did the 'BURN' option and lo and behold, it took a few minutes to do this (It's only 14 seconds long), but it told me SUCCESS.

So, thinking I just burned my first dvd, I then x'd out of the screen, I went to my computer, I selected Drive E (which is the light scribe thing), but it came up blank. I then thought it would play in the other drive, so I took it out of E, and put it in the CD-ROM drive. Same result.

So what did I do wrong??? (I'll never learn this, believe me, I'll never learn this).

lol

Melody

I tried Roxio, burning Nero and some of the other "top" burning software and I could not get it right til I used the ashampoo one, I don't know why ,

I'm doomed, doomed, doomed.

And we live in a Star Trek Generation with 3D televisions coming out.

I'm doomed!!!

lol

Melody

Try This
 

Melody, Burning video can be a little tricky if you want it to 'autoplay' (start to play when the disc is inserted).

So, let's see if you actually burned anything to the disc:

• Put the disc in the DVD+-RW/CD drive.
• Click on your Start button
• On the right side, you should see a choice for 'My Computer' - click that
• Now you should see icons for the drives you have on your computer. One will have a picture of a DVD with the a name below it something like: 'DVD-RAM' - Double-Click that.
• That should open Windows Explorer - do you see any icons in it, or is it blank.
• If you see an icon, double-click that and see if your video starts to play.

Let me know what happens, and I can try to guide you from there.

One other note:
It doesn't look like your Audiovox will be capable of playing a DVD or CD created on your computer. If it could you would see either +/-R following it's name. You might try looking for a basic DVD player that you can leave at her house. Now that BluRay has hit the shelves, the price of a basic DVD player has really come down. We just purchased one for $49 at SamsClub, and it plays all formats, including +/-R.

I'm hysterical. SHE HAS A DVD PLAYER. Only she doesn't know how to use it. She has to call up her son to come up and press the play thing on the remote. (I know, I know).

Anyway, I did what you said, THE MY COMPUTER THING.

Here's what came up.

SEXY BLOUSE (that's the name of the video)

I clicked on this and 5 folders came up

CDI EXT MPEGAV SEGMENT VCD

Which one is the video?

Melody

That's a good sign - we know that you actually burned something to the disk. Now we just need to figure out if it will play.

The file is probably in the MPEGAV folder. Try that first. The next folder to check would be the VCD. It won't hurt to explore each of the folders. It might help to switch to Detail view.

To do that, go through the previous instructions to get to Windows Explorer. In the top menu bar, click on 'View', then click 'Details'.

You will now see 4 columns - Name, Size, Type, and Date Modified. Open each folder and look in the Size column. The file you want will be the largest, and most likely around 4,000 KB.

When you put in a cd or DVD doesn't a box pop up asking you what you want to do with it?

Play it , copy it or ??

I get a 4" x4" media pop up from windows xp itself asking me what I want to do with it.

see this page @Microsoft. - how to change settings for auto play -
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...oPlay-settings

Okay!!! I did exactly what you said.

The only one with lots o kb is the MPEGAV folder. When I did the view-details, here's what it had.

AVSFQ01 dat - 2,704 KB

I clicked on this and the screen said: You are attempting to open a file of Type Dat.file. These files are used by the operating system and by various programs Editing and modifying them could damage your system. If you still want to open the file, click OPEN WITH, otherwise, click cancel.

I CLICKED CANCEL because I got scared.

Do I click on Open With??

Thanks. Melody

That's the file you want. Since you burned it to a CD rather than a DVD, it is a little different process to play on your computer. So, remember that when you start burning to DVDs, the process will not be the same. They will most likely start playing automatically, or give you the pop up box Jo*Mar referred to.

But for now you are using a CD, so your next step is to go ahead and click OPEN WITH. This will give you a list of programs installed on your computer. You will want to look for Windows Media Player and choose that.

Hopefully you are now viewing your video. This is called a VCD (Video CD). If you have a DVD player that supports the VCD format, it will play this disc. But, not many DVD players support this format anymore.

Now that you know you can burn to disc, you will probably want to purchase some DVD's. I keep both DVD+R and DVD-R on hand. Some older DVD players only support one format or the other, so I keep both. That way I can burn the type supported by the recipient's DVD player. You might want to check and see what type of DVD your friend's player supports.

One more hint: Don't be afraid to experiment. I wouldn't have said that with Windows 98, but Windows XP does have that wonderful System Restore feature, and you are already familiar with it. One of the things I have always done, is create a Restore Point when I am installing software I am unsure of. Simply open System Restore the way you normally would, but select 'Create a Restore Point'. You will asked to name it. I typically name it something like 'Before *NameOfSoftware* Install'.

Holy cow!!!! I did it!!!!
 

:yahoo::You-Rock::Head-Spin::Dancing-Chilli:

Woo Hoo!!!

I did it.

I actually burned a video and I was able to play it.

wonder what I'll learn next?

THANK YOU MY DEAR, THANK YOU!!!

lol, Melody

Okay, now that I've stopped jumping up and down because I learned something new, I'm ready for another lesson.

Now that I've burned ONE 20 second video onto a disc, I take it I go out and buy a dvd-R or a dvd+R. (which one do I get), this question has nothing to do with my friend's player, it's about my player. I want to get the discs, burn stuff and play the stuff on my Audiovox, so which dvd thing do I get?

Now here's another good question.

Let's say I buy the dvd+ or - R thingee, and I burn a video. And I play it back, what happens the next time I want to use the same DVD + or - thing?

I assume I can put several videos on one dvd thingee right?

So do I assign it a place on the dvd thingee or does it do it all by itself (burn I mean).

Let's say I make 5 videos using my webcam. And I want to put those 5 videos on the dvd thingee. When I view it, will it go from one video to another, I gather I name all these videos? I am probably answering my own question, but since this is VIRGIN territory for me, I'm like Macguyver. I like to learn BEFORE I do.

How cool is this, to be 62 years young and still excited about technology.

I'm going to be making sprouting videos all over the place.

lol

P.S. I just bought a balance/wobble board, I want to make a video of that too.

What I really need to do is get a router, and buy myself a laptop because Alan is on this thing all day long and I only get to go on it when he's asleep. I really do need to get my own laptop.

I thought I would get it with the Stimulus check that Obama said he would give the seniors. Alan just told me we are not getting any check and my friend called me and said "do you know what the government is doing with the money from that stiimulus check all the seniors were supposed to get?" I said "what?" and she said "they are studying Monkeys getting hight".

I have no idea what the heck she was talking about.

Melody

That's Wonderful !

Let's see if I can answer your other questions

Here I wasn't referring to the player itself, but the actual disc you would burn the video onto. You can purchase them on a spindle, like the one here:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Maxell-100...pindle/4990024

And, they come in either the +R, +RW, -R, -RW format. RW means ReWrite. You can add to them later (see my first post).

Yes, & Maybe. Yes you can put more than one video on a disc. How you do it depends on the software you are using. Windows Media Player doesn't handle that well. So, if you want to start doing that, you might want to look at getting a program for video creation. The one Jo*Mar suggested is free, and would be the best place for you to start. I found the link for the free download:

http://download.cnet.com/Ashampoo-Bu...-10776287.html

In one of your other posts, you said that your AudioVox can only accept the following disc formats: DVD, CD AND MP3. None of those formats are formats for discs created on a computer. They are formats for commercially created DVDs and CDs.

If you want to be able to play the discs you create on your computer, you will need a different DVD player - one that does accept CDs and DVDs created on a computer.

Here is a link for one at Walmart.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Philips-DV...#ProductDetail

It is under $50, and if you click on the Product Details and scroll down to the line for Media Type (The format of media it will accept), you will see the following. All in blue are computer generated formats. Your AudioVox doesn't support those formats.

CD-R, CD-RW, SVCD, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD-RW, DVD+R, Kodak Picture CD, DVD, CD, Video CD

You would really like having the router and laptop. I hate to admit what computer junkies we are. Between my husband and I, we have 5 computers: 1 Desktop, 3 laptops, and 1 Netbook.

We originally started with 1 Desktop for me, and a laptop I used when I travelled with my job. He had a laptop for home, and one to keep in his truck (truck driver). Then last year we bought a Netbook to hook up to our TV so we can watch TV shows over the internet - we really hate commercials.

Now, I'm collecting SSDI, and not working. He is out of work, but we somehow still manage to use all 5 computers.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Not on Topic, but...
 

You mentioned being 62 and being excited about technology. So,would you mind terribly if I briefly share with you why I think what you are doing for your friend is so important?

In 1985 I met a couple about my parents’ age. They quickly became my second Mom & Dad. In the early 90’s they moved back to their home state, and about a year later I took a job in a neighboring state - about a six hour drive away. We got together every 3-4 months, but every Sunday morning we talked on the phone.

By the early 2000’s Mom’s hearing had become so bad she had difficulty understanding me, even with one of the phones for the hearing impaired. The only thing she understood clearly was “I Love You”. Dad had to interpret everything else. So in 2002, when I purchased a new computer, I made a surprise visit for her 80th birthday and presented her with my old computer. I had created an instruction book for using email, and set her up with a year’s internet access.

It was a lot of fun teaching an 80-year old how to use a computer, especially one hard of hearing. She could understand Dad better than me. I think it was because he knew the correct tone of voice to use when he talked to her. So, I explained to Dad, who relayed the instructions to her. By the end of 2-days, she had a good grasp of how to email. We set up the email addresses for her son, daughter, and granddaughters, who all lived out of state.

Before I set out for home, we agreed that she would send me an email every Friday. I travelled with my job and every Friday when I returned home, I got comfortable and settled in to enjoy reading the email that described her week. And, I would send one back that described my week. So, by Sunday all it was necessary for her to hear was “I Love You”. She already knew the rest.

About 2 months after I gave her the computer, I got an email from her mid-week. It was a panic cry for help she had sent to everyone on her email list. Dad had been taken by ambulance to the hospital, and they wouldn’t let her ride in the ambulance with him. She couldn’t use the phone and she couldn’t drive – but she remembered she had email. I immediately called her sister who lived about 15 minutes away. Her sister and the minister arrived at about the same time. He had also received the cry for help.

I was so proud of her in that moment. About a year later Mom passed away. At her funeral I heard from almost everyone how much email had enriched the last year of her life. Her minister emailed his sermon notes every week so she could follow along Sunday morning; so did the Sunday School teacher. Her friends and family were able to communicate with her daily, without waiting until they were physically together; and her granddaughters were able to send her greeting cards and funny jokes. She loved it - so did they.

I never knew. I only knew how much it enriched my life being able to share our weeks without the need for a go-between.

OK, not brief, but that describes why I believe what you are doing for your friend is so very important. You never know how a small gesture can have a large impact on someone’s life.

Hi.

I DID IT!!! Made a video just to show you. (By the way, I loved your other post and I'll reply to that one separately)

Anyway, I said to myself, "put the cd rom in the portable dvd player and see if it plays".

IT DID.

I made a video.

Here is the link. It's up with my other videos on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1MURsZfkU4

I made this "Sexy blouse" video when I was 59. It's one of the videos I put in the Widows Media Player, yesterday. I made this video because I had just put on this nice blouse and wanted to go outside and my husband took one look at me and said "You are NOT leaving the house wearing that, it's too sexy". I laughed and made the video. I also changed the blouse. lol

I wanted to try doing this with my other videos, BUT I CAN'T FIND IT (The windows media thingee) that has all the videos.

I just clicked on Windows Media Center and it said I didn't have anything in my Library.

I wish I knew where the videos were copied to.

I can always bring up windows media center again, and click on the burn option.

But I'm learning.

How cool is this? I can now bring this thing around the corner and make my friend who is 77 laugh her head off.

We have Ghost Whisperer Night every friday night. We all get together but we talk and laugh so much no one watches Ghost Whisperer.

How cool is it to make friends at ANY AGE?

Thanks you VERY much.

Melody
P.S. I know I'll have other questions so be patient with me.

lol

I adore helping out older folks. But one can only help others if they want to be helped. My friend who is 77 wants absolutely nothing to do with the computer that her daughter has in the house. In fact, when we get together, she will say "Let's sit and talk, and shut off the computer". Most people her age won't go near a computer. I respect that, but I know I'll give her a good laugh when I bring my portable dvd player and play her something on it. Just to show you how techno bad she is, the other day, she couldn't get her remote to turn on the tv. We were all sitting in the dining room and she said "I can't turn on the tv, the remote doesn't work, and I want to put on "The Insider". I simply walked over to the tv and manually turned it on. She looked at me and said "How did you do that?" I looked at her and we all burst out laughing.

We are TOO dependent on these toys, no??? lol

But when you spoke about your mom, it really moved me. I have an 86 year old aunt who lives in Florida. She is completely deaf from nerve deafness. Some years ago, I got her family to install one of those telephone things for the hearing impaired. So when she calls me, if I talk into the phone, it comes out as text at her end. Trouble is, she tries to hear and doesn't let anyone talk. AND SHE CAN'T HEAR!!!

The following is a dialogue that we had with her that will have you falling off of your chair:

Phone rings: I pick it up, I recognize the sound at the other end as the hearing impaired thingee and I knew it was my Aunt Sallie:

Melody: "Aunt Sallie, hi, is this you?"

Sallie: "Melody, I want to talk to Melody"

Melody: "Sallie, stop talking and read the machine".

Sallie: 'Wait, wait, I have to read the machine, you just said "Sallie, stop talking and read the machine". Oh, okay, I'll stop talking.

Melody: "so how are you?"

Sallie: '"HE DIED, I DIDN'T KNOW HE DIED".

Melody: "who died???"

Sallie: 'You just said he died"

Melody: "I said WHO DIED??"

Sallie: 'didn't you say he died".

Melody: "Aunt Sallie, shut up and read the machine"

Sallie: "Oh my, he died"

At that point I stopped talking because I knew sooner or later she would stop talking and READ THE MACHINE.

I then spoke slowly and said "Are you out of your mind, you can't hear, why on earth are you trying to hear?"

She says "hold on hold on, you are saying WHY AM I TRYING TO HEAR, and she laughed so hard I think she wet herself.

When I emailed her son and told them the dialogue they fell off of the computer chair.

So what did we then do? I told them to get her a computer. She starts saying "I'm too old, I'm too old".

Guess what? She has the Presto email thing. She can't send out but she can get emails.

I email her all the time. She loves it.

Hard part is when she phones me. She did this the other day. I answered the phone, I identified myself and all I could hear was "Alan, I'm trying to reach Melody, I want Melody".

I said "Aunt Sallie, it's Melody"

She said; "Oh she's not there, okay, I'll call back" and she hung up.

After picking myself off the floor, I emailed her.

I told her from now on, let's just do email.

She goes out every month with the Red Hat ladies. They all put on Red Hats and go to a dinner theater every month.

Now she's 86. I bet she does this until she's 100.

She's a hoot.

Kind of reminds me of me. If I live to be that old.

Oh, the people downstairs asked me to hook up their dsl line a few years ago.

He was 80. They don't speak english. Only italian.

Ever try hooking up a dsl line from Verizon with italian home-page and get instructions from a guy in the phillipines. The whole conversation was me speaking Italian to the people downstairs, and getting instructions in Spanish from the guy over the phone. I do speak some spanish so it came in handy.

Oh, you'll enjoy this one too. I speak a few languages, Never know when it will come in handy. My latest new language is Arabic. I order breakfast every morning at Dunkin IN ARABIC. It's fun.

So the other day, I'm walking a few blocks away and I see a new tv repair place that also fixes appliances etc. I got so excited because one thing I need is good tv guys.

I walk in and ask the guy: "I have Sony TV and if the motherboard goes, and I need a new headphone jack output thing, can you repair it".

The guy looks at me and I knew he didn't understand a thing I said.

I ask him slowly "What language do you speak?"

He replied "French".

I was home. HELLO!!!! I said "Bon Jour, Je parle francais.

You never saw a guy so surprised in his life. We chatted a few minutes, I got his business card.

So if I ever need a tv guy, I got one. AND HE SPEAKS FRENCH.

lol
Melody

Ask Away. I enjoy helping where I can.

I'm so glad that the CD played in your AudioVox. Your friend will love Sexy Blouse.

I'm not sure how Windows Media Center adds to the library. My husband's laptop originally came with Media Center, and for some reason he hated it. So he reformatted and replaced with XP Pro. But, it might act like Media Player:

Open the Library menu from the toolbar and find the option for 'Add to Library'. Then there is an option for which folders to monitor. If you choose 'My Documents', it will go out and find every photo, video, and music file and automatically add them to the library. And it will continue to monitor. So everytime you add something new, it will find it.

You also might want to check that you are actually in the Video Library. In the Library menu there are options for Music, Pictures, Video, etc.

And, they wear purple. You reminded me of that wonderful book. I just pulled out my copy and am surprised to see it was first published in 1991 - almost 20 years ago. I enjoyed it immensely then, but I think it's time for a re-read. I'm sure it will hold even more meaning now that I'm 20 years older.

The thing you just mentioned "go to library and select video". I did that, it said 'empty".

But, I did discover something new on my computer (that I know was not there before.) Remember, two weeks or so ago, I finally got my computer back after they put in a new motherboard and I got more ram??

Well, last night I was looking at programs. and there was NERO. Now I know what NERO is. It's a burning thingee, right?

Well, the guy who re-did my computer must have added it because I never heard of this before going to him, and while I was there he was talking about NERO. So I gather he gave it to me.

I'm going to find outmore about it before I click on the program.

I gather it will do the same burning thing as whatever else I have on my computer?

Take care

Melody

Nero
 

It won't hurt anything to try using it. I generally find the 'Help' menu in programs to be pretty easy to follow. So, just open it up and have fun.

Here is my request for the next video:

Raise your right hand over your head

Bend it over your left shoulder

And.....Pat yourself on the back :wink:

I have to go and put on my makeup and comb my hair.

THEN I WILL MAKE THAT VIDEO!!!

Oh, I'm posting a modem question.

If you could be so kind.
lol
Melody