I'm having some difficulty using the dvd burner in my new Dell for the first
time.

I transfered a friend's VHS video onto my computer via my tv tuner card.
Now, I am using Sonic MyDVD to make a dvd of the video with menus and such.
I am quite happy with how it turned out. The problem is I can't get it onto
the disc.

The drive is a Philips DVD8631. It is a DVD +-R/W dual layer drive. So, it
should be able to use just about any media, right? The media I am using is
Fujifilm DVD-R 8X 4.7GB.

Now, I understand that in order to utilize drag and drop recording to the
drive, you must have DLA enabled and you must format the disc. Now, if I am
not doing drag and drop, but using the Sonic MyDVD software to author a dvd,
do I need to have DLA enable or disabled? Also, do I still need to format
the disc?

I have tried both with no success. If I have DLA enable and format the disc,
I get a "disc is not blank" error when I click burn. If I disable DLA and
click burn, it goes through the process of "building menus". It goes through
that process fine and then it goes to "building menus" again but just sits
there for a half hour or longer, doing nothing.

I can't tell if this is a hardware/software or media issue. Anyone here have
any experience using the Sonic software or have any useful advice to give
me?

Thanks.

On Tue, 18 Jan 2005 21:11:21 GMT, "E. Jason Brooks"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I'm having some difficulty using the dvd burner in my new Dell for the first
>time.
>
>I transfered a friend's VHS video onto my computer via my tv tuner card.
>Now, I am using Sonic MyDVD to make a dvd of the video with menus and such.
>I am quite happy with how it turned out. The problem is I can't get it onto
>the disc.
>
>The drive is a Philips DVD8631. It is a DVD +-R/W dual layer drive. So, it
>should be able to use just about any media, right? The media I am using is
>Fujifilm DVD-R 8X 4.7GB.
>
>Now, I understand that in order to utilize drag and drop recording to the
>drive, you must have DLA enabled and you must format the disc. Now, if I am
>not doing drag and drop, but using the Sonic MyDVD software to author a dvd,
>do I need to have DLA enable or disabled? Also, do I still need to format
>the disc?

DLA works only with DVD+RW or DVD-RW disks that have been formatted.
Otherwise it should ignore the disk in the drive, and the burning
program you use does the burning.

I'm not familiar with MyDVD, but the authoring program I use generates
two folders, VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS. I use Nero, and it has the ability
to burn DVD Video. What it does is burn the folders VIDEO_TS and
AUDIO_TS on the DVD disk.

>
>I have tried both with no success. If I have DLA enable and format the disc,
>I get a "disc is not blank" error when I click burn. If I disable DLA and
>click burn, it goes through the process of "building menus". It goes through
>that process fine and then it goes to "building menus" again but just sits
>there for a half hour or longer, doing nothing.
>
>I can't tell if this is a hardware/software or media issue. Anyone here have
>any experience using the Sonic software or have any useful advice to give
>me?
>
>Thanks.
>

Look for an update to the burning program to update the devices with which
it is compatible and a firmware update for the drive. You might also try
another media. DVD+RW is compatible.

and try these:

http://www.cdfreaks.com

http://www.videohelp.com

Clark