Are there any Vista compatible virtual DVD drives that allow you to *write* to them?

[EvanBarr]

There seem to be quite a few free and inexpensive virtual DVD programs that
let you treat ISO files (and other formats) as if it was just another DVD
player connected to your computer.

As far as I am able to tell, none of these will allow you to create a blank
ISO file that you can then write to using your standard DVD burning
software. I did see some programs that will create an ISO from your source
files but that is not the same as a virtual DVD-rw drive. I need to be able
to burn to the virtual drive using my existing software.

Has anyone come across such a program?

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

There seem to be quite a few free and inexpensive virtual DVD programs
that
let you treat ISO files (and other formats) as if it was just another DVD
player connected to your computer.

As far as I am able to tell, none of these will allow you to create a
blank
ISO file that you can then write to using your standard DVD burning
software. I did see some programs that will create an ISO from your
source
files but that is not the same as a virtual DVD-rw drive. I need to be
able
to burn to the virtual drive using my existing software.

Has anyone come across such a program?

I doubt that anything like that would exist, as it is in the realms of a
CD/DVD burning program, and not a virtual CD/DVD program that would simulate
reading image files.

I just use Nero, which can burn to images, as other burning programs can
surely do.

ss.

 

[EvanBarr]

Microsoft DVD Maker can not burn to image file.

I spent a long time working on a multi-disk, Microsoft Movie Maker project
only to find that I need to use another program to produce the type of DVD
that I want. It is critical that I get an MPEG-2 file from Movie Maker so
that I don't lose any quality. The only way to do that is to send the
project to DVD Maker and burn directly to DVD. That would be a waste of
disks and time. I know that virtual DVD writers are available for
non-Windows OS. There's got to be one for Vista.

On top of that, I actual prefer doing my editing in Movie Maker instead of
the other products I have tried. But Movie Maker does not directly produce
MPEG-2 output and DVD Maker is a brain-dead toy.

 

[John Lee Brown]

MovieMaker does create mpeg-2 files by using the export on the first screen

 

[EvanBarr]

I should clarify that I am using Movie Maker for Windows Vista which is
actually different from the version for XP. There is no export in the Vista
version. It has been replaced by "Publish Movie". You then have to specify
"To This computer", then provide a path, then select a format. MPEG-2 is
not an option.

You can actually create more formats for Movie Maker using Windows Media
Encoder but it doesn't natively provide an option for MPEG-2.

Either solution would be acceptable to me:
1) A virtual DVD writer.
2) Instructions on creating an MPEG-2 profile using Media Encoder.

One other thing, the XP version of Movie Maker uses a poorer quality encoder
when it outputs to MPEG-2. The VOB output on DVD from Vista is better (but
requires a DVD writer).

 

[Synapse Syndrome]

I should clarify that I am using Movie Maker for Windows Vista which is
actually different from the version for XP. There is no export in the
Vista version. It has been replaced by "Publish Movie". You then have to
specify "To This computer", then provide a path, then select a format.
MPEG-2 is not an option.

You can actually create more formats for Movie Maker using Windows Media
Encoder but it doesn't natively provide an option for MPEG-2.

Either solution would be acceptable to me:
1) A virtual DVD writer.
2) Instructions on creating an MPEG-2 profile using Media Encoder.

One other thing, the XP version of Movie Maker uses a poorer quality
encoder when it outputs to MPEG-2. The VOB output on DVD from Vista is
better (but requires a DVD writer).

Have you tried asking in the MovieMaker newsgroup? There is no Vista
specific one, but the regulars there use Vista too, and may have a solution
for you.

news://microsoft.public.windowsxp.moviemaker

ss.