burning DVDs

[alexB]

Hi there,

I am mostly in C# programming with a lot of number crunching and graphic
output for the most part. I am kind of ignorant on many ordinary consumer
knowhow. I have never burned any DVDs until yesterday when after a few
futile attempts I managed to do it via Windows Media Player. Those were
pictures of my new newborn family addition. I feel compelled to develop this
skill even if I put aside some of my development for a few days. My wife,
however burns a dozen DVDs for her work but it is different.

This is the issue. I want the DVDs to have decent labels. I know how
difficult it is to keep track of them if you don't label them. I also know
that stockers ruin the machine. I went to Best Buy and asked them if they
had any labeling equipment. A girl whom I kind of trusted in terms of her
knowing what she was talking about since she kept saying that she used them
her selves told me that I had to use LiteScribe DVD+R. They did not have
DVD-R for this LiteScribe label.

She also said that I had to use a special DVD writer and she shoved one into
my hands. Without further ado I paid 50 bucks or so. When I came to my
office and unpacked it I realized that it was an internal DVD Writer.

It is HP DVD 1040i 20X Multiformat DVD Writer. It appears from the way it
looks that it won't fit my old DELL GX-280 bays. The slots are different.
However, I just got a brand new machine and it is Dell T7400. I ordered ONE
DVD RW, It is

16XDVD AND 16XDVD+/-RW w/Cyberlink Power DVD,Roxio Digital Creator Dell
Edition Dell Precision T7400

Somehow, and it is one of he DELL's mysteries the machine came in with TWO
DVD drive blocks. On device manager they look like:

PDS DVD+-RW DH-16WIS
TSST corp DVD-ROM TS-H353B

It looks like the other one can read. I do not understand why they put in
the second DVD I did not even mark at the website that I wanted it. It is
not a part of the specification I received via email and shipping order. My
HP internal writer from Best Buy will fit into those bays.

That was just the background. Now are the questions:

(1) Shall I pull the second DVD Drive (TSST corp DVD-ROM TS-H353B) out and
replace it with HP Internal Writer? It comes with this Nero software and I
have seen references to it in the forum.

(2) Shall I return it and try to get an external HP Writer as the user
manual for this internal writer recommends (if I do not have a bay) or do
not want to replace existing DVD drives.

Any additional information will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[peter]

I would check the connections inside...I believe that TSST drive might be a
SATA drive
whereas the HP drive you purchased is a PATA drive.
Check under Device Manager to see which DVD is connected to what...you might
not have a choice as to which one to remove.
On the other hand the HP is able to do more than either drive supplied by
Dell.
it is capable of playing and recoding to Dual Layer DVD's
It has lightscribe to "etch" onto the disc.
You would of course need lightscribe capable CDs and software to do the
job.

peter

 

[alexB]

Thank you, Peter,

I did purchase DVDs LightScribe Memorex. I think they are dual layer, since
they explained to me that I can print labels on top of the burned photos and
videos.

The software came with this little devil. I think it is Nero or something.

I am waiting for any possible feedback from this forum after which I will
talk to DELL. I want to be as armed as possible as to the specifications and
what they are capable of doing.

What do you mean by that: "Check under Device Manager to see which DVD is
connected to what..."

Both DVD drives I quoted are nodes under the parent node: "DVD/CD-OM
drives." Otherwise there is no more information to be had whether I do right
or left double click.

Also TSST apparently is a corporation's name.

I do have two internal SATA RAID internal HDDs inside but they should not
have anything to do with the drives, am I right?

Thanks.

 

[DanS]

Thank you, Peter,

I did purchase DVDs LightScribe Memorex. I think they are dual layer,
since they explained to me that I can print labels on top of the
burned photos and videos.

No, dual layer means there are 2 layers of media sandwiched in the DVD
which doubles the storage capacity, so instead of 4.x gigs per DVD it's 9.x
gigs.

The software came with this little devil. I think it is Nero or
something.

Nero Burning ROM is arguably the best general purpose burning package...not
Nero Express, which is essentially Nero Lite.

I am waiting for any possible feedback from this forum after which I
will talk to DELL. I want to be as armed as possible as to the
specifications and what they are capable of doing.

Why talk to Dell ? Out with the old, in with the new. Simple as that.

What do you mean by that: "Check under Device Manager to see which DVD
is connected to what..."

To see what interface they currently use, SATA or IDE.