Upgrading to newer DVD/CD writer/reader, need expert advice

[George]

Would like to understand/ask-questions about the burning SOFTWARE for CD/DVD
write/read drives. It's one of those things that blurs WindowsXP and other
required software (and is about which other software to be steered towards
too), so hoping it's ok to ask on the WinXP board....

QUICK BACKGROUND

Am using a Dell 8250 Dimension PC, Windows XP-pro, and replacing the older
INTERNAL CD RW / DVD-player with a newer one. In addition to day-to-day CD
reading/writing, a bigger factor is want to burn movie DVDs. Most all these
newer drives look about the same, like this one at Micro Center, I'll likley
buy this one,
called a "Super-WriteMaster Dual/Double Layer DVD±RW Burner E-IDE" viewable
at ...
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0267319

QUESTIONS

My understanding is it MUST have software to burn the DVDs. So...

1) Is it true that the only reason it requires software (vs. just plug it
in) is to make the DVD-WRITING part work?

2) I already have Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 on the PC (and Sony Vegas /
Sony DVD, see question #3). A tech said something about had to UNINSTALL
the Roxio when I get the new drive? Why? Do I have to RE-INSTALL it AFTER
the hardware is installed, so EMC8 recognizes that the new drive has many
more capabilitles (dual layer, DVD-burning vs. just reading) than the old
drive)

3) I also got Sony Vegas Movie Studio 6 with Sony DVD Architect 3, about a
year old. If I have this, can I delete the Roxio AND the skip the Nero?
Does the fact that the Sony DVD architect can burn DVDs mean that it has
everything I need to burn? And burn CDs. Or is the burning thing a whole
separate function only (mostly) Roxio and Nero can do?

4) The new drive comes with basic Nero (I think it's call Nero 7 essentions,
its for sure scaled down version, requires $$$ to upgrade to full
capabilies). If I install this Nero, will it CONFLICT with the Roxio EMC8?
What won't work right?

Thanks
George

 

[smlunatick]

Would like to understand/ask-questions about the burning SOFTWARE for CD/DVD
write/read drives.  It's one of those things that blurs WindowsXP and other
required software (and is about which other software to be steered towards
too), so hoping it's ok to ask on the WinXP board....

QUICK BACKGROUND

Am using a Dell 8250 Dimension PC, Windows XP-pro, and replacing the older
INTERNAL CD RW / DVD-player with a newer one.  In addition to day-to-day CD
reading/writing, a bigger factor is want to burn movie DVDs.  Most all these
newer drives look about the same, like this one at Micro Center, I'll likley
buy this one,
called a "Super-WriteMaster Dual/Double Layer DVD±RW Burner E-IDE" viewable
at ...http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0267319

QUESTIONS

My understanding is it MUST have software to burn the DVDs.  So...

1) Is it true that the only reason it requires software (vs. just plug it
in) is to make the DVD-WRITING part work?

2) I already have Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 on the PC (and Sony Vegas /
Sony DVD, see question #3).  A tech said something about had to UNINSTALL
the Roxio when I get the new drive?  Why?  Do I have to RE-INSTALL itAFTER
the hardware is installed, so EMC8 recognizes that the new drive has many
more capabilitles (dual layer, DVD-burning vs. just reading) than the old
drive)

3) I also got Sony Vegas Movie Studio 6 with Sony DVD Architect 3, about a
year old.  If I have this, can I delete the Roxio AND the skip the Nero?
Does the fact that the Sony DVD architect can burn DVDs mean that it has
everything I need to burn?  And burn CDs.  Or is the burning thing a whole
separate function only (mostly) Roxio and Nero can do?

4) The new drive comes with basic Nero (I think it's call Nero 7 essentions,
its for sure scaled down version, requires $$$ to upgrade to full
capabilies).  If I install this Nero, will it CONFLICT with the Roxio EMC8?
What won't work right?

Thanks
George

1) Yes, the additional software is needed. Microsoft had never
released XP with all the burning controls built-in. You need to add
the software to burn DVDs.

2) You only would need to uninstall the EMC 8 software only is it was
a "scaled" back version to was shipped with an older drive. If it is
the full retail version, keep it.

3) Not famuliar with the Sony software. Some software will allow you
only to create your own "home movie" DVDs

4) I got Nero and EMC to work together. The only conflict is with
Nero's InCD and EMC's Drag to Disk. Do not install both.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf]

Would like to understand/ask-questions about the burning SOFTWARE for CD/DVD
write/read drives. It's one of those things that blurs WindowsXP and other
required software (and is about which other software to be steered towards
too), so hoping it's ok to ask on the WinXP board....

QUICK BACKGROUND

Am using a Dell 8250 Dimension PC, Windows XP-pro, and replacing the older
INTERNAL CD RW / DVD-player with a newer one. In addition to day-to-day CD
reading/writing, a bigger factor is want to burn movie DVDs. Most all these
newer drives look about the same, like this one at Micro Center, I'll likley
buy this one,
called a "Super-WriteMaster Dual/Double Layer DVD±RW Burner E-IDE" viewable
at ...
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0267319

Super Writemaster? Might as well call it Take the Customer's Money and
Run 1000. Run far, far away from this device and do some research in
Newegg. The review are spot on as they are actual customers. For an
IDE based DVD Writer, you can't go wrong with the LG GH22NP20.

I have had nothing but a stellar experience with my Pioneer DVR-110D.
It's been replaced by the current DVR-116D. I have never once made a
coaster, CD or DVD.

QUESTIONS

My understanding is it MUST have software to burn the DVDs. So...

1) Is it true that the only reason it requires software (vs. just plug it
in) is to make the DVD-WRITING part work?

Yup and there's a bunch of decent free solutions out there to do the
job. FinalBurner Free, CDBurnerXP, BurnAware. So getting a decent DVD
drive is 1/2 the challenge.

2) I already have Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 on the PC (and Sony Vegas /
Sony DVD, see question #3). A tech said something about had to UNINSTALL
the Roxio when I get the new drive? Why? Do I have to RE-INSTALL it AFTER
the hardware is installed, so EMC8 recognizes that the new drive has many
more capabilitles (dual layer, DVD-burning vs. just reading) than the old
drive)

Nonsense. If anything, you'd have to get any available patches or
updates for Roxio 8 to ensure it'll work with the new device. It'll
like work just fine with your current setup but being up to date is
certainly best. I use Roxio 8 on my own rig and have plugged in new
DVD burners and it works with the just fine.

3) I also got Sony Vegas Movie Studio 6 with Sony DVD Architect 3, about a
year old. If I have this, can I delete the Roxio AND the skip the Nero?
Does the fact that the Sony DVD architect can burn DVDs mean that it has
everything I need to burn? And burn CDs. Or is the burning thing a whole
separate function only (mostly) Roxio and Nero can do?

Leave whatever you have as one might do something another doesn't.

4) The new drive comes with basic Nero (I think it's call Nero 7 essentions,
its for sure scaled down version, requires $$$ to upgrade to full
capabilies). If I install this Nero, will it CONFLICT with the Roxio EMC8?
What won't work right?

Again, you could purchase a new drive BUT the caveat is they ALWAYS
put in the LITE version of the real application. Forget it. Show on
Newegg, see the reviews and what others are saying, and just get
yourself an OEM model (no software, just a drive and the manual) and
save tons of money and get a high quality drive to replace your old
drive.

- Thee Chicago Wolf

 

[LVTravel]

Would like to understand/ask-questions about the burning SOFTWARE for
CD/DVD write/read drives. It's one of those things that blurs WindowsXP
and other required software (and is about which other software to be
steered towards too), so hoping it's ok to ask on the WinXP board....

QUICK BACKGROUND

Am using a Dell 8250 Dimension PC, Windows XP-pro, and replacing the older
INTERNAL CD RW / DVD-player with a newer one. In addition to day-to-day
CD reading/writing, a bigger factor is want to burn movie DVDs. Most all
these newer drives look about the same, like this one at Micro Center,
I'll likley buy this one,
called a "Super-WriteMaster Dual/Double Layer DVD±RW Burner E-IDE"
viewable at ...
http://microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0267319

QUESTIONS

My understanding is it MUST have software to burn the DVDs. So...

1) Is it true that the only reason it requires software (vs. just plug it
in) is to make the DVD-WRITING part work?

2) I already have Roxio Easy Media Creator 8 on the PC (and Sony Vegas /
Sony DVD, see question #3). A tech said something about had to UNINSTALL
the Roxio when I get the new drive? Why? Do I have to RE-INSTALL it
AFTER
the hardware is installed, so EMC8 recognizes that the new drive has many
more capabilitles (dual layer, DVD-burning vs. just reading) than the old
drive)

3) I also got Sony Vegas Movie Studio 6 with Sony DVD Architect 3, about a
year old. If I have this, can I delete the Roxio AND the skip the Nero?
Does the fact that the Sony DVD architect can burn DVDs mean that it has
everything I need to burn? And burn CDs. Or is the burning thing a whole
separate function only (mostly) Roxio and Nero can do?

4) The new drive comes with basic Nero (I think it's call Nero 7
essentions,
its for sure scaled down version, requires $$$ to upgrade to full
capabilies). If I install this Nero, will it CONFLICT with the Roxio
EMC8?
What won't work right?

Thanks
George

The drive exchange physically is no issue, pull the old drive, set the
jumper on the new drive to the same setting as the old drive (master, master
with slave or slave, etc.) and install. Let XP find the drive (shouldn't
need any driver updates.

1. Yes

2. Software. Roxio EMC 8 should recognize the new drive and all it's
capabilities (at least EMC 9 did for me on my new drive which was a USB
drive) so you probably won't have to uninstall it to have it access the
drive. This product will burn data CDs and DVDs and also author the video
DVD. AFAIK version 8 will handle dual layer DVDs without an issue. I know
that version 9 does.

3. Not familiar with Sony DVD architect but it probably will burn and author
CD/DVDs just like the EMC 8 will author DVDs for viewing on stand alone DVD
players hooked to a TV.

4. Nero Essentials will also probably do the same as Roxio or the Sony
program. Since it is a basic program all the bells and whistles won't be
there, just a simple program.

You can have multiple authoring programs installed at the same time, you
just can't attempt to use two of them at the same time. I have had previous
versions of Nero, Roxio, Ulead and Cyberlink DVD authoring programs on the
same computer and used each depending on the complexity of the DVD menu
system I wanted to create.

 

[LVTravel]

The drive exchange physically is no issue, pull the old drive, set the
jumper on the new drive to the same setting as the old drive (master,
master with slave or slave, etc.) and install. Let XP find the drive
(shouldn't need any driver updates.

1. Yes

2. Software. Roxio EMC 8 should recognize the new drive and all it's
capabilities (at least EMC 9 did for me on my new drive which was a USB
drive) so you probably won't have to uninstall it to have it access the
drive. This product will burn data CDs and DVDs and also author the
video DVD. AFAIK version 8 will handle dual layer DVDs without an issue.
I know that version 9 does.

3. Not familiar with Sony DVD architect but it probably will burn and
author CD/DVDs just like the EMC 8 will author DVDs for viewing on stand
alone DVD players hooked to a TV.

4. Nero Essentials will also probably do the same as Roxio or the Sony
program. Since it is a basic program all the bells and whistles won't be
there, just a simple program.

You can have multiple authoring programs installed at the same time, you
just can't attempt to use two of them at the same time. I have had
previous versions of Nero, Roxio, Ulead and Cyberlink DVD authoring
programs on the same computer and used each depending on the complexity of
the DVD menu system I wanted to create.

One other thought, the packet writing programs for Nero and Roxio are not
compatible with each other or with Window's packet writing "drag-to-disk
feature. Nero or Roxio install will normally turn off the Windows
drag-to-disk but not always. Since I don't ever use this feature I don't
allow the install program to install this feature and I turn the Windows
feature off.