Transfer pics to DVD Help

[Paul A]

Ok I admit I'm technology challenged. I have a computer with a CD/DVD writer when I try to copy my large .jpg files to the DVD windows xp always acts like it's a CD in the drive and won't let me do it. Do I need to buy software to do this or is there a trick I haven't figured out. Would greatly appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Paul

[sageone]

What app are you using to burn the dvd? I would suggest Nero but any burning app will do this for you. Make sure you have dvd's that are compatible with your burner (most are) but also, when you are burning, make sure that you tell the application that you'd like to burn a DVD and not a CD. How do you do this you may ask? Well, most apps have a step by step process when burning something...your first step should be, BURN DVD, then select the BURN DATA CD option. That should do it.

One question...are you sure that it's not a CD-RW/DVD-ROM drive, i.e. it can burn CD's but it's only a DVD player and not burner. There's a difference. The drive should be a DVD-R/RW & CD-R/RW.

[Citizensmith]

I think sageone has it. You've probably got a combo drive which will burn CDs but only read DVDs. The software they gave you with it would be capable of writing to a DVD if the hardware could.

For instance, Nero has a couple of tabs in its main interface window that let you switch between CD and DVD writing. Best way to figure it out wil probably be to look at the front of the drive. Look for the DVD icon and see if it has RW or recordable written immediately under it. If it doesn't you've got a combo drive, if it does you just need to use different software.

Incidentally a 16x DL DVD burner (as good as you can get) is only about $60 so its not too big a deal if you really want one.

[Paul A]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll go get NERo or maybe a 2nd hard drive would be even better.
Paul

[Hellashot]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll go get NERo or maybe a 2nd hard drive would be even better.
Paul

Adding a 2nd hard drive to your computer as a "backup" device is not the best way to go. It'd be a way to keep more images on your computer, but it's not a backup. As long as you don't physically damage a DVD or CD it will retain your data. A hard drive has the possibility of crashing and losing all data on it every time you turn your computer on.

[Paul A]

I use Norton Ghost and it backs up my stuff on DVD, also it says DVD RW on the drive??? I would think XP could handle it?
Thanks again,
Paul

[pcasciola]

Adding a 2nd hard drive to your computer as a "backup" device is not the best way to go.Sorry, but I completely disagree. I think hard drives are far superior to DVDs as a backup medium. They have 50-100 times the capacity, so you don't have to go fumbling through a pile of DVDs and risk scratching them, and hard drive crashes are far less common than scratched DVDs, especially with a nice quality external enclosure that you don't leave on all the time.

I use two 250Gb external drives to backup all my pictures as well as other important data. I also use a pocket sized external 60Gb notebook drive for offsite backups as well. I haven't lost a hard drive in a long time, but I have many unreadable DVDs. Also, while it is possible that a hard drive might fail, the chances of my internal drive and external backup drive crashing at the same time are slim to none.

[weemannie]

Hi Paul

Windows XP will not natively copy data to DVD, only CD-R/RW. You're doing the right thing getting Nero.

Always one to sit on the fence, I back up to external HDD and periodically to DVD. I use Extensis Portfolio to keep track of what's where to save trawling through tons of disks :) If your data is valuable to you, then it is worth having a copy of it that can be stored off site. God forbid, but fires do occur and it would be easy for your data to be destroyed. Keeping copies away from the originals is the safest way to protect your memories.

[Paul A]

Thanks to all, I think it would be prudent to get both the NERO and the hard drive. Off to Best Buy.

[Hellashot]

Sorry, but I completely disagree. I think hard drives are far superior to DVDs as a backup medium.

And I happily disagree with you completely diagreeing. :)