Forum Discussion

Explorer

Dec 12, 2013

How to make a DVD

I am at the end of my rope! I want to make a DVD of home movies and pictures so grandma can play them on her TV DVD player. I have done it before but just can not get it done this time. I am running windows 7 and I have several programs for burning DVDs but none of them are working. Some programs were on the computer some that came with devices like recorders, cameras ect. I have changed the speed down to 4x and everything else I can think of :M but nothing works. I have done many internet searches and they say to do things that do not work like using tool options that are not there or asking me to download YET another program. I could rant about the how many Blankety %&^#&^ Blanken formats there are but what I need is a SIMPLE Non technical explanation on how to turn my videos and pictures in my computer to simple DVDs that can play on a regular DVD player. The ones I burn all play on the computer that I burned them on but what the Heck is the point of burning a DVD that only plays on the machine you burnt it on when I could just go to documents/videos and watch it anyway!!!:h Remember VHS they would play on ANY machine any where AND if the tape broke you could just splice it and be done!:R

Executive45
Explorer III
Dec 12, 2013
Make sure you're using a DVD and not a CD-Rom.....Dennis
MrWizard
Moderator
Dec 12, 2013
burning the disc ... is the final stage

the video and or picture data must be converted from 'camera' format file

to DVD ready, then it is burned

the link above is one way, using included 'free' windows programs

IF your video is hi-def Digital
it must be 'down sized' aka 're-encoded' during the 'processing' stage to 720*480, this will be done automatically by the program, it does take time

the formats available that can be transferred to DVD and play on std players
are 1/2 dvd 360*480 and full DVD 720*480

SVCD and VCD use lower resolution and a different file format and must be burned to CD disc not DVD disc

IF/when given the a choice choose DVD aka 720*480
std DVD format as the final output format
WoodGlue
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
Clicky

WoodGlue
pyoung47
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
This can be very frustrating. If you have the video in a digital format already, you must use a conversion program to convert the video to one compatible with dvd. This will take some time unless you have a very powerful computer. Then you can load the video onto the disc.
RFW63050
Explorer
Dec 12, 2013
Might I suggest the following...

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/burn-a-dvd-video-disc-with-windows-dvd-maker