Which DVD/CDs should I use?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brandy
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Brandy

This may be a silly question, but how do I determine which type of DVD and
CD my computer(s) will write to? I have one computer with a DVD-RW/CD-RW
(that's what it says on the outside of the disk holder), and a CD-RW.
Another computer I use at work has a DVD+ReWritable, DVD R/RW /
CDReWritable. I have no clue how to tell if I should use the DVD/CD-R, W,
RW or DVD/CD+R, W, RW. How do I determine this? Thanks so much. :-)

Brandy
Say goodnight Gracie... Goodnight Gracie
 
Did you read the manual that came with the burning software; from Nero or
Easy Media Creator or ? All that info is in there.
 
At least with there's included DriveInfo-tool


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Tumppi
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Brandy said:
This may be a silly question, but how do I determine which type of DVD and
CD my computer(s) will write to? I have one computer with a DVD-RW/CD-RW
(that's what it says on the outside of the disk holder), and a CD-RW.
Another computer I use at work has a DVD+ReWritable, DVD R/RW /
CDReWritable. I have no clue how to tell if I should use the DVD/CD-R, W,
RW or DVD/CD+R, W, RW. How do I determine this? Thanks so much. :-)

Brandy
Say goodnight Gracie... Goodnight Gracie
Click to expand...
 
I don't have the manuals. I've pulled up the properties of each drive via
"my computer," but I don't see anything about what types of disks to use.
Is that information anywhere on my computer - some sort of file, etc.
Thanks.

Brandy
Say goodnight Gracie... Goodnight Gracie
 
Your software doesn't have help files? You can't find any help files,
manuals on their website?
 
Brandy said:
This may be a silly question, but how do I determine which type of DVD
and CD my computer(s) will write to? I have one computer with a
DVD-RW/CD-RW (that's what it says on the outside of the disk holder),
and a CD-RW. Another computer I use at work has a DVD+ReWritable, DVD
R/RW / CDReWritable. I have no clue how to tell if I should use the
DVD/CD-R, W, RW or DVD/CD+R, W, RW. How do I determine this? Thanks
so much. :-)
Click to expand...


You'll have to open up the computer to look inside to see what brand and
model of CD/DVD drive that you have. Then go to the manufacturer's web
site to look up that particular unit to see what specs it has. Just
because CD burning software supports all the formats doesn't mean your
hardware will.

Nero includes their DriveInfo Tool to tell you what are the read and
write capabilities of the CD/DVD drive. Unfortunately that tool is not
available as a separate download from the the trial downloads. You
never bothered to mention *which* CD burning program you have or if you
have any such software.

By the way, even if your CD/DVD drive supports DVD+R, you'll probably
want to use DVD-R since that is the format compatible with most DVD
player units (the ones you buy as a player to use with your television
versus the ones you buy to put into your computer).
 
This may be a silly question, but how do I determine which type of DVD and
CD my computer(s) will write to? I have one computer with a DVD-RW/CD-RW
(that's what it says on the outside of the disk holder), and a CD-RW.
Another computer I use at work has a DVD+ReWritable, DVD R/RW /
CDReWritable. I have no clue how to tell if I should use the DVD/CD-R, W,
RW or DVD/CD+R, W, RW. How do I determine this? Thanks so much. :-)

Brandy
Say goodnight Gracie... Goodnight Gracie
Click to expand...

What disks you should use is directly dependent on the capabilities of the
hardware - brands and models. Without this info, no one can tell you which
ones can be used by your devices.

Open Device Manager to find the listing for your optical drives. Perhaps
you'll find brand name, model number there. There is also software such as
"Belarc Advisor" (http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html) which can help
you identify hardware.
 
Chuck Davis said:
You don't need to open the computer to determine the Brand and model.
Download and run the free Belarc Advisor:
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Click to expand...


That *might* work if the firmware in the drive gives unique
identification. Even Device Manager will give you that same info. That
is, both utilities give you the same signature ID reported from the
device. Unfortunately some of the cheapo drives that get slapped into
prefab boxes have a generic signature that doesn't really much identify
the actual model (and maybe not even the maker). It's worth a shot to
see if the signature ID string is unique enough to identify the drive
(but Device Manager suffices for that).
 
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