Copying from PC to DVD and playing on TV - and it doesn't work...HELP!!!
By coffeebreak
@coffeebreak (17798)
United States
February 19, 2009 3:36pm CST
I am not sure I have the right category - but it is the closest I can find...
I have A Sony Camcorder with mini DVD's that hold 30 minutes of video. I finally figured out how to download the videos from the camera to the PC harddrive. Okay, fine.. they are on my pc... but now I want them on a DVD so that I can play them on my TV and make copies to give to others... these are of family movies, nothing comliplicated.
So I do a "create DVD" option thing and it copies the videos from the PC to the DVD that is in the disk drive.
Problem 1. the mini DVD's only hold 30 minutes of time. The DVD-RW that I use, allows 4 hours of time to be copied...however, I copied one mini (30 minutes) to the DVD and it is full! Why can't I copy up to 4 hours on a DVD-RW? 30 minutes fill a 4 hour DVD...what's up with that and how can I fix it?
Problem 2. I verified that the DVD was copied right - it does play on my PC. I put it into the DVD player of my living room TV and it played...I put it in my bedroom DVD Player and it doesn't play, but says "Incorrect disk".. So how do I get the DVD to play on any tv? Does this mean that a TV dictates which style of DVD it will accept so I have to ask each person what their TV takes, go buy a bundle of DVD's in that style for each person?
ANyone have any solutions?
Also I was thinking of getting a DVDirect Recorder - which copies from the camcorder to a box device that copies what is on the camcorder directly onto a DVD...and again how do I know which style of DVD to use?
Anyone have one of these or know about them? Sony makes one and my camera is sony so I know it will be compatiable...but still.....problems are my un-wanted best friend and they don't make life easy!
4 responses
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
23 Feb 09
I believe the problem is that you created a DVD but it was not meant for DVD players. What happened was the DVD written had a computer file on it - hence your computer could read and play it, but your DVD player cannot: it was likely written as a .avi, .mpeg, .divx file (some DVD players can't handle it). Anytime you face an incorrect disk with a DVD player it means the DVD in question wasn't made for it (or really the player isn't designed to read the format or file - this happens with certain types of DVDs themselves (i.e. -R, +R).
You'll need software like Xilisoft, DVDit, or Nero in order to make write the DVD for play on DVD players and similar media players. When you have a DVD writing program and it gives options for TV or NTSC or DVD Video, then that program should work out for your project.
Another thing you'll have to consider is what your DVD player can read and what your PC DVD writer can write to. You can use that to choose a format DVD to write to so it'll match up. Check your DVD player manual to find what discs it can read, the box should have it too if you still have that(Example: Your DVD player only reads -R drives, get -R blank DVDs and record your video to that). Its the same with any other recorder or technology you use to record and play. Be sure to use formats it can read.
Ah yes Coffee, before I forget. Speaking of Sony and things not working, did you see the Onion video on it. It should give you a few laughs.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
23 Feb 09
Well you have said it in a way I can understand, so pat yourself on the back as that is not an easy feat to obtain! Thanks for your help.
I was using the software that came with the Sony camera - Picture Motion Browser nad the import program. I see my files are .mpeg. I did sucessfully copy one to a DVD+RW and it played on one tv I have nut not the other one
My problem is that I want to make copies for the family (these are family movies I am doing) and from what you say I have to ask each person to see what kind of DVD their tv/dvd player accepts and then buy that kind of DVD? Surely not! I could have literally every style available! Am I missing something or is this correct?
And is it the tv or the dvd player that has to accept the dvd?
So I believe I need another software program...these you mention..where do I find them? Store or online? Free or price? I'd prefer free, but will pay if I have to!
Which will accomodate my ultimate goal of copying/burning my movies to a DVD (or should I be using a CD? I thought those were for still pictures nad DVD was for motion) and that DVD be "universal" to my familys TV's!! I can't do to PC's as not everyone in my family has one!
Good grief, I should have stayed with VHS nad just bought up a bunch of players to "keep on hand". I have a camera of that and I just copy the tapes over and over nad hand them out and everyone can play them!
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 09
-R - that might be the key!! If I get DVD-R it might fit all, but then....once a dvd player is updated/replaced....since the -R is the oldest...will a new DVD player accept an old -R disk?
You have been so much help. Thanks so much. I am looking forward to working on this come Thursday!!!
And I will look into thos programs. Adobe I know so I will probably favor that one. I didn't see the thing about the onion
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
24 Feb 09
programmer - heres' a question that haunts me....what kind of DVd do they use to burn movies to so that when we rent one at BlockBuster...that DVD plays on literally every single DVD player out there?
@the52poet (126)
• United States
19 Feb 09
The size difference is probably the format being used. It is probably an AVI file on the PC and when it gets recorded to the DVD disk it becomes formatted as something else. It could also be that once the DVD is finalized to be playable in a home DVD player it simply ignores the rest of the disk - it simply appears to use the entire disk.
The problem with not being able to play the disk in the bedroom player is probably because the player is older. Many of the players 5 years or older have a hard time playing recorded disks. (Mine won't, but my brother-in-laws will).
Not sure if I'm correct on all counts, but it is my best (educated) guess.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17798)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I don't know a thing about AVI - I just follow the prompt directions on the screen! I would like them to be at least an hour per DVD. I don't (that I know of) do anything to "finalize" the DVD when I copy it...it doesn't mention/ask me to or not to do that so I don't know on that one either.
I have heard that the age of the TV and/or DVD player could be at issue...but then again, everyone doesn't replace theirs every year or so - I've had mine for at least 8 years for the TV and 3 for the DVD Player.
THen I have to wonder, even if I could get it to work, how long before they are out dated? I say whoever thought of this should be slapped! We should have stuck to VHS - quick, easy and playable EVERYWHERE!!!
@devils_nani (629)
• India
20 Feb 09
see while you download the movies. definately the movies will be in mp4 or avi or mov format. most of these formats doesnot suppoert in our cd/dvds so one thing i used to do is i used to convert them into mpeg format because all the cds or dvds support this kind of format. so i use total video converter to convert my files!!
if you wanna that software jus pm me. i will send
