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General discussion

Burning files on DVD

Jun 28, 2005 5:56AM PDT

i was wondering if a DVD works just like a CD. i have a lot of files on my pc that is taking up a lot of space but i dont want to lose them. Burning them onto CDs would leave me with a lot of disks because i have about 10-15gb of stuff that i want to keep.

I was wondering could i use a DVD just like a CD? like save files like .wmv .rm .avi .doc and stuff like that.

Also can i burn an ISO into it? like for example the Konoppix iso, would i be able to burn that onto a dvd?

Discussion is locked

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Yes.
Jun 28, 2005 7:57AM PDT

For example CDBURNERXP can do that.

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so everything yes
Jun 28, 2005 2:37PM PDT

so i can use it just like a CD, thanks

and as long as the burner program supports burning ISOs i can burn it onto a DVD. am i correct?

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Not exactly.
Jun 28, 2005 9:14PM PDT

Remember that a CD or Compact Disc is a read-only medium. CDR and CDRW or CDR/W (indicates either of CDR or CDRW) is recordable media. You may exclaim that such definition is not needed until you get a few people that are upset when you told them they could record to CD.

-> The burner in itself does not support burning ISOs, but with combination of the software I mentioned does to DVDR or DVDR/W.

In closing, please do a little homework on your own. If you had looked up CDBURNERXP and read what it does, your question would never beed asked.

Bob

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PEOPLE COME HERE FOR HELP NOT CRITICISM
Jun 30, 2005 9:48AM PDT

I am not trying to be confrontational because maybe you don't know how much this bothers some people.
This is the reason that I do not hardly participate anymore. Now I just read, except for today, then no more!

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What an odd post.
Jun 30, 2005 10:12AM PDT

Not an answer to the issue or much else.

This is not "tech support" that you pay for. You and I are working the issue together. You have to dive in and dig a little.

It's not rude for me to ask that you help yourself.

Bob

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cdburnerxp provides no description
Jul 1, 2005 1:13PM PDT

I did as you said, found the home page, and found an error sheet for the home page with no information, really, about the program and what it does. I was quite surprised and disappointed that there wasn't a description of the program first thing. I tried to do the research but didn't find the information I wanted on the site. Any suggestions on where on the web site to learn about the program?

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It's much like Sears.
Jul 1, 2005 10:25PM PDT

They sell screwdrivers, but don't offer a tutorial on screwdrivers and the history of screwdrivers.

-> In short, you may be passing up on one of the gems of recording if you don't dive in and use this software tool.

Operation is intuitive with erase, information , add files buttons and more. But some insist on long tutorials and manuals before looking at software.

-> In your case, you may be stuck with Roxio or Nero and spending the money.

Cheers,

Bob

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Direct and Simple
Jun 30, 2005 4:25PM PDT

answers to your query.

" i was wondering if a DVD works just like a CD. i have a lot of files on my pc that is taking up a lot of space but i dont want to lose them. Burning them onto CDs would leave me with a lot of disks because i have about 10-15gb of stuff that i want to keep. I was wondering could i use a DVD just like a CD? like save files like .wmv .rm .avi .doc and stuff like that."

You want to make a copy of your Hard Disk material to a DVD to save space - Yes, you can "burn" it to a DVD like you do to a CD.

" Also can i burn an ISO into it? like for example the Konoppix iso, would i be able to burn that onto a dvd?"

Yes you can.

You will need a DVD burner drive and software that does the job. CDBURNERXP is one such freeware software.

The term "CD" is actually means a media on which there is already something available. Music, Movies, Software and the like that you can only READ. A media which you can "burn" ONCE is called a CDR. Once it is "burnt" it becomes a "CD". You also have media where the "burn" can be undone (Erase) to again "burn" fresh material. Such media becomes CDRW. So is the case with DVD's.

Noe that you have a better idea of the terms CD, CDR, CDRW, ... go thru' these posts once again. You'll be able to appreciate it better.


For more details

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So what is the distinction between CDs and DVDs?
Jul 1, 2005 5:50AM PDT

Is it simply speed and capacity? Are there qualitative differences as well?

Also, is there a form of DVD that that is preferred for backing up (and recovering) data?

Sorry these questions seem rather simple but it's hard to find a glossary. Thanks.

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RE: CDs vs DVDs
Jul 3, 2005 9:14AM PDT

The major differences are, like you said, spped and capacity. DVDs spin 3 times faster than CDs and contain approximately 7 times as much data.

Physically speaking, they have the same diameter and thickness, but DVDs consist of 2 layers at .6mm each, while CDs have a single 12mm layer.

As far as life span goes, check this out. (From PC Magazine)
CD-R: 2 - 15 years
CD-RW: 25 - 30 years
DVD+/-R: 5 - 15 years
DVD+/-RW: 25 - 30 years
Hard drive: 3 - 6 years
Flash drive: 10 years

The range is due to the different brands available. Memorex and Sony would fall at the "high end," while Officemax brand would probably fall at the "low end."

Given this, it is best to back up your data on a +/-RW disk (either CD or DVD) from a good company. You'll pay more for it, but it's worth it for archival purposes. Just make sure that you DO NOT use a solvent-based marker or CD/DVD labels on the disks themselves...they will slowly eat through the disk, causing permenant damage. (It's best to leave the disk alone and put it in a labeled jewel case.)

Finally, I have heard of "archival DVDs", just like the special photo paper that's supposed to last 100+ years, but haven't seen them available. (May only be available by special order.) The government is currently debating whether there should be a "standard" for backing up the country's data. We'll see where that goes after HD-DVD and Blueray come out. Wink

Hope this helps,
John

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How is that true?
Jul 11, 2005 4:10AM PDT

How is it that CD/DVD media will not last as long as their -RW counterpart.

RW's can/will be used over and over. Doesnt this shorten their life span compared to a CD/DVD-R that can only be burnt one time.

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thanks you helped a lot
Jul 1, 2005 1:46PM PDT

thank you. you gave me the answer i was looking for. t

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Reliability of files backed up?
Jul 13, 2005 9:49AM PDT

I have used a CD burner to back up my files in the past. But in my experience, this has not been a 100% reliable format. Some of those files that I have backed up have been lost due to corrupt cd's (when trying to restore a file back years later to my hard drive, I will get a read-error on about 5% of them.)

I wonder if DVD's are any more reliable? Is it worth it to invest money in a DVD burner upgrade if the format's reliability is in question?

The most reliable formats I have had experience with for backing up data are old fashioned floppy disks, SD disks, and additional hard drives.