Burning Data Files Onto DVD-R

[moviebuff2]

I remember in one thread someone on this board already told that it is possible to burn data files onto a blank DVD. But I cannot find that thread. So here are my next questions.

I burnt an MPEG file onto a blank DVD. The burning session was a successful one. However, when I tried to play this data DVD in different DVD players, I got different results.

First, I played it with my DVD-ROM in my PC. It played OK.

Then I tried to play with a stand-alone DVD player (Terapin). The machine just kept loading. I used this machine to play my MPEG files burnt on blank CD-R/RW before with no problem. I suspect that something on my DVD tells the Terapin to look for a DVD movies; that's why it kept loading. No/yes???

Next, I tried to play the DVD with another DVD-ROM in my laptop. I got the message that "windows does not recognize this DVD". The OS on this laptop is WinXP. And, to make things even more strange, it was this laptop that I used, together with a Sony external DVD burner, to burn my data DVD.

Any ideas what is going on???

[Capmaster]

Yes. You didn't "author" the files and you burned the disc as a "DVD-ROM". Most PC players will read MPEG files directly but it's rare to find a set-top that will.

You need to author the files and then burn the disc as a "DVD-Video" disc. The files will consist of two folders, VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS. The AUDIO_TS folder is unused and the VIDEO_TS folder contains .VOB files - the actual video/audio, .IFO files - small information file necessary to play on a set-top player, and .BUP files - backup for .IFO files.

You need to use an application that will open your MPEG file and convert it into the three files I mentioned above. There are many free apps and many inexpensive authoring apps. You don't need an "editor" to do this step. Cruise through the "Tools" section on the left of the screen and check out the authoring apps there.

[moviebuff2]

Hi Capmaster,

Thanks for the reply.

I don't want to author the MPEG file as a DVD or a VCD. All I wanted to do is to burn the MPEG file as a DATA file.

I have done this on many CD-R/RW's. Instead of authoring a VCD from my MPEG file, I simply burnt the MPEG file directly onto a CD-R/RW as a DATA file. I have been playing these data CDs on both PC CD-ROM and stand-alone DVD player (a Terapin) without any problems.

I think it would be the same way to make a data DVD. This means that I will burn an MPEG file onto a blank DVD, only as a DATA file, and will be able to play it in a DVD-ROM and a stand-alone DVD player.

Unfortunately, that does not happen.

I think my stand-alone DVD player "sees" a DVD in inserted and therefore tries to load it as if it were a movie DVD, i.e., looking for the usual files in a movie DVD. If that is true, I can understand that.

But for my laptop, it's beyond my comprehension. Because it's the same laptop and the DVD burner that I used to burn the data DVD. I used my Compaq laptop and a Sony external DVD burner to make my data DVD. At the end of the burning session, the laptop even told me "the burning session was successful". Now, I tried to play the very disc, my laptop told me "windows does not recognize the file"!

[Capmaster]

moviebuff,
I think you have the exception to the rule with the Terapin standalone. As far as your other drives not seeing the MPEG, perhaps they're seeing a DVD inserted and expecting a DVD-Video. Usually DVD-ROM drives will default to data mode. This sounds simplistic, but try cleaning your laser lens on the laptop DVD drive and try the disc again. Laptop drives get dusty and maybe it's more of a factor reading than it is writing. Beyond that, I don't know what you should try next.