First Post Convert/burn software questions

[Mister Mike]

This is my first er second post on Videohelp. I have been lerking the site for the past three day while I waited for my gun permit just kidding. I have read many of the how to do guides over the past few weeks before I decided to register, but I am still having problems. My System info. Plexator 12x burner with Roxio software. (I know everybody hate Roxio) I also have Nero 5 point something which I have been using to burn cds for two years. PC Dell Pentium 4, 80 gig HD, Ram..I don't remember. I want to do the following
1. Convert and burn video files from my hard drive so I can play them on my home dvd player
2. back up dvd's. I am not trying bypass the copyright issue, well may be a little but I have three kids under 6 and they keep scratching the dvd's I buy. I want to make backups. I have bought 5 copies of Toy Story and 3 of Monsters inc etc. I try to keep them out of reach but they know how to change the disks and it does not take much to scratch a disk so it doesn't work.
3. Transfer my home video to dvd add menus, basic editing etc.


I have converted some files with WinAVI demo but I can not preview, add menus or titles when I import it into the Roxio program. When I try to preview the video I get a "problem starting the movie" message. I was able to burn the movie and it played but no title etc. Also with Winavi it never converted the file 100% always 99% why I don't know. I tried to burn the file directly from the Winavi program but it went to my Nero program to try and burn the disk. My Nero program did not reconize the new burner so I tried to add it and now I can't even burn a cd I also tried dvdsanta and it took over an hour to convert what Winavi did in 15 mins. plus I don't think I can add menus etc with santa. I read on many threads that people are recommending several different programs prior to burning. If you need a major top notch coustom dvd I am sure this is the way to go but isn't there one software program that lets you do everything? Something with some bells and whistles but not all. Kind of like a "lite" version. Like Autocad vs. autocad lite. Any recommendations on which programs I should try before I buy would be helpful. Thank You

[tekkieman]

Many here will tell you that the "one click" solution is not the way to go. If that's what you really want, if you already have Roxio (Easy CD & DVD Creator), you can do everything you want. I have used it to create DVDs (before I decided to do it the "right" way), and it will work "well enough". That takes care of your home movies.

For your backups, DVD Shrink, period. And it is free.

For converting the video files on your HD, there are several tools on this site in the Tools section on the left. <<<< You'll get plenty of votes for TMPGEnc. You'll still need to author them. TDA. Neither are free, but have working trials long enough for you to figure out they're easy enough to use, and worth the small peice.

[blinky88]

I started to backup my DVD's about 9\12 months ago. At first I did experience some problems because my burner was installed in an external USB2 enclosure. Having the burner in that enclosure caused many coasters, I do not think that External USB problem (SCSI abort command) has been overcome to date. It was only writing 1k lead in and then SCSI command abort. I removed the burner from the external enclosure and installed it in my tower. That move has overcome all of my problems.

I have a Pioneer 106D Burner and now have no problems at all using the following method.

1. Use Shrink to re-author and backup to a single ISO file.
2. Then burn with DVD Decriptor. (both applications are free)

Your drive should be formatted NTFS to enable you to create a single ISO file using DVD Shrink, then burn with DVD Decrypter. If your drive is formatted Fat32 then you will need to split the ISO images into 1 gig files and then burn with DVD Decrypter.

Both of Applications are FREE.

No coasters, no skips or freezes and a backup that is hard pick from the original DVD, more importantly, I use the cheapest DVD media I can find which at this time are 4X-R Princo which are considered rubbish by many members of this site.

[Phoebos]

DVD Decrypter is doing better job than TMPGEnc DVD Author burning tool?