Windows DVD Maker 99% error...

[NJSiii]

Please take it easy on me as I am new to this all. Here it what I got...

Every year I create an end of the year (as well as a Christmas) DVD for the students as a keepsake. It includes a host of videos that I created throughout the year on various things. Anyway, each kid gets one and on it will be 11 videos that are specific to them (at least the last three videos). In the past I haven't had issues, throw them into Windows DVD maker and that's that. This year I am having major issues (Since Friday night) in that I cannot burn DVD successfully. When it gets to 99% it stops. I looked up and many others have the same issue with no help available. Well, I switched out videos (it was 65 minutes in length) but that didn't help. I changed the format to a lesser quality, that didn't help. I used a different computer, that didn't help. I used an external burner, changed DVDs (from lightscribe to DVD+ and DVD- Rs) all of which didn't help. Lastly, I changed the program and used Cyberlink and still got errors. I have spent over 20 man hour on this and over 40 DVDs, all in the garbage. I downloaded 9 different DVD burners (free ones) that did not work for a variety of reasons (no menu, not file supported, ads, etc.)

So, any ideas, like tonight? I am down to my last couple of days and I am pretty stressed out. I would hate to dissapoint the kids and not have this ready for them at the end of the year. Won't somebody please think of the children? I will be one for an hour or so if you got any suggetions. Right now I am downloading a free version of Nero but I think it has a watermark.

[MOVIEGEEK]

What errors do the burn programs report? My first guess would be bad discs but you mentioned you tried others. It sounds like the project is too big to fit on a DVD, try shrinking the DVD folder with DVDShrink and set the output size to 4400MB. Then burn with DVDDecrypter or ImgBurn. It's also a good idea to slow the speed down when burning, try 8x.

[NJSiii]

It just says "Cannot create DVD". Nothing else. The size isn't close to being full according to the numbers. I have tried going as slow as possible as well.

[MOVIEGEEK]

Analyze the DVD folder in DVDShrink, it will tell you if there are authoring errors. If no errors are reported and the size is less than 4464MB then use ImgBurn in Build mode. If that doesn't work nothing will. You are trying to burn a SL DVD(4.7GB) right?

[DB83]

When you say "according to the numbers" I assume that refers to the source files. If these were not dvd-compliant to start with then the 'numbers' are not relevant. Then you say 65 mins which could be borderline if you try to encode at maximum rate.

Not familiar with Windows DVD Maker but I suspect it is a re-badged old product and not very flexible.

I do not think the free/trial version of Nero leaves a watermark (unless they have changed their policy) but few on here would suggest you should use that.

Try somethink like avstodvd which should ensure you do not exceed the dvd size.

[Bjs]

for multiple systems to error it points to suspect media ... the brand being used helps in diagnosing the problem

must be an early release of windows dvd maker ... it wont budge past 65 mins

[jman98]

Try setting the DVD burn speed to a low value, either 4x or 2x. I agree that this seems to be a media error and sometimes burning slower can help with that.

DB83 - Windows DVD Maker is Microsoft crapware.