Burn dvd software recomendations ?

MeadsMan · #1 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 10:19 PM

Hello,I hope somone can give me some pointers,I recently had one of my external hard drives crash,it was only three months old

I got a replacement,but I think as another back up measure I would like to burn my favourite / best photos onto Archive DVDs.Can anyone recomend some software that will format DVDs and allow me to put photos onto cds and dvds,that can be read by other computers and DVD players ect ? Are there any alternatives to roxio and nero ? I have read that the latest 2009 versions are probmatic.

kiltoncomp · #2 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

Hello,I hope somone can give me some pointers,I recently had one of my external hard drives crash,it was only three months old

I got a replacement,but I think as another back up measure I would like to burn my favourite / best photos onto Archive DVDs.Can anyone recomend some software that will format DVDs and allow me to put photos onto cds and dvds,that can be read by other computers and DVD players ect ? Are there any alternatives to roxio and nero ? I have read that the latest 2009 versions are probmatic.

have you tried microsofts windows dvd maker ? it comes with vista (i have vista ultimate 64 bit edition, but i would think it comes with other versions ) so if you are running that you should have it already on your computer, it easy to use and gives decent results,

Brian.

tcvarlh · #3 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 10:28 PM

AmoK CD/DVD Burning 1.03 Freeware

is an excellent tight little prog that will do exeactly what you need AND it is FREE, which is a good price!
Simple to use too

h

Lancashire Lad · #4 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 10:35 PM

I use Roxio for all my disc burning, but as far as I'm aware windows has a built in a burn to disc option.

I think that you just open windows explorer, put a blank disc in the drive, highlight all the files & folders you want to copy, and then drag them over the blank disc's name, which will be showing in the drive in the my computer section of windows explorer.

(Not 100% sure about this, but it's worth a try).

Regards
Mike.

MeadsMan · #5 (**permalink**) 14-07-2009, 10:54 PM

I don`t have vista,and it seems that XP can not format and so does not recognise a new DVD.I did have a version of nero on my computer that came as part of the package,but this got deleted due to virus.If the later versions of nero and roxio were not getting such bad reports I would get a copy,but even the related forums are reporting bad things about there recent versions

Geoff F · #6 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 08:52 PM

Snap.

I am using XP and couldn't burn DVDs with XP or my copy of Nero, although CDs are fine.

I had tried a couple of freebie burning programmes but couldn't understand them or work out if they were suitable for DVDs. Then a friend gave me a rather basic free version of an Ashampoo programme which is easy to use and works fine. Ashampoo Burning Studio version 6. And I didn't even have to log on and give them my details so no constant drip of spam!

ps. never write on the back of a CD/DVD over the recorded area. Write around the edge, outside the recorded part incase the pen fluid reacts with the coating, or on the clear centre portion. And never ever use sticky labels. Advice from a friend who records data professionally.

Paul mabbott · #7 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 08:57 PM

This is not based on personal experience but comments from people I know to be sensible. DVD copies are apparently nothing like as reliable as CDs - this may change in the future but for the present I'm sticking to CDs for my backups.
Bad news about the external hard drive burning out - that's my main backup!

Was the drive a 'bargain buy' or a 'big name' one?

Lancashire Lad · #8 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MeadsMan

I don`t have vista,and it seems that XP can not format and so does not recognise a new DVD.I did have a version of nero on my computer that came as part of the package,but this got deleted due to virus.If the later versions of nero and roxio were not getting such bad reports I would get a copy,but even the related forums are reporting bad things about there recent versions

Quite honestly, I think there is an awful lot of tosh talked about both Roxio and Nero.

I have purchased several versions of Roxio over the years, and they have always done exactly what they were required to do.

I know people who swear by Nero, as they have obviously grown up with that particular product.

Most of the bad mouthing about such products that I have heard, is frankly down to personal preference, and the fact that they won't copy commercially protected dvd films because of their inbuilt piracy protection coding.

If your use is mainly going to be creating backup files, then you should have no reason, (apart from price), to avoid either product.

And, if in the very unlikely event that the product fails to do what is stated within it's product description, you would have recourse to ask for your money back.

I would be amazed if that were to be the case though. These products wouldn't have remained market leaders in their field for as many years as they have, if they didn't do what they were designed for.

Regards,
Mike.

kiltoncomp · #9 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Quite honestly, I think there is an awful lot of tosh talked about both Roxio and Nero.

I have purchased several versions of Roxio over the years, and they have always done exactly what they were required to do.

I know people who swear by Nero, as they have obviously grown up with that particular product.

Most of the bad mouthing about such products that I have heard, is frankly down to personal preference, and the fact that they won't copy commercially protected dvd films because of their inbuilt piracy protection coding.

If your use is mainly going to be creating backup files, then you should have no reason, (apart from price), to avoid either product.

And, if in the very unlikely event that the product fails to do what is stated within it's product description, you would have recourse to ask for your money back.

I would be amazed if that were to be the case though. These products wouldn't have remained market leaders in their field for as many years as they have, if they didn't do what they were designed for.

Regards,
Mike.

i have had the same good results with roxio and nero and if you want to copy films, use dvd cloner, but since moving to vista i have been using windows dvd maker just for the ease of its use, all are much the same thing performance wise in my experiance, i think it is as Mike says, personal preference, its the old mac versus pc sydrome, each side says theirs is better, when at the end of the day you get the same results whichever you use, they all have their good and bad points, find one you like and use that if it gives you what you neeed,

Brian.

MeadsMan · #10 (**permalink**) 15-07-2009, 11:43 PM

Thanks for all the comments and advice,most of the problems with the latest versions of Nero and Roxio,do not seem to be with there capabilities,alot of people seem to have problems just loading the software.I have got some archive DVDs wich have a special coating apparently,the packaging said they should last 100 years.They are actually called Archive disks.The external Hard drive I had was a seagate 500gb,I have two,the first one I brought is still going well,and on the bases of that one working so well I brought another Seagate,touch wood,fingers crossed they will stay reliable,but I am going to back up my best / fave photos to DVD as well,just incase.