Member Avatar for stryder

I know this is a stupid ?, but please give me the run down on the different types of burners and how they work. Exe.
If you get a dvd burner, do you have to have a seperate dvd drive. One to read while the other burns? Same ? for the cdrw. Please help.By the way my whole goal is t be able to burn cd's,dvds,play cds and dvds. What combo am I looking for?

Thanks

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A brief, practical add-on to the replies above that fills common gaps: what to check when buying, and a short workflow and troubleshooting checklist so burns work first time.

  • Decide permanence: use rewritable discs (RW) when you want to erase and reuse; use write-once (R) for cheaper, longer-term archiving.
  • If you need >4.7 GB on a single disc, look for drives that explicitly support dual-layer media.
  • Buffer- underrun protection matters on older or busy systems; drives/software that include it produce far fewer failed burns.
  • Burn speed: faster is not always better. For audio or critical compatibility, pick a modest speed (not the maximum). For large data backups on quality media you can push higher speeds.
  • Media quality beats drive model for reliability. Stick to well-known blanks rather than the cheapest packs.
  • Firmware and drivers: update the drive firmware if the manufacturer provides fixes — that often fixes compatibility with new blank media.
  • Fit and interface: match the drive to your PC (internal IDE/SATA or external USB 2.0/3.0). An external on USB can be convenient but watch slower USB ports.
  • Filesystem/finalize: use ISO9660+Joliet for simple cross-platform data discs or UDF for very large files/DVD data; finalize discs if they must play in stand-alone players.

Quick, reliable burn workflow

  1. Choose correct blank media and set the burning program to the intended disc type.
  2. Set a conservative burn speed (e.g., half the rated max for audio/compatibility).
  3. Enable “verify” after burn and finalize if needed.
  4. Store discs vertically in cases away from heat/light.

Troubleshooting (fast checks)

  • Try a different brand of blank.
  • Update firmware, check cable/port and DMA settings, or try another burning program.
  • If a stand-alone player won’t read a burned disc, re-burn at a lower speed and ensure the disc was finalized.

This builds on the cost/format points from , and with practical, hands-on steps to get dependable results.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for Sardukar

If your budget is tight, all you need is a DVD-RW drive. Plays DVD's and CD's, burns DVD's and CD's. Some, however, don't like having the more expensive DVD burner do all the work of playing CD's and DVD's, as it can make it fail prematurely. If that's you, buy a DVD player for about $35. Those can play CD's and DVD's.

Member Avatar for TallCool1

I know this is a stupid ?, but please give me the run down on the different types of burners and how they work. Exe.
If you get a dvd burner, do you have to have a seperate dvd drive. One to read while the other burns? Same ? for the cdrw. Please help.By the way my whole goal is to be able to burn cd's,dvds,play cds and dvds. What combo am I looking for?

A DVD-burner is backwards-compatible with the earlier formats, but watch out as there is more than one DVD-writable standard. What you want is a drive that is both DVD+R/RW and DVD-R/RW compatible -- the price differential is minimal, and the flexibility is a good thing.

The brand I recommend most is , as it has the best price-performance ratio out there. Clearly, Sony agrees -- their next-generation DVD-burning drives will be sourced by Lite-On.

I fully agree with Sardukar on the utility of a 2-drive setup, both for reduction-of-wear and overall flexibility. Again, the extra incremental cost is minimal for the benefit received.

Member Avatar for drummerboy

quite i must also agree lite-on has performed perfectly for me and is excellent value for money. i use LITE ON 851 8 SPEED DUAL FORMAT DVD-WRITER OEM and it only cost 79 pound . i dont know where abouts in the world you are but in the UK ive found this company to be good http://www.anglianinternet.co.uk

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