needed: someone technical to explain DVD-R and CD-R differences

[seldear]

My laptop is CD-R capable but not DVD-R capable. It won't read DVDs. I have data on a DVD-R disc, but my computer won't even read the disc.

I got a work colleague to copy the files from the disc onto his computer, and gave him a CD-R onto which to burn the files. The files won't copy - it says they have to be burned on a DVD-R - or something about an unknown file format. They're in .avi form and won't play on my colleague's computer - I think it's possible that he lacks a codec to actually play them. (Not that he wants to, I want to, but I don't have a DVD-R drive.)

I would really appreciate some help here, because my knowledge of copying files onto discs stops around the "select the files you want to copy and drag them to the media in question and it'll all turn out okay, dude".

ETA: Okay, worked it out and am burning discs like crazy. Don't know what my boss must think of this - he's sitting opposite the guy whose laptop is doing the burning...

Comments

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm going to muck around on his computer during the lunch hour and see what can be done.

Just as well I bought a pack of 10 CDRs this morning. There may be a lot of burning to be done!

And yes, my next computer will have a DVD-R drive. I have a habit of getting exactly what I think I need instead of all the updated mod-cons, result of which, the mod cons come in handy and I don't have them.

Thanks for sending the discs - I really appreciate it. It was just something of a crisis when the housemate got home from soccer training and asked, "Does anyone want to Battlestar?" (And thousands of English Grammar Nazis died by the thousand.) And then we all got ready to watch it...and I couldn't play the disc.

[chiroho.livejournal.com]

Looks like you were successful, which is good. Sorry for all the trouble. :(

I guess I tend to buy the PC with most things. My desktop machine has had a DVD-ROM drive since 1999, and both laptops we have came with one. You just never know when you'll need it. I guess I'm in the camp of "buy the best machine you can afford, as you'll always end up wanting to do things with it that you're not thinking about now."

And thousands of English Grammar Nazis died by the thousand.

I can understand completely!

I couldn't play the disc.

At least you can tonight! Or last night. Or whenever it is that you're watching it.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Well, not last night. And not tonight. But maybe tomorrow. :) Sooner or later, anyway!