Help. I'm confused!

Norman-B · Post by **Norman-B** » Sun May 27, 2007 1:34 pm

This is my first attempt to transfer my Digital Video tapes to DVD. Let me state here, I have very little knowledge of PC's.
My query is,
I downloaded a trial version of Ulead Movie Factory which I found very easy to use. I then was given a disk that came with a PC magazine and it had a full version of InterVideo MediaOne SE. I downloaded that and transfered some tapes to it. Then when I tried to Burn those projects to a DVD, I was informed I was using an incorrect formula disk? (I used a DVD -R 8x disk) This same disk was OK with Ulead MF.
So, should I just forget MediaOne and buy Ulead's MF or try a different type of disk, a + disk.

Any advise for a newbie welcomed.

Norm

Norman-B · Post by **Norman-B** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:04 am

26 views and no one with any ideas?
OK, let me try again, is there a difference between me using DVD minus and plus disks for recording?

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:05 am

You don't need DVD MF to burn DVD's, Nero does it also although, for my money, MF gives me more bang for the buck.

With older players you have more chances to play your creations if they are on DVD-R discs. Newer players also support DVD+R more widely than the older ones. Question is this: does your burner support both? I still prefer the -R variety but that is personal preference. Never had a problem and see no reason to tempt fate.

One more thing in regards to full versions been given away with magazines. These are usually SE versions and do not have all the functionality of their full version counterparts. They do allow you to take advantage of the much cheaper upgrade path for the latest version

Norman-B · Post by **Norman-B** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:11 am

Heinz, many thanks for the reply.

I used a Free version of InterVideo MediaOne and tried to burn to a DVD minus disk. I was then informed that my disk was an unsuitable disk to format (?). Should I have used a plus disk or have I done something else wrong?
Grateful for the help.

snoops · Post by **snoops** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:23 am

26 views and no one with any ideas?

Why don't you ask yourself this same question?

You say MF had no problem with DVD-R.
You say you have a problem with MediaOne SE, but this is the MF forum!
So maybe the MediaOne software needs a fix.

This same disk was OK with Ulead MF

Since you are a newbie, this is not meant to be insulting because you actually may not know this: DVD-R and DVD+R are burn-once disks. You cannot burn them again. Only RW discs can be erased and reused.

A few DVD burners exist that cannot burn both disk formats, but since MF worked you obviously don't have such a unit. Not to mention older burners that don't support dual layer (DL) discs.

It doesn't make sense to repeat all the details of the differences between the formats. Start here: http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

In the past, some old DVD players only played DVD-R and DVD-RW reliably. You should not have this problem on later units. But the wrong combination of burner/disc still can cause poor results with high error rates.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:33 am

Norman-B wrote:Heinz, many thanks for the reply.

I used a Free version of InterVideo MediaOne and tried to burn to a DVD minus disk. I was then informed that my disk was an unsuitable disk to format (?). Should I have used a plus disk or have I done something else wrong?
Grateful for the help.

I think this passage gives it away. Which other burning program do you have installed? ROXIO? NERO? Did you also install packet writing modules like InCD or the like?

It seems to me that one of the programs, maybe even Ulead QuickDrop (haven't heard though that this would act like that, certainly doesn't on my machine) has taken over your burner the moment you insert an empty disk. Because these programs allow you to use a RW disk like a floppy or HDD, the blank disk needs to be formatted first.

A blanc DVD disk does not have to be formatted in order to become a DVD.

So, the answer to your question, as I see it now, would be: No, neither + nor -R is going to be required. What the program wants is a - or +RW disk. These are the only ones which can be formatted.
However, this is not going to help you. What you need to do is to disable this packet writing software and let MF get on with what it needs to do. Trust me, it does not include formatting the disk first.

Norman-B · Post by **Norman-B** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:56 am

snoops wrote:
26 views and no one with any ideas?
Why don't you ask yourself this same question?

You say MF had no problem with DVD-R.
You say you have a problem with MediaOne SE, but this is the MF forum!
So maybe the MediaOne software needs a fix.

This same disk was OK with Ulead MF
Since you are a newbie, this is not meant to be insulting because you actually may not know this: DVD-R and DVD+R are burn-once disks. You cannot burn them again. Only RW discs can be erased and reused.

A few DVD burners exist that cannot burn both disk formats, but since MF worked you obviously don't have such a unit. Not to mention older burners that don't support dual layer (DL) discs.

It doesn't make sense to repeat all the details of the differences between the formats. Start here: http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html

In the past, some old DVD players only played DVD-R and DVD-RW reliably. You should not have this problem on later units. But the wrong combination of burner/disc still can cause poor results with high error rates.

Henry, I'm lost to your meaning about asking myself the same question? Did I not make myself clear in my post?

As to being on the wrong Forum, sorry but I was unsure where to post my question as I only found the Forum the same day I posted.

I was aware about rewrite disks and being unable to write to just DVD r disks, thank you.

My burner will accept both - and + disks.

I think the answer to my problem is to finish the trial of Ulead MF and buy the full package as I had not trouble writing to my DVD burner with that software.

Thanks for replying.

Norman-B · Post by **Norman-B** » Mon May 28, 2007 9:58 am

heinz-oz wrote:
Norman-B wrote:Heinz, many thanks for the reply.

I used a Free version of InterVideo MediaOne and tried to burn to a DVD minus disk. I was then informed that my disk was an unsuitable disk to format (?). Should I have used a plus disk or have I done something else wrong?
Grateful for the help.
I think this passage gives it away. Which other burning program do you have installed? ROXIO? NERO? Did you also install packet writing modules like InCD or the like?

It seems to me that one of the programs, maybe even Ulead QuickDrop (haven't heard though that this would act like that, certainly doesn't on my machine) has taken over your burner the moment you insert an empty disk. Because these programs allow you to use a RW disk like a floppy or HDD, the blank disk needs to be formatted first.

A blanc DVD disk does not have to be formatted in order to become a DVD.

So, the answer to your question, as I see it now, would be: No, neither + nor -R is going to be required. What the program wants is a - or +RW disk. These are the only ones which can be formatted.
However, this is not going to help you. What you need to do is to disable this packet writing software and let MF get on with what it needs to do. Trust me, it does not include formatting the disk first.

Heinz, I think I will go back to using Ulead MF and buy the full package as I had no problems with it.

Many thanks for your help and advise.

Norm

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon May 28, 2007 10:29 am

You are welcome Norm. Which version did you use in the past? Do you still have the serial number of that one? You could get the upgrade of MF to the latest version rather than pay full price again for a full version. Upgrades are identical in functionality but you need to own a qualifying product.

Norman-B · Post by **Norman-B** » Mon May 28, 2007 10:53 am

Heinz, last question! I am using a free trial from the Ulead web site, so I need to purchase the package as new. I don't (to my knowledge) have a serial No. to enable me to upgrade.

Now to my last question. I have seen an ad on ebay for Ulead Movie factory 5 for sale at ¢G4.99 sterling. That seems a very good deal. If I buy this, will I be able to keep the projects I have on my trial version when I put the new disk on my PC? ie, transfer the work on the trial version to the new package?

Norm

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:07 am

Norman-B wrote:Heinz, last question! I am using a free trial from the Ulead web site, so I need to purchase the package as new. I don't (to my knowledge) have a serial No. to enable me to upgrade.

That is correct. If you do not have a qualifying program you cannot buy and install an upgrade.

Now to my last question. I have seen an ad on ebay for Ulead Movie factory 5 for sale at ¢G4.99 sterling. That seems a very good deal. If I buy this, will I be able to keep the projects I have on my trial version when I put the new disk on my PC? ie, transfer the work on the trial version to the new package?

That depends entirely on the version you have now. MF 5 cannot open projects done in MF 6. If your trial is MF 6, you can still buy the old version on ebay and use that to upgrade to the new version. Just make sure that you do get a legal copy of a full version, not some hacked TBYB version. Not sure about MF 6 but you may also be able to save your project as a version 5 project. Worth a try anyway.
Norm

Norman-B · Post by **Norman-B** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:10 am

Heinz, thanks.