[unclew]

I have a DVD with 16 full-length performances by the Temptations. I wanted to burn a copy but I see the recording takes up 7.08 GB while all my blank DVDs have a 4.7 GB capacity. Am I to assume the recording is on one of those dual-layer disks I've read about? If I bought some higher capacity disks could I burn the Tempts' DVD onto one or would I need a special burner for dual-layers?



Thanks.

[Tech4me]

Hi UncleW. Have you try Imgburn....This can handle Doublelayer DVDs...Give it a try...IT works great for me.

imgburn.en.softonic.com/download

[unclew]

Hi Tech4me. Imgburn looks like a good idea. I'm going to pick up some dual-layers and give it a try.



Thanks.

[smax013]

unclew said:

Hi Tech4me. Imgburn looks like a good idea. I'm going to pick up some dual-layers and give it a try.





Thanks.

I don't believe it will help if you don't have a dual layer burner. To my knowledge, to burn a dual layer disk, you need a burner capable of doing DL burns...which most current, "modern" DVD burners will be. Older DVD burners may not be able to handle burning a DL disk, depending on how old the drive is.

[rgreen4]

My experience is that the DL is in the drive not the software. While a standard DVD may be able to read the DL disk (pre-recorded - yes, DVD+ DL - I'm not sure) may depend on the hardware, after all, not all drives will read all home burned DVD's. But the more modern drives that are DL shouldn't be a problem.

UncleWayne - if you know you are going to need DL DVD's, and in worst case you are willing to buy a new burner, they start in the $30 - $35 range on Newegg.

[coastie65]

Hi Uncle Wayne, First you will need an Optical drive capable of Reading and Writing Dual Layer DVD's and second you'll need to use a Blank Dual layer DVD to copy to. I don't see where additional software would be absolutely necessary to do this. coastie

[unclew]

Okay, I went out today and bought a pack of Memorex DVD+R DL disks (before reading the three or four most recent responses).



My desktop is a Dell Dimension E521 running Vista Home Premium which I purchased last year. My laptop is an HP Pavillion Entertainment, also with VHP, which I bought this summer. How would I determine if either burner is capable of doing DLs?

[smax013]

unclew said:

Okay, I went out today and bought a pack of Memorex DVD+R DL disks (before reading the three or four most recent responses).





My desktop is a Dell Dimension E521 running Vista Home Premium which I purchased last year. My laptop is an HP Pavillion Entertainment, also with VHP, which I bought this summer. How would I determine if either burner is capable of doing DLs?

For the Dell, that is kind of like asking "what kind of tires do I have on my Jeep?" Desktops computer manufacturer's will basically use whatever you 1) order (i.e. whether you ordered it with a DL drive or not...they might have still offered an option at that time) and 2) what they had on hand part wise for a good price.



Basically, you will have to determine the model of the optical drive...either by going to the System Information utility in XP (or the equivalent of it in Vista...don't know that without firing up my other computer) or going to Device Manager. Once you get a optical drive model number, you can look it up to find the spec.



Now, with a desktop that is about a year old and even more so with a laptop purchased this past summer, if they have a DVD burner, then they have a rather good chance of supporting DL disks...DL burners are more the rule than the exception these days. When I bought my Dell 8400 about 3 years ago, DL burners were the exception, not the rule.

[rgreen4]

I have a dv9500t purchased last fall, it was available with two super multi-drives, one with Lightscribe, one without, but both were double sided. Your machine is probably one of the follow on dv9700 or dv6700 models and it is unlikely that they came without a DL drive.

If you insert the DL blank disc and start to record to it, it should tell you the total recording space available.

[Tech4me]

UncleW. I can tell you 90% of pc will come with DL DVD-WR. There should be a lable beside the case with most of your pc's specs.

When you load DVD in, imgburn will tell you if you have enough space to burn to DVD. Since you already bought it ...go ahead try it.

[coastie65]

In a lot of cases it will be on the front of the drawer. This thing is 2 years old and had everything but lightscribe.

[Adama]

unclew said:

Okay, I went out today and bought a pack of Memorex DVD+R DL disks (before reading the three or four most recent responses).





My desktop is a Dell Dimension E521 running Vista Home Premium which I purchased last year. My laptop is an HP Pavillion Entertainment, also with VHP, which I bought this summer. How would I determine if either burner is capable of doing DLs?

Hi Wayne,

You didn't mention the model number of your HP Pavillion laptop. But I did a quick Google search and wound up at BestBuy,

They have a bunch of HP laptops, and they have DL DVD+/-RW/CD-RW drive. If you look in the original paperwork that came with your laptop, you'll be able to see right away which drive it has.

[unclew]

I've discovered both computers have DL DVD drives but, as it turns out- at least in this instance- it's moot. My Temptations DVD is copy protected so I can't burn it anyway.



Oh well. Thanks, all, for your help. At least I've learned more about my computers.

[coastie65]

:D Nope, definitely a nono. :D Sounds like a good CD though and would take me back for sure. coastie