Need some info on differences and uses between CD and DVD types please ?

Lee_Francis

I posted this is the wrong place yesterday - if someone saw it - apologies, was checking the terms thread and accidentally posted it there.
Anyway . . .

I have never downloaded anything onto a CD or a DVD
but am about to/ or if I knew what I was doing, try and download Windows Vista Beta 2 onto a DVD

Seems that yet again there's a bit more to it than just press 'enter' and it just happens !

I need to know some basics, so am asking for some help.
Can anyone post a link or explain some basic stuff - non-teckie language please ?

So . . .

Decided to buy some rewritable DVD's on the net - I didn't know that there are loads of types ?

What is the difference between them - apart from mb/gb ?
Is there a quality difference ?
Is there a brand difference in quality etc ?
Is each type specific as to what the best thing to download onto them ?
(e.g. CD for music and data, and DVD for film, images or data+images - that's just my uninformed logic)
( M$ suggests that Vista beta 2 is downloaded onto a DVD that supports ISO - apologies for the non-techie jargon - is is the file type ?
what DVD type should be used ? From having a look round, DVD-R and DVD-R are both 4.7gb- just the right size for vista )
What's the difference ? )

thus, what's the diff between CD/DVD dash R and +R ?
R and RW - qualitywise - difference ?
CD's and DVD's that can be used on one side and ones on both, such as DVD-5 and DVD-9 - difference in quality ? ( I understand that one has about double the gig space )


My rewriter is a Philips DVDR1628P1.
For future reference so that I can download stuff onto the best suited CD or DVD . . .
How can I find out what formats the rewriter supports ?
what data/image/film game etc is best suited to what type of CD and or DVD ?
Looked at the Philips device manager and its as clear as mud - to me.

And finally - which type and brand of DVD would you recommend I use to download Vista on to ?

Sorry to sound a bit garbled but its been a difficult Monday
Many thanks

Lee

Moneysava_wannaB

1: ISO is an image(FILE) of a cd or dvd, you can use a program like nero or others to burn onto a dvd


do you have nero?

heybigspender2006

Okay. Your DVD writer supports both + and - DVD media. There is no difference that you need to worry about. DVD-R can only be written to once, and DVD-RW can be erased and used again as many times as you like.

The Vista beta is downloaded as a .ISO file, you need to use Nero or equivalent to write it in the correct format to your DVD-R/RW (File > Burn Disc from Image, change from .nrg to .iso in the drop down box).

You don't normally get two-sided DVD-R media, you'll find that they sell double layer DVD-R which is something different. I wouldn't worry about that at this stage as the Vista beta is small enough to fit on a normal DVD-R.

Don't buy the cheapest media you can find, certainly stay away from Bulkpaq brand if you want your DVD's to last more than 6 months.

Lee_Francis

Yep Moneysava_wannaB - got nero

thanks heybigspender2006

thanks Lee

Moneysava_wannaB

you can use Nero InfoTool to find out which format your dvd can write in

sco0ter

Lee_Francis wrote:

I have never downloaded anything onto a CD or a DVD
but am about to/ or if I knew what I was doing, try and download Windows Vista Beta 2 onto a DVD

If you are having troubles like this then I would stay clear of VISTA. Vista is BETA and therefore will require some work to get running including networking/Internet, video cards, sound cards along with very limited software support. Nero and other CD/DVD writing tools do not work yet.

Lee_Francis wrote:

What is the difference between them - apart from mb/gb ?
Is there a quality difference ?
Is there a brand difference in quality etc ?
Is each type specific as to what the best thing to download onto them ?
(e.g. CD for music and data, and DVD for film, images or data+images - that's just my uninformed logic)
( M$ suggests that Vista beta 2 is downloaded onto a DVD that supports ISO - apologies for the non-techie jargon - is is the file type ?
what DVD type should be used ? From having a look round, DVD-R and DVD-R are both 4.7gb- just the right size for vista )
What's the difference ? )

thus, what's the diff between CD/DVD dash R and +R ?
R and RW - qualitywise - difference ?
CD's and DVD's that can be used on one side and ones on both, such as DVD-5 and DVD-9 - difference in quality ? ( I understand that one has about double the gig space )

First.. There is no real quality difference between types of DVD. Some will tell you there is but it would be very minute at most. Brand difference are more about compatability and succefull burn rates rather than anything else. I for one hate Sony disks because the wont play on my DVD player but then again Non-branded sony's are excellent.

CD's do not come in different formats like DVD. a CD only comes in CD-r or CD-RW. DVD come in DVD- (minus) and DVD+(plus). Again this is down to compatability. some say Minus is more compatible than plus but its down to what you want to play them on and if they work. DVD-9 are DL (double layer). they can hold twice as much but again are not compatible with all standard DVD players or PC dvd writers.

Lee_Francis wrote:

My rewriter is a Philips DVDR1628P1.
For future reference so that I can download stuff onto the best suited CD or DVD . . .
How can I find out what formats the rewriter supports ?
what data/image/film game etc is best suited to what type of CD and or DVD ?
Looked at the Philips device manager and its as clear as mud - to me.

And finally - which type and brand of DVD would you recommend I use to download Vista on to ?

Sorry to sound a bit garbled but its been a difficult Monday
Many thanks

Lee

Try Nero Infotool to find out what your drive supports and Download things onto whichever media is supported by your drive as it will work on it no matter what. As I said above you might be better not installing Vista as it is still Beta and doesnt really have anything to offer people who dont want to sit around configuring things and having software rejected. Just remember as well.. Unless your Graphics card is supported or drivers for Vista have been released you might not be able to play games or watch video either.

heybigspender2006

First.. There is no real quality difference between types of DVD. Some will tell you there is but it would be very minute at most. Brand difference are more about compatability and succefull burn rates rather than anything else. I for one hate Sony disks because the wont play on my DVD player but then again Non-branded sony's are excellent.

The difference is not minute with Bulkpaq.

Lee_Francis

dont know if I should start a new post for this
BUT
as I am a bit of a
"like to try new s/ware and h/ware, gadgets etc " try and learn type of a person
I installed vista inspirat and the layout looks really so much better
and wondered what the real thing could offer

so my next step was to be to install VISTA

(I have learnt, the hard way, that before installing anything-backup)

is there a step by step guide about installing so that I don't have too many probs ?

or
do you think - completely stay away ?

thanks

Lee

sco0ter

The fact that you are asking on how to install it would show you should stay away. There is no Step by Step as each system is different and each will encounter a complete set of its own problems. Yes Vista has a better interface but it will not run most of the programs you probably use now. It only really offers better security and protection straight from the box but if you have XP with anti-virus/firewalls installed it would be roughly the same. Do not upgrade just because you like the way it looks.

Look at the programs you use most and see if they are compatible. There are loads of toys and interfaces to keep you amused for a few hours but unless you are serious about wanting to use it as an OS then you should leave it. Look on the boards here and you will see some different problems from networking/internet to graphics cards and bluetooth.

Quincy_3

I do agree with Scooter,

If you are not up with OS issues I would stay well clear as you may get in hot water

sco0ter

heybigspender2006 wrote:

The difference is not minute with Bulkpaq.

Explain or show me what you are saying. Is bulkpaq better than every other DVD media and offers better quality over all?