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 Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
I have manay 35mm slides from Vietnam and want to put them on DVD. I have a DVD player on my Dell along with a CD burner. My IT guy at work said I could get a DVD burner to replace the DVD player pretty reasonable.
My question, should I replace the player with an internal burner or just get an external DVD burner? Either way, do they come with burning software or will I be able to use my Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 that I purchased separately? Can I add music to a DVD slide show? Would like to add some music of the 'era' to the Vietnam pics. Alos, will a DVD slideshow created on my computer be compatible with other computers and DVD players, or will it have to be played only on here? Any recommendations will be appreciated. Thanks |
 Location: Out Wandering Around
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 21036
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Posted
If you think you might use the DVD burner on another PC or laptop, get an external. Otherwise, get an internal. Also, I would replace the CD-RW with the DVD-RW. Keep the DVD reader. Then you can copy from DVD to DVD without swapping disks. It can also even out the overall wear and tear. Use the reader for watching DVD's and the burner for making them. You would lose no functionality getting rid of the CD-RW. The DVD burner can also make CD's.
You can get a new DVD burner for about $35 and up. Most come with software (Roxio or Nero) but there are also barebone drives with no software. You can use your current software with the new drive anyway. Not sure about Roxio but I know most of those programs allow you to add music to a slideshow. Once you create the DVD, make sure the session is "closed" so that no more files can be added. This should make the DVD-R or DVD+R disc playable in home DVD players. DVD-RW discs should play in any PC with a DVD player. |
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
Hey, that sounds good PA (PH)
 Didn't think about replacing the cd burner with the DVD burner. I appreciate the help. Any advice on kind of burner to get (like what brand?). I'm leaning toward getting the internal, but if I got external, you mean I could use it and if my son wanted to burn something he could just plug it in his pc? Also, I have a pack of DVD+R 8X that someone gave me. Will I be able to use those? (4.7 GB Data/120min Video) |
 Location: IC is OBP
Registered: 12-01-2004
Posts: 4859
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Posted
Here's a thread where we talked about some of this last year Hauser. I have a Lite On external that has worked very well for me.
Link I got it at http://www.newegg.com/ |
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Location: Out Wandering Around
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 21036
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Posted
Lite-On, NEC and Plextor are all good drives. I used to buy from Newegg but they charge sales tax now that I'm in TN. Not sure if they charge sales tax for VA. I use Zipzoomfly now, no sales tax. Yes, your son could use it as long as he has a USB port and proper software installed. Your DVD+R discs will work fine. |
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
Thanks CC and PH.
PH, maybe it would pay to get the external then. (Plus I would avoid having to tear apart my Dell to install an internal one, or can it be done without opening up the machine?) If the burner comes with software, can it be installed on more than one computer? |
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Location: IC is OBP
Registered: 12-01-2004
Posts: 4859
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Posted
Yes Hauser, the software can be installed on more than one computer.
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
which one was it that you ended up with Chuck? Did you go external? I looked at that link that Tim had on that other thread and there were so many that I didn't know which one he had
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Location: IC is OBP
Registered: 12-01-2004
Posts: 4859
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Posted
I don't see mine at newegg any more. Here's a link to the model I bought. I don't know anything about the site it is at. It is about $10 less than I paid for it.
link |
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
Thanks CC. The internal would be less expensive, correct? |
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Location: IC is OBP
Registered: 12-01-2004
Posts: 4859
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Posted
Internals are cheaper. I have a desktop and and laptop though. I really like being able to use it on both. To me spending a coulpe of more dollars was worth it. Are you comfortable installing it yourself or do you have someone that can help you with that?
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
I don't know, I could probably install it. I installed CD drives in an old Compac once. You just plug them in right?
The reason I was thinking an external would be nice is then my son could use it if he had something he wanted to burn rather than having to transfer pics (or whatever) to my computer and burn it on mine. Can you tell which of those internal burners on that link of Tim's is comparable to yours? Do these things plug in to DTV? or is that something different? |
 Location: Siberia
Registered: 01-10-2004
Posts: 10609
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Posted
I'll weigh in on this....
I just purchased an internal DVD Burner PIONEER 110D I already have an external Sony. The external works great however you cannot burn reliably at speeds above 4x. I've tried USB & Firewire both. It's not reliable above 4x. With the Internal, I can burn at 8x-12x with no issues. I need the proper media to test at 16x. I burned a Dual-Layer disc successfully at 8x. Think about that for a second. 8 - 8.5 GB of data written in 16-17 minutes. Amazing! |
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Location: IC is OBP
Registered: 12-01-2004
Posts: 4859
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Posted
I can't tell you which one is comparable. They should be pretty simple for you to install if you've installed a CD drive before. These aren't the same burners that you hook up to a TV, if that answers that question.
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
Thanks FRZ. If I got something like that I would just use it with the current Roxio software that I have correct? This is what I have, but version 7 instead of 8
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Location: Siberia
Registered: 01-10-2004
Posts: 10609
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Posted
That's correct. You'll have the option to select your burner in your currently installed burning software. Should be a snap.
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
I guess if I look around that site, they will have it in black too? Are you happy with Pioneer? I had lots of Pioneer stereo equipment since Vietnam and have always had good luck with it.
FRZ, I was reading some reviews and most really recommend the Pioneer 110, but a couple said it was causing problems. Someone said something about makin it the Master or something. Will I have a problem installing/hooking up the ribbon or whatever? And, it DOES work with windows XP on a Dell right? Oh, another guy with an ACER said it was too small for his slot - something about it being 4" and he needed 5 1/4". I don't see a size in the specifications, what does your s measure? I need 5 1/4. |
 Location: WI, USA
Registered: 02-02-2000
Posts: 6676
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Posted
Hauser - I would call tech support for both Dell and Pioneer and see if they can give you info on compatablity and the slot size requirements. Such info might be available on their support websites. This may save you the hassle of having to send back a drive that for whatever reason will not work in your machine.
FWIW - I just upgraded to Roxio Easy Media Creator 8. I have created a couple of photo DVDs with background music. So far it works quite well. It's definitely a step up from the version Roxio 6 I had previously. Roxio's support website has a list of drives and burners that are compatible with its software. Their support website: rpp.roxio.com/drives/?pages=supported_drives |
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Location: Out Wandering Around
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 21036
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Posted
I don't think there is such a thing as a 4" DVD burner. 5 1/4" is the standard size for CD/DVD drives going back to when the first CD-ROM drives came out.
Since you have a Dell, the IDE cable is called a "cable select" cable. That means it assigns the master and slave based on which connector is attached to the device. Just make sure that the jumper on the back of the DVD burner is set to "cable select" and you will be fine. The other options are master and slave. All new drives are plug and play as far as Windows XP. Just hook it up to your PC and Windows will see it. You shouldn't have to worry about BIOS settings either since you are replacing a drive. The BIOS should just auto detect the new one. If a particular drive wants to be the master (and some are finnicky like that), just make sure it is connected as drive 0 (master) which is the connector at the end of the cable. You may or may not have to rearrange the drives inside the case (top and bottom) to make the cable oriented properly. Usually that means having the master on top. |
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
Right now my DVD ROM is on top and the CD burner is on bottom. I would be replacing the CD burner. Leave DVD FOM on top? |
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Location: Siberia
Registered: 01-10-2004
Posts: 10609
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Posted
Look at the back of your DVD burner and be sure the jumper is set to "Cable Select". Then look at your ribbon cable and the connector(s) should be labeled "Master" or "Slave". Insert the "Master" connector with the DVD burner.
PackerHawk was saying you may need to re-arrange your drives depending on where/how your connectors are labeled/located. |
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Location: Alexandria, VA
Registered: 02-06-2000
Posts: 19486
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Posted
Oh, ok. So there will be two connectors on the ribbon and I use the "Master" one? |
 Location: ..fishing some where
Registered: 11-14-2001
Posts: 6775
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Posted
This is what I use also,but in the internal model. I pretty much buy most of my stuff here. Very reliable place: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Home.jsp Beware the alot of the Sony DVD burners are the same models as Lite-Ons. In other words,you're basically paying for the name there. here are few good sites for reviews,and info: http://www.cdfreaks.com/ http://forum.rpc1.org/portal.php?page=1 forum for lite-on: http://club.cdfreaks.com/forumdisplay.php?f=44 |
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Location: Siberia
Registered: 01-10-2004
Posts: 10609
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Posted
Yes, also be sure the jumper on the back of your DVD burner is set to "Cable Select" |
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Location: ..fishing some where
Registered: 11-14-2001
Posts: 6775
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Posted |