Computer and Software Support


DVD-R Drive 

This drive has the following specifications

  • Can read program, data and music CDs.

  • Can write to a CDR disk

  • Can write but cannot erase CDRW disks

  • Can write to a DVD disk

  • Cannot write to a DVD dual layer disk

  • Can read DVD disks

  • Cannot read dual layer disks

  • Cannot read or write Blue-ray disks

  • Does not have the lightscribe technology.

  • Can play DVD movies

  • Cannot print a label directly to the CD or DVD

  • No software needed to use drive. To listen to music, you will need a music application, such as Media Player, Musicmatch

  • A CD will only hold 600 Megabytes of data.

  • A DVD Will only hold 4.5 Gigabytes of data

  • This is the exact same stats as the DVD+R drive just different technology. DVD+R has a tendency to be able to hold more data but the amount difference is unclear.

Note: If you want to edit a document or file that is on the disk, you will have to copy it to the hard drive. Then if you want it back on a CD, you will have to a new CD disk. To put it on the disk

For instructions on how to install the drive, click here.

For help with the differences between a bit, byte, Megabytes, Gigabytes, and so on, click here.

Note A: a program, data or music CD that you make yourself in the CDRW or DVDRW may not work in all drives. This doesn't indicate a hardware issue. This is a compatibility issue between the drive that wrote the CD and the drive trying to read the CD.

Note B: The DVD-RW drives will not copy store bought DVD movies. This means you can't take Raiders of the Lost Ark and make a copy of it without using special software. It will allow you to make a home movie and then copy the home movie to a DVD-R or DVD-RW disk. 

 

Note C: The plus (+) drives and the Minus (-) drives are competing formats. The plus (+) is the newer format. Both drives will report same amount of space. However the plus (+) will hold more than the minus (-). Some movies that are not copyright protected will let you burn a copy of the movie but it will not copy on a minus (-) but will on a plus (+) and this is the reason behind it.

 

Lightscribe technology - is new technology developed by Hewlett-Packard (HP) that allows you to use special software to have the drive burn a image that you either design or pick right into the disk. No labels are involved and therefore reduces the risk of the label coming unglued and damaging the drive. You will have to have a drive that supports this technology, software to create the image and special CDs. 

 

Blu-ray (not Blue-ray) also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format. The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience.