I have a Powerpoint presentation on an old Compaq laptop.

I tried to burn it to a cd using Roxio but get an error message about the cd drive is read- only. Is it possible that the cd drive on this old laptop only plays cds?

Also, the ultimate and most imortant goal is that I want to have the Powerpoint presentation (large file) copied from hard drive on laptop to DVDs so family members can view it on TV without having to use computers.

Please help... presentation took days for Mom's 70th birthday...

Hi,
First, a cd-rom drive may or may not be a "burner drive". To be able to copy files to a cd-r, the laptop must have a burner drive. It probably doesn't.
Next, to burn files to a DVD requires a DVD Burner drive.
You can buy an External Burner drive, and here is just one link to one:
http://www.mittoni.com.au/external-usb-20-cd-burner-p-1361.html

There are many different versions of DVD Burner drives and CD-R Burner Drives.
I would suggest you take your laptop to a local computer repair shop/store, and ask what it would cost to transfer your files from your laptop to your computer. You also would have to think about buying a DVD Burner drive for your computer, if you don't already have one.

As Fred has already said, it does sound like the CD Rom isn't a burner or not working correctly.
What is worth trying instead is a flash drive in the laptop's USB port and moving the file that way.

When it comes to displaying the Powerpoint presentation from DVD on to TV, I'm sure that this isn't possible.
Powerpoint or even powerpoint viewer needs a PC to work, it is possible to convert the Powerpoint into a video and display it that way.

On a quick Google of "powerpoint to DVD" I found numerous hits, it's worth having a look thro' them for one that would suit your needs.

Hope this helps in some small way.

There are tools that will allow you convert a powerpoint presentation to something that can be saved as a VCD or a DVD. There are also tools that will take a series of JPG images and play them on a DVD. If you have any HP product, the HP Image Zone software can do this.

If you do as Ben suggested about googling, you should find some.

But you will need a burner drive. The original CD drives were ROMs (Read Only Memory). Burners, especially in laptops have become common only in the last few years.

Hello,

Thanks everyone for the response... I will get in touch to let you know how I resolved this. It may be a little while since it sounds like the situation will cost me at least a little bit of money.

Here's a good link that may good reading and may help you understand the language if you decide to shop around for someone to do it for you:
http://www.videolane.com/?Digital_Video_Tips:How_to_Make_VCD:How_to_Convert _PPT_to_VCD

I have a simple and very featured tool for that. You can try it for free :p CLICK HERE FOR INFO (http://www.geovid.com/Presentation_to_Video_Converter/)

Good luck:D

i have a simple and very featured tool for that. you can try it fo free :p CLICK HERE FOR INFO (http://www.geovid.com/Presentation_to_Video_Converter/)

good luck:D If you want to part with $200.

:eek:
Nobody invited me to part with me when I needed it :(

So the "Download Now" link gives you the full program with no nags and unlimited use?

So the "Download Now" link gives you the full program with no nags and unlimited use?

I tried it
A free version adds a little logo to the right lower corner
But! In spite of everything this program looks promising, I think I'll buy it
It has everything I need:
1. easy to use and intuitive interface
2. ppt/pps 2 avi/asf/wmv/mpeg conversion
3. option "burn cd/dvd" (it's also a cd-dvd-burner, wow!)
4. no audio and video quality loss (many similar programs have problems with audio)
5. options "auto click" (very useful!! ) and width-height changing
Well.. as you see it's worth of money it costs isn't it?

So the "Download Now" link gives you the full program with no nags and unlimited use?

Absolutely. You will have just a watermarked version:rolleyes: , full functional :D .
No time limit or lower quality...