My PC has a CD reader / writer (burner) and I am wondering if there is any way I can use this to burn copies of DVD's..

I have been told that I would need to purchase a DVD reader/writer (burner) to copy DVD's, but SURELY there is some way I can do this without incurring additional expense.

Please advise if this can/cannot be done.

Thanks.

Well... yes and no

You can put a DVD onto about 6 or 7 CDs if you want to keep the DVD quality, but it will only play on your computer.
You can also use a different compression format (like divx) to fit a movie onto 2 or 3 CDs, but again it will only play on your computer.
OR... and this is what those big ad banners you see on some websites are trying to sell... you can change the format to VCD (video CD) or SVCD (super video CD) both of which can be played on SOME standalone DVD players. However, this will take several CDs and the quality will be much lower, and it takes a VERY LOOOOOOONG TIME to encode.

You can't burn to DVD discs with a CD burner. The lasers are just different. In order to do that, and to make a "true" copy of a DVD, you need a DVD burner. And still... you can only burn 4.4 GB discs (I know it says 4.7GB on the case, but it is really 4.4GB) while the newer DVDs you can buy at the store are twice that size.


And all this assumes that you own the copyright to the DVD you are copying ;D
There is a big debate going on about copies for your own personal use, but I'm not going to get into all that.
According to the DMCA, you have to own the copyright :)
Then again, there is a commercial product in compusa that will let you make copies for your own personal use... I thought it would be pulled from the shelves, but it's been there for a couple months...

Hope this helps...
~psi42

I didn't interpretate his question quite that way.

I'd like to know: can I use blank DVD's in the same manner as CD's to back up files, pictures, etc? Using a CD burner (plextor 12/10/32A).

Will my CD burner be able to burn data files to a DVD disc? Or is a blank DVD disc not readable by a CD burner? I don't want to buy a spindle and find out they are not usable.

Thanks.