DVD format, playback problem

[Bikewer]

My wife hates the idea of watching movies on the computer. I have an AVI file of a movie she'd prefer to watch on the TV. So, I got a copy of a program called XtoDVD, which converts a wide range of video files and burns a disc.

I did this last night, and the resultant disc played back perfectly on the DVD player in the computer.

However, neither of the two DVD players in the home will recognize the disc.

Both of these devices are rather old, though the Phillips/Magnavox item is of fairly high quality.
The other one is a cheapie, and it wouldn't recognize a commercial disc I tried recently. Worked fine in the Phillips.

Any ideas other than springing for a more current DVD player?

[Capsid]

What file format did you convert the avi file to?

[Alareth]

It may not be the recored file, but the media it's recorded on. Just about any current player should have not issues with -R or +R discs, but older machines may not handle burned media. Some will only do -R or +R.

[Kilgore Trout]

I second the idea of it being the media. Between a player, a stand alone recorder, and a PC burner we have, only certain combinations work between them. If it plays on the PC fine as a regular DVD, the format probably isn't a problem.

[Bikewer]

Let's see... These are Maxell DVD Rs. Had never even heard of "+" or "-" Rs...

They list Maxell on the XtoDVD site as one of the preferred brands; I'll check further.

[Hauteden]

I third the media type issue.

Does it list your DVDs as "Maxell DVD-R" or "Maxell DVD+R" They like to hide it between the "DVD" and the "R." If you are trying to play in older DVD players I believe you will want the "DVD-R" disc.

Hauteden

[PogoPedant]

Depending on the location of the PC, you might consider a third option: If you have a TV-out on the computer and a suitable in-port on the TV, you can drag a cable across, install MediaPortal (http://www.team-mediaportal.com/) or something equivalent, and watch the avis on the telly without the DVD in between.

My setup includes an old Hauppague TV-in card (http://www.hauppauge.com/pages/products/data_pvrusb2.html) which just happens to have a remote control, so I essentially have remote control access to all my movies and music on my PC from my TV-watching couch.

[strathmeyer]

Are you sure you made a DVD and not a VCD? XtoDVD can probably make VCDs which might be the default action for an AVI file.

[alfaniner]

I initially got caught on the same thing. Bought a stack of DVD-Rs, which I found would not work in my computer. After extensive research, I found that the drives only accepted DVD+R and DVD+-RW. I had figured that DVD-R was similar to CD-R, in only that it would distinguish an R from a CD-RW.

[Bikewer]

Just tried a DVD-R, and that worked. At least, it worked on the Phillips/Magnavox set.

The whole DVD format thing is more than a little weird; and now we have yet another generation of the things to deal with.

[This Guy]

The DVD formats are strange. But, you can pick up a decent multi-format burner for around $100. Much less if you catch them on sell. Last one I bought, for around $100 is +/- R, R/W, and Dual Layer (Lite-On). I've had very good results with it. Of course the latest thing now is Light Scribe or whatever it is, that allows you to burn a label on compatible disc. I'll be sticking to my Sharpie till my burner dies though ;)

Maxell, Sony and TDK are rated as good for movies by "those in the know". The best rated are Mitsibishi, but they aren't as easy to find, in my area anyway.

Glad you got you a working DVD :)

[Beady]

Just out of curiosity, are your DVD players Progressive scan, or interlaced? Your computer is probably Progressive, and older players can't handle that.

[Alex C]

Just to add, Taiyo Yuden disks are the best you can buy.

[This Guy]

Just to add, Taiyo Yuden disks are the best you can buy.

FWIW - They were tied with Mitsubishi (which I'm not sure is spelled right) at the top of the ratings I stumbled across, but having lost the notes I made, I had no clue how to spell that name :o

So, thanks for covering for my ignorance :)