Compaq Presario 6201IL User Manual

Compaq Presario

DVD Writer User’s Guide

For use with your DVD Writer/CD Writer

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Contents

Using the DVD Writer/CD Writer ...........1

DVD Writer/CD Writer Drive Features.....................1

Locating Software .................................................2

Recording with the DVD Writer/CD Writer ..............3

Recording Audio and Data Files .............................4

Recording music files .........................................5

About recording music.......................................6

Recording data files ..........................................6

About recording data ........................................ 7

Editing Video Files ................................................ 8

Editing video with ShowBiz................................ 8

Recording Video Files.......................................... 11

Capturing video by using MyDVD .................... 12

Creating a DVD movie .................................... 13

Editing DVDs and VCDs .................................. 15

Watching DVD Movies ........................................ 16

Using Compatible Discs....................................... 17

Software Quick Reference.................................... 20

More Information................................................ 24

DVD Writer User’s Guide

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DVD Writer User’s Guide

Using the DVD Writer/CD Writer

Your PC includes the DVD Writer, which is a DVD and CD rewriteable (DVD+RW/+R/CD-RW) optical drive. This guide tells you about the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive features and tells you how to use the drive with the included software.

DVD Writer/CD Writer Drive Features

The DVD Writer/CD Writer is a multipurpose rewriteable drive that can read audio, data, and video files and can record, or write, in both CD and DVD formats.

This DVD Writer/CD Writer drive enables you to:

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Create custom audio, data, and video files that

can be recorded onto CDs or DVDs.

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Store large amounts of data.

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Record directly to a DVD or VCD (video CD)

from a video source such as a digital video

camera, a TV tuner, or a VCR.

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Store, edit, and preserve video files from

various video sources.

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Play music CDs and DVD movies.

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Read data CDs and DVDs.

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Create VCDs and DVDs.

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Create music CDs. An important feature of the DVD Writer/

CD Writer drive is its high compatibility with other devices.

DVD Writer User’s Guide

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The CDs that you create play in most home and car stereos and in most computer CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives.

Note:

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The DVDs that you create are compatible with

CD-R discs are more compatible with home and car stereos than CD-RW discs are.

some DVD video players and with most computer DVD-ROM drives.

Your DVD Writer/CD Writer drive can read and record the following audio formats:

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WAV, MP3, WMA, and CDA for CDs

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WAV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, WMA, and Layer 2 files for DVDs

Your DVD Writer/CD Writer drive can read and record the following video formats:

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MPEG-1 and MPEG-2

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AVI and WMV

Locating Software

To open the DVD Writer/CD Writer software programs, click Start on the taskbar, choose All Programs, select the program folder, and then click the program to open the software. Most programs are listed in this menu, and others are listed in submenus. Refer to the table in the section “Software Quick Reference” to determine the best programs for the tasks you want to do.

If a program has been recently updated by the manufacturer, you may have a software update CD included with your PC. You may need to install this CD before using the DVD Writer/ CD Writer drive. Follow the installation instructions that came with the CD.

DVD Writer User’s Guide

Recording with the DVD Writer/CD Writer

When you first insert a CD or DVD into your DVD Writer/CD Writer drive, Microsoft options for the type of disc you insert.

Windows® XP may give you

For example, if you insert a blank CD-RW disc, you can select any of these options:

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Open writeable CD folder using Windows

Explorer

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Create a disc using RecordNow

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Take no a ct io n

Note:

If this window of options does not appear, you can

click Start, My Computer, right-click the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive icon, and then select one of the available options. You can also click Start, choose All Programs, and then select a program before you insert a disc, select an action, and then follow onscreen instructions within the program.

You can choose to have a specific action occur automatically each time you insert a blank CD by selecting the Always do the selected action box.

DVD Writer User’s Guide

If you later decide that you want to change the option you have set:

1 Click Start. 2 Click My Computer. 3 Right-click the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive

icon in the section Devices with Removable Storage, and select Properties.

4 Click the AutoPlay tab. 5 Click Select an action to perform, select

an action, and then click OK.

Here are some of the other options you can choose:

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To view the files on the disc you inserted, click Start, My Computer, and then right-click the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive icon under Devices with Removable Storage, and choose Explore.

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To open a particular program, click Start, choose All Programs, and then click the program you want.

Click Prompt me each time to choose an action, and then click OK.

If you insert a blank or data disc, a window with options for blank or data discs opens.

If the option you want is not listed, you can select Take no action, and then click OK. The window closes, and you can then manually select a different option through the Start menu on the desktop.

DVD Writer User’s Guide

Recording Audio and Data Files

You can record and customize audio files and back up large data files to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, and DVD+RW discs by using the RecordNow program.

For best recording results, don’t perform any other tasks while recording.

Important:

When making a copy of a CD or DVD, RecordNow can record only to the same disc type it records from. For example, you can record a DVD only to a DVD+R or DVD+RW disc and you can record a CD only to a CD-R or a CD-RW disc.

Recording music files

You can use RecordNow to create music CDs from various audio files that are downloaded from the Internet, recorded from your hard drive files, or recorded from other CDs. CD-R discs play in most home and car stereos. CD-RW discs play only in some stereos.

Warning:

not use sticky labels. They can cause the DVD to play erratically. Instead, write on the DVD with a felt tip pen to label it.

When labeling your DVDs, do

To use RecordNow to record music files:

1 Click Start, choose All Programs,

RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.

The RecordNow main window opens.

2 Click Make a Music Disc. 3 Select one of these options:

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Make a Music Disc from Audio Files

(Create a music disc from MP3/WMA or WAV files on your hard drive.)

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Make a Music Disc from other CDs

(Create a new music disc from tracks taken off your music disc collection.)

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Make a Disc for an MP3 Player

(Create a disc specifically for MP3 players.) 4 Insert the blank CD-R or CD-RW disc. 5 Follow the onscreen instructions. Click the

Help button for more information about the

RecordNow program.

DVD Writer User’s Guide

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