DVD Writer? Or Not?........?

Question

How do u find out if u have a dvd writer? (so u can burn DVDs). And how do u find out what DVD's to use on it e.g. DVD-R, DVD+R ect...

Answer 1

If you have a windows based computer, you can hit the windows key, and then the pause break key and choose device manager. When you are there, choose dvd cd-rom drives, and it should let you know there if it is burner or not.  Unless the burner is about 5 years old, you can pretty much use about any media that you would like to try.

Answer 2

Look at the front of the tray.  The label(s)/icon(s) should clearly indicate what kind of optical drive it is.

'Modern' («---a subjective term, perhaps) DVD writers are generally multi-format capable.  However, if you have gotten a computer that has an optical drive that does not indicate DVD+/-RW on the front of the tray, you should be able to go to the website of the manufacturer to find out.

Failing the website option, read the documentation.

Failing the read-the-documentation option, put a store-bought motion-picture DVD in the drive.  If it can read the DVD, you've discovered that it can at least read DVDs.

Now, to discover whether it can write DVDs, pop in a blank DVD and try to record data to it.  (Of course, go for a nice data-set that won't be a waste of space if the recording process should happen to work — for example, all your MP3 files, all your archived emails in Outlook Express or Thunderbird, all your documents, etc.)