DVD recorder

[Francis Asis]

My mum and dad have just bought a DVD recorder. They recorded a film with it off the telly (The Patriot, if you're interested).

However, when we tried to watch it on our DVD player it wouldn't play. The player wouldn't recognise it as a DVD.

Can anyone offer an explanation for this?

Thanks in advance.

[spacechimp]

I take it that you can watch the DVD on the DVD recorder? If this is so then you have recorded it in an incompatible format with your DVD player. This would be like trying to play a beta-max video in a VHS player.

[Ethel]

You tried to play it on a different dvd recorder, am I right?

If it plays ok on the machine it recorded with it probably has not been finalised.

The disc must be finalised to be read in different machines.


If it has not recorded at all - was the film protected in any way so it could not be recorded at all off the tv?

[Francis Asis]

Blimey, that was quick.

I didn't know there were different formats for DVD. Can you tell me more please?

[Confab]

Some DVD recorders can record in more than one format. Mine for example can record in something called VR mode and video mode. One format will play in other DVD players and one won't.

As Ethel says make sure the disk is finalised after recording. If you want to re-record over a finalised RW disk it may need to be reformatted

Most importantly read the instrections!!

[Francis Asis]

When you say Finalised is that like recording a Cd on a PC and closing the session so you can play it on a Cd player?

[Zen]

http://www.webopedia.com/DidYouKnow/Hardware_Software/20 03/DVDFormatsExplained.asp

DVD formats explained.

[Francis Asis]

OK, I've spoken to my dad and he's re-read the instructions and says he knows what he did wrong.

Thank you every one for your help.