Compaq Presario 6500 - Desktop PC User manual

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Compaq Presario
DVD Writer User’s Guide
For use with your DVD Writer/CD Writer

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© 2002 Compaq Information Technologies Group, L.P.
Compaq, the Compaq logo, Presario, Evo, and iPAQ are
trademarks of Compaq Computer Corporation in the U.S. and
other countries/regions.
Microsoft, MS-DOS, Windows, and Windows XP are trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and other countries/regions.
Intel, Pentium, Intel Inside, and Celeron are trademarks of Intel
Corporation in the U.S. and other countries/regions.
Adobe, Acrobat, and Acrobat Reader are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated.
All other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of
their respective companies.
Compaq Computer Corporation shall not be liable for technical or
editorial errors or omissions contained herein or for incidental or
consequential damages in connection with the furnishing,
performance, or use of this material. The information in this
document is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind,
including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and is subject
to change without notice. The warranties for Compaq products are
set forth in the express limited warranty statements accompanying
such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting
an additional warranty.
This document contains proprietary information that is protected by
copyright. No part of this document may be photocopied,
reproduced, or translated to another language without the prior
written consent of Compaq Computer Corporation.

DVD Writer User’s Guide iii
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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
About recording files to disc...............................7
Editing Video Files ................................................ 8
Editing video with Studio ................................... 8
Recording Video Files.......................................... 10
Capturing video by using MyDVD .................... 11
Creating a DVD movie .................................... 12
Editing DVDs and VCDs .................................. 13
Watching DVD Movies ........................................ 14
Using Compatible Discs....................................... 15
Software Quick Reference.................................... 18
More Information................................................ 22
Contents

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DVD Writer User’s Guide 1
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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:
■ Create custom audio, data, and video files
that can be recorded onto CDs or DVDs.
■ Store large amounts of data.
■ 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.
■ Store, edit, and preserve video files from
various video sources.
■ Play music CDs and DVD movies.
■ Read data CDs and DVDs.
■ Create VCDs and DVDs.
■ Create music CDs.
An important feature of the DVD Writer/
CD Writer drive is its high compatibility
with other devices.
■ The CDs that you create play in most home
and car stereos and in most computer
CD-ROM and DVD-ROM drives.
Using the DVD Writer/CD Writer

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Note: CD-R discs are more compatible with home and
car stereos than CD-RW discs.
■ The DVDs that you create are compatible with
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:
■ WAV, MP3, WMA, and CDA for CDs
■ 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:
■ MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
■ 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.

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Recording with the
DVD Writer/CD Writer
When you first insert a CD or DVD into
your DVD Writer/CD Writer drive,
Microsoft®Windows®XP gives you options
for the type of disc you insert.
For example, if you insert a blank CD-RW disc,
you can select any of these options:
■ Open a writeable CD folder by using
Windows Explorer.
■ Create a disc by using RecordNow.
■ Take no action.
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 open 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.
If you later decide that you want to change the
option you have set:
1 Click Start.
2 Click My Computer.

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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.
Or
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.
Here are some of the other options you can
choose:
■ To view the files on the disc you inserted, click
Start, My Computer, and then double-click
the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive icon under
Devices with Removable Storage.
■ To open a particular program, click Start,
choose All Programs, and then click the
program you want.
Recording Audio
and Data Files
You can record and customise 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.

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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:
W
hen labelling your DVDs, d
o
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.
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:
■ Make a Music Disc from Audio Files
(Create a music disc from MP3/WMA or
WAV files on your hard drive.)
■ Make a Music Disc from other CDs
(Create a new music disc from tracks taken
off your music disc collection.)
■ 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.

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About recording music
RecordNow records music CDs that are called
closed session CDs. This means that you must
record all music files in one recording session.
When a recording is complete, no more
information can be added to that disc and the
CD is closed. Music files can be recorded
repeatedly on a rewriteable CD or DVD disc,
but all previously recorded files will be erased.
Important: You can record audio files (MP3 and WAV
files) to a DVD as data files, but you cannot create
a DVD audio disc to be played in a car or home
CD player.
For best compatibility with CD-ROM drives and
CD players, use CD-R discs to record music.
Recording data files
You can use RecordNow to create a copy of your
personal data files. When creating a data disc, it
is important to note that:
■ You can add new data files to a CD-R disc
in a later recording session if disc space is
available.
■ You can update previously recorded files
that have the same name to your CD-R or
CD-RW disc.
■ You can record data files to a DVD+R disc
only once.
■ You must erase all previously recorded data
and then record your files again when using
DVD+RW discs.
Warning:
W
hen labelling your DVDs, d
o
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.
To use RecordNow to record data files:
1 Click Start, choose All Programs,
RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.
The RecordNow main window opens.
2 Click Make a Data Disc.

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3 Insert the blank CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, or
DVD+RW disc.
4 Follow onscreen instructions to complete
recording your files.
5 Click the Help button for more information
about the RecordNow program.
About recording data
When recording data files, RecordNow can
update existing files that have been previously
recorded, and can also add new files to CD-Rs
and CD-RWs. For DVD+RWs, you must erase all
previously recorded data and then record your
files again.
You can add data files to a CD-R disc in multiple
recording sessions by using RecordNow until the
CD is full. Any files with the same name will be
overwritten with the newer version.
Important: When RecordNow or MyDVD records data
to a DVD+R disc, it creates a closed session disc.
This means that once the data has been recorded,
no more data can be added to that disc. Make
sure all data files are selected before you record
them to a DVD+R disc.
RecordNow can also make copies of discs and
archive data from your hard disk drive.
RecordNow will not record commercial or other
protected DVD titles.
About recording files to disc
You can use either RecordNow or MyDVD™
to record data files to CDs or DVDs. Use
RecordNow to create backup discs for your hard
disk files and to create music CDs that you can
play in most home and car stereos. Use MyDVD
to record video files to create VCDs and DVDs
that can be played in most DVD-ROM drives and
in some DVD players.

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To record files to disc, open a recording
program, and then follow the steps provided
by the program.
To add files to your disc later, open the recording
program again and follow the onscreen steps.
For more information about recording files to
disc, refer to the Help menus in either
RecordNow or MyDVD.
Editing Video Files
You can use the Pinnacle Studio 8 program to
edit your video files before you save them to your
hard drive, or before you record them to CDs or
DVDs, by using MyDVD.
Important: To create video files with a standard DVD
format that can be played in most DVD players,
you must record files by using MyDVD.
Editing video with Studio
Use Studio to edit files after you have transferred
all your video clips into your project file. Refer to
the Help menu in Studio for more information
about editing your video files.
If you edit your files in Studio, record the video
files by using MyDVD so that you can play them
on a DVD player.
To edit your video files in Studio:
1 Click Start on the taskbar, choose
All Programs, Studio 8, and then
click Studio.
2 Attach your digital video camcorder or other
digital video device to your PC to copy your
video files to your PC. Click the 1 Capture
tab. This opens the Capture window. To
transfer video from your camcorder or VCR
to your hard drive, click the Start Capture
button. When capture is complete, click the
Stop Capture button.

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Or
Click the 2 Edit tab, and then click the folder
icon at the top of the window under the Make
Movie tab. From here, you can browse and
select your video files from your hard drive.
3 Edit your video files after you have transferred
all your video clips into your project file.
4 Click the 3 Make Movie button. Select the
video file type on the left side of the window
(select Tape, AVI, MPEG, Stream, or
Share). Click the Settings button, select your
video and audio settings, and then click OK.
Important: You must save the video file as a file
type that is supported by MyDVD if you want
to record your video to a DVD that can be
played in DVD players. MPEG-1 and 2, AVI,
and DVD Video Recording Format files are
supported by MyDVD.
5 Click the Create button to finish making the
movie file.
6 Click the File menu and then click Save to
save the file to your hard drive.
Refer to the Help menu in the Studio toolbar for
more information about editing and recording
your video files.

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To record your video file that you edited in
Studio, open MyDVD and import the file. Follow
the instructions for recording to CD or DVD. Refer
to the section “Recording Video Files.”
Recording Video Files
You can use RecordNow or MyDVD to record
video files to CDs and DVDs.
Video quality depends on the quality of the
source files and the PC speed and graphics
processing ability.
If your video files are already stored on your
hard drive or on a DVD, you can use MyDVD to:
■ Record video files directly to disc.
■ Open a new MyDVD project.
■ Open an existing MyDVD project.
■ Edit a pre-recorded OpenDVD™or VCD
(DVD+RW or CD-RW discs).
If you need help creating DVD movies or
recording in MyDVD, refer to the Readme
file, Help files, and the tutorial in MyDVD.
To find these documents, click Start,
choose All Programs, Sonic, MyDVD,
Documentation, and then click Help,
Readme, or Tutorial. You can also click
the Help and Tutorial icons from the MyDVD
main window. It is recommended that you
read this documentation before using the
MyDVD program.
Warning:
W
hen labelling your DVDs, d
o
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.

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Capturing video by using MyDVD
Before you begin using MyDVD to create your
movies, you can capture your video files from
within the MyDVD program. To do this:
1 Attach your digital video source to your PC.
A window appears with various options.
2 Select Make a DVD,and then click OK. This
opens MyDVD, and then imports your video
files into a MyDVD project. In the project, you
can edit your files before saving or recording
the final movie to a DVD.
Or
Select Record Direct to DVD to record your
video files to a DVD.
3 Click the Capture button. Select your
recording options from the drop-down
menus. Click the Record button to
begin capturing your video file. Click the
Stop button to stop capturing.
Click Done.
Or
Click Get Movies to add video files that are
stored on your hard drive. Select your video
file, and then click Open.

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Creating a DVD movie
To create a DVD movie in MyDVD:
1 Click Start, choose All Programs, Sonic,
MyDVD, and then click Start MyDVD.
2 Select one of the following tabs on the left side
of the window:
■ Choose the DVD-Video tab to create
a DVD video that will play on most DVD
video players and in most PCs that have
a DVD-ROM drive.
Or
■ Choose Video CD to create a video CD
that will play on some DVD video players
and in most PCs that have a CD-ROM or
DVD-ROM drive.
3 Press the Eject button on the DVD Writer/
CD Writer drive, and insert the blank CD-R,
CD-RW, DVD+R, or DVD+RW disc.
4 Click Create or Modify a DVD-Video
Project.
Or
Click Transfer Video Direct-to-DVD™,
and then follow onscreen instructions.
5 Click the Edit Style button in the toolbar,
select Options, and then click OK.
6 Add your video files.

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■ To transfer video from your camcorder or
VCR to your hard drive, attach your digital
camera to your PC, and then click Capture
on the MyDVD toolbar. Refer to the section
“Capturing video by using MyDVD.”
■ To add files from your hard drive, click
Get Movies on the toolbar, select your
video file, and then click Open.
Note: The Get Movies button opens the My Videos
folder. You can browse for your video files if
they are stored in another location.
7 Select your video file, click the
Preview button on the toolbar, and
then click your video file to preview
your video in MyDVD. Use the camcorder
control buttons in the MyDVD window to
control the playback of the video file.
8 Click the Save Project icon on the MyDVD
toolbar to place the movie on your hard drive.
9 Click the Burn button on the toolbar to
record your movie. Follow onscreen
instructions to complete recording your
video files to CD or DVD.
Editing DVDs and VCDs
MyDVD can save changes back to your recorded
DVD projects if the disc was created in MyDVD.
MyDVD overwrites all files recorded on a CD-RW
or DVD+RW disc, replacing them with the new
edited files. Before MyDVD does this, a message
appears that the disc is not blank and that the
data will be overwritten.
Note: MyDVD can edit DVD projects created in MyDVD.
To edit a recorded DVD or VCD movie:
1 Insert the recorded DVD or VCD into the
DVD Writer/CD Writer drive.
2 Click Start, choose All Programs, Sonic,
MyDVD, and then click Start My DVD.
3 Select Video CD or DVD-Video.

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4 Click Edit an Existing VCD Disc or Edit
an Existing OpenDVD™Disc.
5 When the browse window appears, select
the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive icon,
and then click OK. Your video file should
open automatically.
6 Make changes to your video file.
7 Select your video file, click the Preview
button on the MyDVD toolbar, and then click
the video file again to preview the video file.
Click Stop when finished.
8 Click Burn on the MyDVD toolbar. The Write
Disc window opens. Select the write speed,
number of copies, and device options. You can
place a tick in the Create a hard disk backup
first tick box to save a copy of your file to your
hard disk.
9 Click OK. MyDVD copies your movie to the
hard drive, and then records it to the disc.
Follow any onscreen instructions.
Watching DVD Movies
You can watch commercially pre-recorded or
created DVD movies or video CDs by using the
InterVideo WinDVD program, or by using the
Windows Media Player program.
To play a DVD movie:
1 Insert a DVD movie into your DVD Writer/
CD Writer drive. InterVideo WinDVD starts
automatically with the movie’s menu displayed.
2 If the program does not open automatically,
click Start, choose All Programs,
InterVideo WinDVD, and then click
InterVideo WinDVD.
Or
Click Start, choose All Programs, and then
click Windows Media Player.
3 Click a chapter button on the DVD movie main
menu to play that section of the movie, or click
Play in the controller window.

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Using Compatible Discs
The DVD Writer/CD Writer drive is able to read from and record to almost every type of optical disc.
Writing speed rates for the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive are fast, allowing quick recording times.
You can use the following discs in the DVD Writer/CD Writer drive:
■ DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+RW ■ CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW
■ Audio and video DVD ■ Audio and video CD (VCD)
Important: The DVD Writer/CD Writer drive can’t record to DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM discs. When recording,
use DVDs that have a “+” in their names.
Disc type Size With this disc you can Disc features and compatibility
DVD-ROM
(Digital Versatile
Disc read-only
memory)
4.7 GB to
17 GB
■ Play DVD movies.
■ Play DVD games.
■ Read-only (software, audio, data, and
video files)
■ Reads in DVD-ROM drives
■ Plays in DVD video players

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Disc type Size With this disc you can Disc features and compatibility
DVD+R
(DVD
recordable)
4.7 GB ■ Make a permanent copy of
a DVD video file. These discs
cannot be erased or rewritten to.
■ Share your created DVD movie
with others — DVD+R discs are
compatible with more DVD
players than a DVD+RW disc is.
■ Create a permanent storage disc
of your videos, pictures, and
other hard drive files.
■ Records once
■ Holds up to 4.7 GB of data, video,
picture, or music files
■ Holds about the same amount of data
as seven CDs
■ Reads in most DVD-ROM drives
■ Plays in some DVD video players
DVD+RW
(DVD
rewriteable)
4.7 GB ■ Make a temporary copy when
creating and editing your DVD
movie. These discs can be erased
and rewritten to.
■ Make a temporary copy of your
videos, pictures, and other hard
drive files.
■ Rewrites about 1,000 times
■ Holds up to 4.7 GB of data, video,
picture, or music files
■ Holds about the same amount of data
as seven CDs
■ Reads in most DVD-ROM drives
CD-ROM
(compact disc
read-only
memory)
650 MB ■ Play music CDs.
■ Install software.
■ Read-only (software, data, music files)
■ Reads in CD-ROM and DVD-ROM
drives
■ Plays in some DVD video players