HP Media Center Manual

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hp pavilion home pc
Creating DVDs
and CDs
With Your DVD Writer/CD Writer Drive

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The information in this document is subject to change without
notice.
Hewlett-Packard®Company makes no warranty of any kind with
regard to this material, including, but not limited to, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
HP shall not be liable for errors contained herein or for incidental
or consequential damages in connection with the furnishing,
performance, or use of this material. THE WARRANTY TERMS
CONTAINED IN THIS STATEMENT, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT
LAWFULLY PERMITTED, DO NOT EXCLUDE, RESTRICT OR MODIFY
AND ARE IN ADDITION TO ANY MANDATORY STATUTORY
RIGHTS APPLICABLE TO THE SALE OF THIS PRODUCT OR
SERVICE TO YOU.
HP assumes no responsibility for the use or reliability of its software
on equipment that is not furnished by HP.
This document contains proprietary information that is protected by
copyright. All rights are reserved. No part of this document may be
photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language
without the prior written consent of HP.
Hewlett-Packard Company
Home Products Division
P.O. Box 4010
Cupertino, CA 95015-4010
USA
© 2003 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
All rights reserved.
Hewlett-Packard is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard
Company in the United States of America and other
countries/regions.
Other brand or product names are trademarks of their respective
holders.

Creating DVDs and CDs iii
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Creating DVDs and CDs.........................1
DVD Writer/CD Writer Drive Features.....................1
Creating DVDs and CDs with RecordNow ...............2
Creating a Music CD from Other CDs .................2
Creating a Music CD from Audio Files.................3
Storing Files on a DVD or CD .............................5
Copying a DVD or CD.......................................7
Erasing a DVD or CD ........................................8
Removing Files from a Recorded Data Disc ..........8
Creating DVD Movies..........................................10
Creating a Quick DVD Movie...............................10
Creating a Custom DVD Movie ............................ 12
Requirements for Capturing Video..................... 12
Capturing Video with MyDVD .......................... 13
Editing Video Files in ShowBiz ......................... 14
Editing Video Files in MyDVD........................... 16
Recording a DVD Movie in MyDVD .................. 16
Editing Recorded DVDs in MyDVD........................ 17
Playing Your Recorded DVD Movie ....................... 18
Playing Your DVD in InterVideo WinDVD........... 18
Playing Your DVD in Windows Media Player ..... 19
About Recording Video Files ................................ 19
Erasing Recorded Video Files ............................... 20
Recording VHS Video Files onto DVDs .................. 20
Contents

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Setting Automatic Recording Options .................... 20
Compatibility Information..................................... 23
Disc Quick Reference .......................................... 23
Software Quick Reference.................................... 28
Troubleshooting .................................................. 33
My recording failed ........................................ 33
I can’t add files to my music CD ....................... 33
I can’t add data files to my DVD ....................... 34
My music CD won’t play in my stereo ............... 34
The titles of my music tracks don’t appear
on my CD ...................................................... 34
I get an error message when I try to capture
video files ...................................................... 35
My PC doesn’t recognize my digital
camcorder when I try to capture video files........ 35
My movie won’t play on my DVD player ........... 35
Which discs are compatible with my DVD
and CD players?............................................. 35
More Information................................................ 36

Creating DVDs and CDs 1
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Your PC includes the DVD Writer/CD Writer,
which is a DVD and CD rewriteable optical
drive. This guide tells you about the optical drive
features and tells you how to create audio, data,
and video DVDs and CDs.
Important: HP supports lawful use of technology and
does not endorse or encourage the use of our
products for purposes other than those permitted by
national copyright law.
DVD Writer/CD Writer Drive
Features
The DVD Writer/CD Writer is a multipurpose
rewriteable optical drive that can read audio,
data, and video files and can record them (burn)
to both CDs and DVDs.
This DVD Writer/CD Writer drive enables you to:
■ Create custom audio, data, and video files that
can be recorded onto DVDs or CDs.
■ Create DVDs and VCDs that can be played
on most DVD-ROM drives and some home
DVD players.
■ Create music CDs.
Creating DVDs and CDs

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■ Record directly to a DVD or CD from a digital
or an analog video source, such as a digital
video camera, a TV tuner, or a VCR.
Note: Your PC must have an analog capture card to
capture video from an analog device such as
a VCR.
■ Store, edit, and preserve video files from
various video sources.
■ Store large amounts of data.
■ Play DVD movies and music CDs.
■ Read data DVDs and CDs.
Note: Burn is an industry term used to describe the
recording of information to a DVD or CD. Optical
recording uses a laser beam to place information
onto the disc, thus the term ”burning.”
Creating DVDs and CDs
with RecordNow
Creating a Music CD
from Other CDs
1 Click Start, choose All Programs,
CD (DVD) Recorder,if it is present,
RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.
2 Click Make a Music Disc.
3 Select Make a Music Disc from
other CDs.
4 Insert a music CD, and then click Next.
5 Select the tracks you want to record, and then
click Add.

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6 Click the Finish button when you have added
all the audio files to your music CD project.
7 When prompted, insert a blank CD-R or
CD-RW disc, and then click Next.
Note: If you want to play your music CD in your home
or car stereo, use a CD-R disc. CD-RW discs
won’t play in some stereos.
8 Click OK. It is best not to use the PC while
recording.
9 Click Done when recording is complete.
Click Help and then select RecordNow Help
for more information about recording music CDs
with the RecordNow program.
Creating a Music CD from
Audio Files
1 Click Start, choose All Programs,
CD (DVD) Recorder,if it is present,
RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.
2 Click Make a Music Disc.
3 Select one of these options:
■ Make a Music Disc from Audio Files
Create a music disc from WAV, WMA, or
MP3 files on your hard disk drive
Or
■ Make a Disc for an MP3 Player
Create a disc specifically for MP3 players
4 Insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW disc into
the drive you want to record to, and then
click Next.

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5 Click Scan for Music to have RecordNow
search your hard disk drive for all music files.
These files appear in the Music on System
window, and can be used to create your
music CDs.
Note: RecordNow scans for all audio files, even the
sounds from your operating system. If you don’t
want to include these sounds, you can select an
option to scan for files of a certain length, or
you can just delete the unwanted files.
6 After you scan for music files, select a file
in the Music on System window and then
click Add.
Or
Click the Browse button, locate your music
file, and then click Add.
7 Click Next when all of your music files have
been added.
8 Click OK. It is best not to use the PC while
recording.
9 Click Done when recording is complete.
Click Help and then select RecordNow Help
for more information about recording music CDs
with the RecordNow program.
About creating a music CD
Important: HP supports lawful use of technology and
does not endorse or encourage the use of our
products for purposes other than those permitted
by national copyright law.
When recording music files, it is important to
note that:
■ In order to play your music CD in a home
or car stereo, it needs to be recorded as a
music CD in CD Audio (CDA) format, not
as a data CD.
■ You must record all music files in one
recording session because RecordNow closes
the CD after recording is complete. Music files
can be recorded repeatedly on a rewriteable
(CD-RW) disc, but all previously recorded
music files must be erased first.

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■ As you add music files in the recording
session, RecordNow calculates and displays
the amount of recording time available to
record additional music files.
■ You can’t record song titles unless you make
an exact copy of a music CD in your
collection.
■ If you try to record more than a standard CD
can hold, RecordNow displays a message
warning you that it may not fit on your disc.
Storing Files on a DVD or CD
Unlike music CDs, data DVDs and CDs can be
recorded in multiple sessions.
1 Click Start, choose All Programs,
CD (DVD) Recorder,if it is present,
RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.
2 Click Make a Data Disc.
3 Insert a blank or appendable CD-R,
CD-RW, DVD+R, or DVD+RW disc into your
drive, and then click Next.
■ If the disc is full, insert a blank or another
appendable disc. If the disc has data
recorded on it, files with the same name are
recorded over (updated) and any new files
are added.
Or
■ If you are appending a disc, click Yes.
Or
■ If you are erasing a rewriteable disc, click
Erase.
4 To name your disc, select Volume Label,
and then type your name over it. RecordNow
will assign a name based on the recording
date if you don’t type in a name.

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5 Add your data files to the file selection
window:
■ Click the Add Files and Folders button,
select your file, and then click Add. Repeat
this step until all files are added.
Or
■ Drag your file from your desktop or from
anywhere in Windows Explorer into the file
selection window. Repeat this step until all
files are added.
Note: You can rename your files in the file selection
window by selecting and typing over the current
name. This does not affect the original files on
your hard disk drive.
6 Click Next when all of your files have been
added.
7 Click OK to begin recording your files to disc.
8 Click Done when recording is complete.
Click Help, and then click RecordNow Help
for more information about recording data files
with the RecordNow program.

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About storing data files on disc
When storing data files on a disc, it is important
to note that:
■ You can add new data files to a CD-R and a
DVD+R in a later recording session, until the
disc is full. With DVD+R discs, you need to
select the correct setting in RecordNow to
record files in a later session. To do this, insert
your recorded DVD, open RecordNow, click
the Options button, select the Advanced
tab, and then select the recording option
you want.
■ When you record files that have the same
name as previously recorded files, RecordNow
updates the file and the previous version is
overwritten.
■ RecordNow allows you to change file names
and titles of files you want to record and files
that were previously recorded.
■ As you select data files to record to your disc,
RecordNow calculates and displays the
amount of recording space available on
your disc.
Copying a DVD or CD
Important: HP supports lawful use of technology and
does not endorse or encourage the use of our
products for purposes other than those permitted
by national copyright law.
RecordNow allows you to make a copy of a
music or data disc from your collection. You can’t
copy commercial DVDs because they are
protected by copyright laws and are encoded
to prevent illegal duplication.
To make a copy of a music or data disc from
your collection:
1 Click Start, choose All Programs,
CD (DVD) Recorder, if it is present,
RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.

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2 Select Make an Exact Copy.
3 Insert the CD or DVD you want to copy.
4 If you have more than one optical drive, click
the Change button, select the drive you want
to write to, and then click Next.
5 Insert a blank DVD or CD into the drive, and
then click OK.
6 Click OK, and then click Done when the
recording is complete.
Erasing a DVD or CD
RecordNow can erase all types of files from
rewriteable DVDs and CDs, leaving almost all the
disc space available for new recordings.
1 Click Start, choose All Programs,
CD (DVD) Recorder,if it is present,
RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.
2 Insert the DVD+RW or CD-RW you want to
erase.
3 Click the Erase button.
4 Click Yes.
Removing Files from a
Recorded Data Disc
RecordNow can’t erase files from recordable
(record once) DVDs or CDs, but files that have
been previously recorded can be removed.
When you remove a recorded file from a data
DVD+R or CD-R, the disc space is lost and can’t
be used for new recordings.
To remove data files from a recorded DVD or CD:
1 Click Start, choose All Programs,
CD (DVD) Recorder,if it is present,
RecordNow, and then click RecordNow.
2 Click Make a Data Disc.
3 Click Yes.
4 Insert the disc you want to remove files from,
and then click Next.

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5 Click Yes.
6 Select the file you want to remove and
then click the Remove icon. You must
have at least one file on your data disc
to re-record it.
7 Click Yes.
8 Click Next to re-record your data disc.
9 Click Done when the recording is complete.
About removing files in
RecordNow
When removing files in RecordNow, it is
important to note:
■ When you remove a recorded file from a data
DVD+R or CD-R, the disc space is lost and
can’t be used for new recordings.
■ You can’t remove music files from previously
recorded music CDs but you can remove music
files from the File Selection window in
RecordNow during the creation process.
■ You must use a blank CD to create a
music CD.
■ If you delete files from the file selection
window in RecordNow before the disc is
recorded, available disc space is not affected.
If you delete a file from a CD-R or DVD+R
after the disc is recorded, available disc
space is lost.

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Creating DVD Movies
Your DVD Writer/CD Writer drive allows you to
capture, or copy, edit, and record your home
movies in a few easy steps by using the Sonic
MyDVD software program.
If you simply want to copy a video file to disc in
the fewest steps, follow the instructions in
”Creating a Quick DVD Movie.”
If you want to create a video project that
combines various video files and slideshows,
refer to the section ”Creating a Custom DVD
Movie.”
Both options allow you to edit your DVD movie
when you are creating your disc or later if you
choose.
Creating a Quick DVD
Movie
To create a quick DVD Movie by using Sonic
MyDVD:
1 Connect your digital video camcorder
or other digital video device to the
FireWire(IEEE 1394) port on your PC.
Make sure your device is turned on and in
playback mode.
2 From the Digital Video Device window, select
Record Direct to DVD, and then click OK.
Or
Click Start, choose All Programs, Video,
if it is present, Sonic, and then click Start
MyDVD.
3 Select Transfer Video Direct to DVD.
4 When the Sonic MyDVD Wizard window
opens, type a title for your video.

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5 Select to record to a DVD or to your hard
disk drive.
6 Click the Edit Style button to change your
menu style settings, and then click OK.
7 Insert a blank DVD+R or DVD+RW disc into
your drive. If your DVD+RW disc has files on
it, MyDVD will prompt you to erase all files on
the disc.
8 Use the camcorder playback controls to find
the place in your video you want to begin
recording to disc.
9 Click Start Capturing to begin capturing
your video file.
10 Click Stop Capturing to stop capturing your
video file. MyDVD automatically creates your
video file and records it to your disc. MyDVD
ejects your disc when the recording process is
complete.
11 When you receive the message that your DVD
has been created successfully, click OK.

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Creating a Custom
DVD Movie
The software included with your new PC allows
you to create custom DVDs by including multiple
source videos and slideshows. In this section, you
will learn how to:
■ Transfer your home video files to your hard
disk drive.
■ Edit video files, and customize the look and
layout of the DVD menu.
■ Record your video project file to DVD or CD.
Requirements for Capturing Video
You can copy (capture) video files to your hard
disk drive by using the Sonic MyDVDTM program.
To capture video, your PC also needs either a
FireWire (IEEE 1394) card to capture video from
a digital video (DV) camera or an analog video
capture card to capture video from a TV, a VCR,
or an analog video camera.
To capture video files, you need to:
■ Connect your digital video capture device
properly.
■ Turn your device on and set it to playback
mode.
■ Make sure the program you want to use can
detect your digital or analog device.
Note: You may need to turn your device off and on
again for the program to detect it.
If your PC has both a digital and an analog
video capture card, make sure you select the
correct device from within the video program.
Refer to the Help menu in the video program you
are using for more information about selecting
your device.

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Capturing Video with MyDVD
To transfer your digital (DV) video files to your
hard disk drive by using Sonic MyDVD:
1 Connect your digital video camcorder
or other digital video device to the
FireWire (IEEE 1394) port on your PC. Make
sure your device is turned on and in
playback mode.
2 When the Digital Video Device window
appears, select Make a DVD, and then click
OK to open a MyDVD project. This option
allows you to edit your files before saving them
to your hard disk drive and before recording
the final movie to a DVD.
Or
Select Record Direct to DVD, and then click
OK to record your video files to a DVD.
3 Use the playback controls in MyDVD or on
your DV camcorder to find the place you want
to begin capturing your video file.
4 Select Add clip to Menu to copy your video
file to a MyDVD project.

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5 Click the Start Capturing button.
6 Click the Stop Capturing button to stop
capturing.
7 When the Save As window appears, type in a
name for your video file, and then click Save.
8 Click Done in the Capture window. Your
video file appears in the MyDVD project
window.
Editing Video Files in ShowBiz
Use the ArcSoft ShowBiz Video Editor program to
perform advanced editing tasks such as adding
transitions, effects, text overlays, and music tracks
to your video projects. You can then record your
video project to disc later, when you are ready. If
you do not want to edit your video files, you can
skip to ”Recording a DVD movie in MyDVD.”
To edit your video files:
1 Transfer your video files into your project file.
2 Click Start, choose All Programs, Video,
if it is present, ArcSoft ShowBiz Video
Editor, and then click Edit Movie.

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3 Transfer all your video files into your ShowBiz
project.
4 If your video files are already on the hard disk
drive, select the Media tab, and then click the
Book (Add) icon to browse and select your
video files.
Book (Add) Icon
5 Select your file, and then click Open.
6 Select a video file and then click OK. Click
OK again to process scene detection.
7 Drag video files from the album to the
storyboard or timeline area of the window.
You can add transitions, special effects, and
text. Refer to the Help (?) menu in ShowBiz
for more information about editing your
video files.
8 Select Project and then click Save to
save your video project to your hard disk
drive. This option allows you to make
additional changes to your video files before
recording them to disc or your hard disk drive.
9 When you are ready to record your files to
disc, select Create, and then click CD/VCD
or Basic DVD.
Note: You can also save your video file to your hard
disk drive and add it to a MyDVD Project. Refer
to ”Recording a DVD Movie in MyDVD.”

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10 Type a name under DVD Title & Project Name,
select your chapter and menu options and then
click Start.
11 Insert a blank or rewriteable disc. If the disc is
not blank, ShowBiz DVD will prompt you to
erase it.
12 When ShowBiz DVD has completed writing
the disc, the disc is ejected.
Refer to the Help (?) menu in ShowBiz Video
Editor for more information about editing and
recording your video files.
Editing Video Files in MyDVD
The Sonic MyDVD program does not provide
video editing capabilities other than trimming the
beginning and ending points of a video clip. You
can edit your video files in ArcSoft ShowBiz and
then record your file using MyDVD. Refer to the
previous section to edit your video file in
ShowBiz.
Recording a DVD Movie in MyDVD
Sonic MyDVD can record video files to create
DVDs and Video CDs (VCDs) that can be played
in most DVD-ROM drives and in some DVD
players.
Note: In MyDVD you can combine several video files
into one MyDVD project, and then you can
record the entire DVD project file onto a DVD+R
or DVD+RW disc.
1 Click Start, choose All Programs, Video,
if it is present, Sonic, Sonic MyDVD, and
then click Create MyDVD.
2 After you have captured your video file
and saved it to your My Videos folder, a
copy of your file appears in the MyDVD
project window.
3 Select DVD-Video or Video CD tab.
4 Add a title for your DVD Project by typing over
the title text that appears in the main window.