HP 742n - Pavilion - 512 MB RAM User manual

hp pavilion home pc
hp dvd writer

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.
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
© Hewlett-Packard Company, 2002. 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.

hp dvd writer iii
Using the hp dvd writer........................1
hp dvd writer Drive Features...................................1
Compatible Discs..................................................2
hp dvd writer Software ..........................................6
Locating Software ...............................................10
Using the hp dvd writer .......................................10
Recording Audio and Data Files ...........................12
About recording music.....................................14
About recording data ......................................14
About recording with HP DLA ...........................15
Editing Video Files .............................................. 16
Editing video with ShowBiz.............................. 16
Recording Video Files.......................................... 19
Using MyDVD ................................................ 19
Creating a DVD movie .................................... 19
Editing DVDs and VCDs................................... 21
Watching DVD Movies ........................................ 22
More Information................................................ 23
Contents

iv HP Pavilion home PC

hp dvd writer 1
Your HP Pavilion home PC includes the
hp dvd writer 200 series, which is a DVD
rewritable (DVD+RW/R) optical drive. This
guide tells you about the hp dvd writer drive
features and tells you how to use the drive with
the included software.
hp dvd writer Drive
Features
The hp dvd writer is a multipurpose rewritable
drive that can read audio, data, and video files
and can record, or write, in both CD and DVD
formats.
This hp dvd 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.
Store, edit, and preserve video files from
various video sources.
Play music CDs and DVD movies.
Read data CDs and DVDs.
Create CDs and DVDs.
An important feature of the hp dvd 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.
The DVDs that you create are compatible with
most DVD video players (DVD+R disc only)
and with most computer DVD-ROM drives.
Using the hp dvd writer

2HP Pavilion home PC
Your hp dvd writer drive can read and record
the following audio formats:
WAV and MP3, WMA, CDA for CDs
WAV, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, WMA, and
Layer 2 files for DVDs
Your hp dvd writer drive can read and record
the following video formats:
MPEG-1 and MPEG-2
AVI and WMV
Compatible Discs
The hp dvd writer drive is able to read from and
record to almost every type of optical disc.
Writing speed rates for the hp dvd writer drive
are fast, allowing quick recording times.
You can use the following discs in the
hp dvd writer drive:
DVD-ROM, DVD+R, DVD+RW
Audio and video DVDs
CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW
Audio and video CDs (VCD)
Important: The hp dvd writer drive can’t record
to DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM discs. When
recording, use DVDs that have a “+” in their
name.

hp dvd writer 3
Disc type Size Disc features/compatibility With this disc you can
DVD-ROM
(Digital
Versatile
Disc
read-only
memory)
4.7 GB to
17 GB
Read-only
(software, audio, data,
video files).
Single-sided or double-sided
format.
Single-layered or dual-layered
format.
Reads in DVD-ROM drives.
Plays in DVD video players.
Play DVD movies.
Play DVD games.
DVD+R
(DVD
recordable)
4.7 GB Records once.
Records video files in 60 to 180
minutes, depending on resolution
and sampling rate.
Records data files up to 4.7 GB.
Reads in most DVD-ROM drives.
Plays in some DVD video
players.
Make a permanent copy of a DVD video
file. These discs cannot be erased or reused.
This can protect information from being
accidentally changed or deleted.
Share your created DVD movie with
others — DVD+R discs are compatible with
more DVD players than a DVD+RW disc.
Use for permanent storage of your videos
and permanent storage of your hard drive
files.

4HP Pavilion home PC
Disc type Size Disc features/compatibility With this disc you can
DVD+RW
(DVD
rewritable)
4.7 GB Rewrites about 1000 times.
Records video files in 60 to
180 minutes, depending on
resolution and sampling rate.
Records data files up to
4.7 GB.
Reads in most DVD-ROM
drives.
Use for temporary storage when creating
and editing your DVD movie. These discs
can be erased and reused.
Use for permanent storage of hard drive
files.
CD-ROM
(
com
p
act disc
read-only
memory)
650 MB Read-only (software, data,
music files).
Reads in CD-ROM and
DVD-ROM drives.
Plays in some DVD video
players.
Play music CDs.
Install software.
CD-R
(compact disc
recordable)
650 MB or
700 MB
Records once.
Records video files: 8 to 24
minutes. Records audio files:
74 to 80 minutes.
Read in CD-ROM and
DVD-ROM drives.
Plays in most home or car
stereo CD players but cannot
play in most DVD video
players.
Make a permanent copy of a CD. Discs
cannot be erased or reused. This can
protect information from being accidentally
changed or deleted.
Make music CDs to play in home or car
stereos.
Use for permanent storage of a short video
(Video CD).
Use for permanent storage of hard drive
files.

hp dvd writer 5
Disc type Size Disc features/compatibility With this disc you can
CD-RW
(compact disc
rewritable)
650 MB or
700 MB
Rewrites about 1000 times.
Records video files: 8 to 24
minutes. Records audio files:
74 to 80 minutes.
Reads in most CD-ROM and
DVD-ROM drives.
Cannot play in most home or
car stereo CD players or in
most DVD video players.
Make a temporary copy of a CD. Discs can
be erased and reused.
Make music CDs you will be playing in an
MP3 disc player or PC or use for temporary
storage of audio files.
Use for temporary storage of a short video
(Video CD).
Use for temporary storage of hard drive
files.
For the latest disc compatibility information for your HP Pavilion, check the HP Web site:
http://www.hp.com/support/dvd-compatibility
Important: The hp dvd writer drive cannot write to DVD-R, DVD-RW, or DVD-RAM discs. Use DVDs that have a “+” in
their name.
Note: The recording times between brands of disc manufacturers may differ.

6HP Pavilion home PC
hp dvd writer Software
The HP Pavilion has various programs preinstalled that you can use with the hp dvd writer drive:
Sonic MyDVD™ ArcSoft ShowBiz InterVideo WinDVD Windows Media Player
HP RecordNow HP DLA CyberLink PowerDVD Windows Movie Maker
Note: Either InterVideo WinDVD or CyberLink PowerDVD is preinstalled, depending on your country/region.
Icon Software What you can do Recommended discs
MyDVD
(preinstalled)
Record video files directly from a digital video
source, such as a Digital Video (DV) camera
or camcorder or a VHS video recorder, in a
few steps.
Create customized CDs and DVDs using video
clips, pictures, and photographs with drag-and-
drop simplicity. Add titles, background, and
chapter button layouts.
Edit existing video files or add new files to a
previously recorded DVD.
Re-edit recorded video projects created with
MyDVD without going back to original
source files.
Preview a movie before you record to CD
or DVD.
View created DVDs on DVD video players and
DVD-ROM drives.
Use DVD+R discs to create movies
that play on DVD video players or
on PCs with DVD-ROMs and
playback software.
Use CD-R discs to create VCDs
that play on PCs with DVD-ROM
drives. Plays in some DVD video
players.
Use CD-RW and DVD+RW discs
as temporary storage of large
data or video files that are used
only on your PC.

hp dvd writer 7
Icon Software What you can do Recommended discs
CyberLink
PowerDVD
(preinstalled
for some
countries/regions)
Play DVD movies, music CDs, and video
CDs that you create or buy.
DVD-ROMs
Windows Media
Player
(preinstalled)
Play music CDs.
Play DVD movies.
Record music files.
Organize digital files.
CD-ROMs
CD-Rs, CD-RWs
DVD-ROMs
DVD-R, DVD+RWs
HP RecordNow
(preinstalled)
Record non-protected music and data files.
Create customized music CDs to play in
your home or car stereo.
Copy and share data files.
Record a copy of an existing music or data
CD to use on the PC.
Record data to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD+R, and
DVD+RW formats.
Copy short video files.
Note: Video files recorded with
HP RecordNow can be viewed on a
PC but not on home DVD video
players.
Use CD-R discs to create music
CDs to play on car and home
stereos. Use to share data files
with others.
Use DVD+R discs to create a
permanent copy of large data
files.
Use CD-RW and DVD+RW discs
as temporary storage of large files
that are used only on your PC.

8HP Pavilion home PC
Icon Software What you can do Recommended discs
Windows Movie
Maker
(preinstalled)
Import video and other media.
Create and edit video project into WMV format.
Preview files.
Send movie using e-mail or to a Web server.
CD-Rs, CD-RWs
DVD+Rs, DVD+RWs
InterVideo
WinDVD
(preinstalled
for some
countries/regions)
Play DVD movies, music CDs, and video CDs
that you create or buy.
DVD-ROMs
HP DLA
(Drive Letter
Access)
(preinstalled)
Use your hp cd-writer or hp dvd writer drive as
a diskette drive, quickly copying and
transferring files from one computer to another.
Move and record audio and data files from
your hard drive to CDs and DVDs using the
drag-and-drop feature.
Rename, delete, cut, copy, and save files
directly to your CD or DVD drive from
Windows Explorer.
Create CD-R discs that are compatible with
almost any CD-ROM drive.
Reads and write files directly to CDs or DVDs
with any software program that reads from and
writes to a drive letter.
Use CD-R, CD-RW, and
DVD+R and DVD+RW discs to
quickly copy hard drive files.
Use the make compatible
feature with CD-R discs to
share files with other
computers.
Note: You must f ormat each
disc before using this
drag-and-drop software.
Refer to the section
“About recording with
HP DLA.”

hp dvd writer 9
Icon Software What you can do Recommended discs
ArcSoft ShowBiz
(preinstalled)
Capture video directly from a digital or an
analog video source.
Note: To import analog video, you need an
analog video capture adapter.
Assemble movies by dragging and
dropping video clips and scenes.
Edit your movies. Cut scenes, add music
and sound effects, and use still images, text,
voice-overs and insert video transitions.
Preview movies during editing and before
recording final files.
Create video files and save them to your
hard drive. Play them on your PC.
Create video files, and record them to CDs
and DVDs. Play them on DVD video
players.
Use DVD+R discs to create movies
that play on DVD video players or
on PCs with DVD-ROMs and
playback software.
Use CD-R discs to create VCDs
that play on PCs with DVD-ROM
drives. Not compatible with DVD
video players.
Use CD-R discs to create VCDs
that play on PCs equipped with
DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drives and
playback software. Also, these are
compatible with DVD video
players that have video-CD
playback.
Note: Your hp dvd writer drive will not copy commercially available DVD movies. Most commercial DVDs are encoded to
prevent unauthorized duplication.

10 HP Pavilion home PC
Locating Software
To open the hp dvd 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
“hp dvd writer Software”section to determine the
best programs for the tasks you want to do.
If any of your programs has been recently
updated by the manufacturer, you may have an
HP Software Update CD with several updated
programs that came with your HP Pavilion
home PC, or you may have a specific CD with a
new program to install before you use the hp dvd
writer drive. Follow the installation instructions
that came with the CD.
Using the hp dvd writer
When you first insert a CD or DVD into your
hp dvd writer drive, 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 writable CD folder using Windows
Explorer.
Create a disc using HP RecordNow.
Format this disc using Windows Explorer to act
like a diskette.
Take no action.
Note: If this window of options does not appear, you can
click Start, My Computer, right-click the dvd
writer drive icon, and then select one of the
available options. You can also open a software
program before you insert a disc, select an action,
and then follow onscreen instructions from the
program.

hp dvd writer 11
You can choose to have this 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:
1Click Start.
2Click My Computer.
3Right-click the dvd writer drive icon in the
section Devices with Removable Storage,
and select Properties.
4Click the AutoPlay tab.
5Select an action you want Windows to
perform, or select to have Windows asks
you each time to choose an action.
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 click OK. The window
closes, and you can then manually select a
different option through the Start menu on the
desktop.

12 HP Pavilion home PC
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 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 customize audio files
and back up large data files to CD-R, CD-RW,
DVD+R, and DVD+RW discs with
HP RecordNow.
For best recording results, HP recommends that
you don’t perform any other tasks while
recording.
To use HP RecordNow to record audio or data
files:
1Click Start, choose All Programs,
HP RecordNow, and then click
RecordNow.
2Select one of the following options:
Click Make an Exact Copy to create a
copy of a single music or data disc. If you
copy MP3 audio files, you may not be able
to play them back on your home or car
stereo. This option creates a closed CD
or DVD.

hp dvd writer 13
Click Make a Music Disc 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. This option creates a closed
CD or DVD.
Click Make a Data Disc to create a copy
of your personal data files. This option
allows you to add new files or update
previously recorded files with the same
name to your data disc until the CD-R or
CD-RW disc is full. You can record data files
to a DVD+R disc only once. For DVD+RW
discs, you must erase all previously
recorded data and then re-record your files.
3Press the Eject button on the hp dvd writer
drive, and insert the blank CD-R, CD-RW,
DVD+R, or DVD+RW disc.
4Follow onscreen instructions to complete
recording your files. Click the Help
button for more information about the
HP RecordNow program.
Important: HP 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.

14 HP Pavilion home PC
About recording music
HP RecordNow records music CDs that are
closed 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 re-recorded on a rewritable
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 on a car or home
CD player.
For best compatibility with CD-ROM drives and
CD players, use CD-R discs to record music.
About recording data
When recording data files, HP RecordNow can
update existing files that have been previously
recorded and add new files to rewritable CDs.
For rewritable DVDs, you must erase all
previously recorded data and then re-record your
files.
You can add data files to a CD-R disc in multiple
recording sessions using HP RecordNow until the
CD is full. Any files with the same name will be
overwritten with the newer version.
Important: When HP RecordNow or MyDVD records
data to a DVD+R disc, it creates a closed 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.
HP RecordNow can also make copies of discs
and archive data from your hard disk drive.
HP RecordNow will not record copyrighted DVD
titles.

hp dvd writer 15
About recording with HP DLA
HP DLA allows you to use the hp dvd writer drive
like a diskette drive by using the drag-and-drop
capability. When using HP DLA to copy files
directly to CDs or DVDs, you need to format the
disc first. After you format the disc and record
your files, you can make the disc compatible so it
can be read from other computers.
To format a disc that allows you to record files
using the DLA program:
1Press the Eject button on the hp dvd writer
drive, and insert the blank CD-R, CD-RW,
DVD+R, or DVD+RW disc.
2Click Start, and then click My Computer.
3Right-click the dvd writer drive icon, and
select Format.
4Under Volume Label, type in the title of
the disc.
5Under Format type, select Full or Quick
(erase). You must select the quick format for
all CD-R and DVD+R discs. You must select the
full format for a CD-RW or DVD+RW disc the
first time you format. Full format can take up to
25 to 45 minutes, depending on the speed of
the drive and the size of your disc. Quick
format usually takes less than a minute.
6If desired, click Enable Compression.
(Only PCs with DLA software installed
can read files formatted with this type of
compression.) If the files are already
compressed, DLA cannot compress them
again.
Important: CD-R discs that contain compressed files
cannot be made compatible.
7Click Start to format the disc.
8Click Yes to the message that all files
on the CD or DVD will be erased.

16 HP Pavilion home PC
9Click OK.
10 When the disc formatting is complete, you can
copy your files to the dvd writer drive icon.
If after you record your files, you want to read
this formatted disc (uncompressed CD-R only)
on most other CD-ROM drives, right-click the
dvd writer drive icon and select Make
Compatible.
Important: The Make Compatible option for DLA
software is available only for uncompressed CD-R
discs. Once you make a disc compatible, the disc
is closed, and you can’t write any more files to it.
Editing Video Files
You can use ArcSoft ShowBiz (ShowBiz) to edit
your video files before you save them to your
hard drive or record them to CDs or DVDs. To
record video files with a standard DVD format,
use MyDVD.
Editing video with ShowBiz
In ShowBiz, you have the option to import, edit,
and record your video files directly to CDs or
DVDs. If you record your video files using
ShowBiz instead of MyDVD, your DVD or VCD
does not have a customized background or any
titles or chapter buttons. To have these format
options, you must export the file to MyDVD,
choose the formatting settings, and then record
the video file to disc.