Tutor Tips from ... the Computer Tutor

25 September 2005

Burning Data DVDs with Nero Express

In a previous Tutor Tip (Burning Data DVDs with Nero Burning ROM), I explained how to use the full version of Nero to create data DVD-R’s. Here are instructions for using Nero Express, the "lighter" version. Note: these directions refer to Nero Express version 6. Other versions will be similar, but will vary slightly in the names of buttons and selections.

Whenever you are going to burn a DVD, be sure to close all other programs. Do not use another program while you are burning a DVD. If you choose to ignore this caveat, you can end up with skips and hiccups on the disc.

How to Copy a DVD

  1. Launch Nero Express from the Start Menu - Go to Start, All Programs (Programs in Windows 98), Nero, and Nero Express - or use the icon on your Desktop. This will bring up the Nero project page.
  2. Nero Express will ask, "Which recorder would you like to use?" Be sure to select your DVD-R/RW and not the CD-R/RW.
  3. Select Copy entire disc.
  4. Place the original DVD (the one you wish to copy) in the DVD-recorder drive. If Windows tries to do something with the disc, cancel the operation.
  5. On the next window, select the source and destination drive. Be sure the Source drive and the Destination drive are the DVD-RW drive. [Note: even if you have two drives, pretend for the moment that you only have the one drive.]
    • Source Drive - This is the drive which contains the disc you would like copied.
    • Destination drive - This should be the same as the Source, i.e. the recorder.
    • Quick Copy - Do not use this option as it can cause problems with the newly-created disc.
    • Writing Speed - Unless you are having problems creating discs, leave this set to Maximum.
    • Number of Copies - Select the number of copies you would like to burn.
    • Verify data on disc after burning - a good idea.
  6. Click the Copy (or Burn) button. The source disc will first be analyzed to check for copyrights and errors on the disc. As you are burning, you will see a moving status bar indicating the progress of the recording process.
  7. Wait patiently for the disc to be copied to the hard drive (temporarily).
  8. When the original disc has been copied, Nero will open the drive door and wait patiently for you to insert a blank DVD-R disc in the drive and close the door. Do NOT click anything on the screen (your only choice is cancel).
  9. Wait patiently for the blank disc to be written. When finished, Nero will inform you that the process is complete. Click OK.
  10. After the successful recording, you will be returned to the recording window. Click "Next" to move forward to a window that will ask what you want to do now that you have finished this project. In the meantime, Nero will eject the newly created DVD.

You have just created a copy of a DVD.

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Multisession DVD

This is a good time to talk about multisession discs. A session is a recorded segment that may contain one or more tracks of any type. The DVD recorder does not have to write the entire session at once - you can write a single track, and come back later and write another - but the session must be "closed" before a standard audio DVD or DVD-ROM player will be able to use it. Additional sessions can be added until the disc is closed or there’s no space left.

This provides a simple and reliable way to write some data to a disc now and still be able to add more later. Most of the popular DVD creation programs allow you to "link" one or more earlier sessions to the session currently being burned. This allows the files from the previous sessions to appear in the last session without taking up any additional space on the DVD (except for the directory entry). You can also "remove" or "replace" files, by putting a newer version into the last session, and by not including a link to the older version. When you put an audio DVD into a typical DVD player, it only looks at the first session. For this reason, multisession writes do not work for audio DVDs.

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How to Create a New Data DVD - No Multisession
 Please note that when a DVD is burned without a multisession, the DVD is write- protected and no further burning is possible.

  1. Launch Nero Express from the Start Menu - Go to Start, All Programs (Programs in Windows 98), Nero, and Nero Express - or use the icon on your Desktop. This will bring up the Nero project page.
  2. Nero Express will ask, "Which recorder would you like to use?" Be sure to select your DVD-R/RW and not the CD-R/RW.
  3. Click the Add button to select the files you would like to burn. A window will appear that looks very similar to Windows Explorer and from here you are able to choose the files you would like to record and save on disc.
    • Navigate to the folder that contains the files you wish to add.
    • Select one file by clicking on it.
    • Select several random files by clicking the first one, and then holding down the CTRL key while clicking on the additional files.
    • Select all of the files, by right-clicking on one of the files, and then left-clicking on Select all.
  4. Once you have selected your file(s), click the Add button. Repeat this process until you have added all of the files you wish.
  5. When you have added all of the files you wish, click the Finished button. This will return you to the previous screen. A gauge at the bottom of the screen will tell you how close you are to filling the DVD. As long as the bar is blue, you are okay.
  6. Once all your files have been added, click "Next" to prepare your disc for burning.
  7. Choose your burn settings:
    • Current Recorder - The supported burners you have connected to your PC will be displayed and the Image Recorder if you chose to save to your hard drive.
    • Disc Name - Select a title for your disc.
    • Writing Speed - Select the speed in which you would like to burn.
    • Number of Copies - Select the number of copies you would like to burn.
    • Allow files to be added later - select No.
    • Verify data on disc after burning - It is a good idea to tick this box.
  8. Click the Burn button. As you are burning, you will see a moving status bar indicating the progress of the recording process.
  9. Wait patiently for the blank disc to be written. When finished, Nero will inform you that the process is complete. Click OK.
  10. After the successful recording, you will be returned to the recording window. Click "Next" to move forward to a window that will ask what you want to do now that you have finished this project. In the meantime, Nero will eject the newly created DVD.

You have just created a single-session data DVD.

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How to Create a New Data DVD - Multisession

  1. Launch Nero Express from the Start Menu - Go to Start, All Programs (Programs in Windows 98), Nero, and Nero Express - or use the icon on your Desktop. This will bring up the Nero project page.
  2. Nero Express will ask, "Which recorder would you like to use?" Be sure to select your DVD-R/RW and not the CD-R/RW.
  3. Click the Add button to select the files you would like to burn. A window will appear that looks very similar to Windows Explorer and from here you are able to choose the files you would like to record and save on disc.
    • Navigate to the folder that contains the files you wish to add.
    • Select one file by clicking on it.
    • Select several random files by clicking the first one, and then holding down the CTRL key while clicking on the additional files.
    • Select all of the files, by right-clicking on one of the files, and then left-clicking on Select all.
  4. Once you have selected your file(s), click the Add button. Repeat this process until you have added all of the files you wish.
  5. Click the Finished button. This will return you to the previous screen. A gauge at the bottom of the screen will tell you how close you are to filling the DVD. As long as the bar is blue, you are okay.
  6. Once all your files have been added, click "Next" to prepare your disc for burning.
  7. Choose your burn settings:
    • Current Recorder - The supported burners you have connected to your PC will be displayed and the Image Recorder if you chose to save to your hard drive.
    • Disc Name - Select a title for your disc.
    • Writing Speed - Select the speed in which you would like to burn.
    • Number of Copies - Select the number of copies you would like to burn.
    • Allow files to be added later - select Yes.
    • Verify data on disc after burning - It is a good idea to tick this box.
  8. Click the Burn button. As you are burning, you will see a moving status bar indicating the progress of the recording process.
  9. Wait patiently for the blank disc to be written. When finished, Nero will inform you that the process is complete. Click OK.
  10. After the successful recording, you will be returned to the recording window. Click "Next" to move forward to a window that will ask what you want to do now that you have finished this project. In the meantime, Nero will eject the newly created DVD.

You have just created a multi-session data DVD.

How to Add Files to a Multisession Data DVD
 You can add files to a multisession DVD by following one of the two procedures for creating a data DVD listed above. The files and folders already on the DVD will be grayed, indicating that you cannot remove them from the disc. You can continue to add files until the disc is full or you choose not to "allow files to be added later."

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