what is DLA and how do I use DLA if I am using a CD?

Answer 1

Packet witing: DLA vs. InCD vs. Drag-to-Disc
1. Sonic DLA (Drive Letter Access)
2. Nero InCD
3. Roxio Drag-to-Disc
4. Other packet writting software

Drive Letter Access (DLA) turns your CDs and DVDs into virtual hard drives. Burning is easy - and there's no need to pre-stage files. Just drag and drop your data directly to a recordable CD or DVD, then process, format, and burn in one simple step. The final disc will be compatible with almost any Windows computer!

Which one do you use ? I used InCD first then switched to DLA. Both of them have their pros and cons and I am using both of them. I would like to share my experience and would like to know the comment about Drag-to-Disc.

InCD positive:
InCD write UDF/ISO Bridge format discs and have better compatibility. Windows 95 OSR2 upper can read the UDF 1.02 filesystem without installing UDF reader and OS not supporting UDF can still read the ISO filesystem.

InCD negative:
In Nero family, the only way to write unicode (filename) file to disc is by using InCD. However InCD does not support write-once media, it can only write to ReWritable disc. Moreover, InCD crash more easily than DLA. When it crash, you lose all data on the disc. (DLA will not)

DLA positive:
No matter DLA crash or interrupted while writing the disc (power down/reboot, etc), to the DLA software's credit, this "mishap" did not destroy the disc or cause any loss of previously written data (*). Moreover, DLA support writting write-once media (CD-R, DVD-R, DVD+R). Also, you can disable/enable DLA in the drive's properties page.

DLA negative:
First, the discs written by DLA are only readable on windows system with DLA or some UDF reader installed. Second, the make compatible function can only apply to write-once media and does not support long filename (8.3 only). Furthermore, sonic haven't update it since 2004.

Finally, Roxio Drag-to-Disc seems have the advantage of both InCD and DLA. I will try it out when I am ready to re-install my system. Feature (*) is very important to me, don't know if Drag-to-Disc have this feature ?