I have a question about DVDs?

Question

If I go out and buy a dvd recorder and record for two hours on it, can I then put that DVD into the computer and take what I recorded and put it on the hard-drive? Also, if I put it on the computer, can I then erase what was on the DVD so that it has as much room as it started with. To avoid any questions about my drive, it is DVD compatable.

Answer 1

In order to do what you want, there are several conditions that need to be met.

1) Your computer's drive has to be able to read the discs written by the recorder. Since you want to erase and re-use the discs, you have to use RW (rewritable) media. Some drives have trouble reading those types of discs.

2) Make sure your recorder uses a format that your computer drive can read. Try both DVD+RW and DVD-RW to see if your computer drive will read either one or both.

3) In order to transfer the DVD content to your hard drive, you need to get a program to do that; they are called "DVD rippers" or something like that.

4) If your computer drive us a DVD writer of the same format as your DVD recorder (+RW or -RW) you can erase the DVD on the computer using the disc utility or DVD writing program. Otherwise, you can use your DVD recorder to erase the disc. No memory capacity is lost in doing this.

Answer 2

DVD-RW's are rewriteable media.
Give it a quick test run before you waste lots of time. Record a minute or two on the DVD recorder, pop the disc out and try to transfer it to the computer.
If it works, you have your answer.
If it doesn't, there may be several reasons why it didn't work-- not the right kind of video card, the DVD recorder records as a file not recognized by the computer, or the signal from the tv/cable/satellite contains copy protection called Macrovision.

Answer 3

Only if you use a dvdrw disc. If you use a R disc you would have to finalize and then you could use your computer to hard drive. Remember that finalized disc can no longer be used to add information.
The DVD rw disc can be used to transfer info to the hard drive and then you can either erase the info on that disc or add more info