How to Burn a DVD

You can burn data on DVDs, just as it is possible to burn data on CDs.

Before you decide to burn a DVD, it is important to know what kind of DVD you would like to burn. The type of DVD will usually determine the process you use to go about burning. The three most common types of DVDs to burn are Data DVD's, Multimedia Files to a DVD and making a copy and burning a commercial DVD. The burning process will be determined by the type of data you want to burn. You could do three possible actions:

1. Burn Data to a DVD
2. Burn Multimedia Files to a DVD
3. Copy and Burn a Commercial DVD

Burning Data to a DVD

Ordinary data such as documents, spreadsheets, database files and backup files require only general DVD burning programs. The data that you burn can be viewed on any type of computer with a DVD drive. Popular DVD burning software programs include Nero 9 and Super DVD Creator 9.8.8.
You will need to purchase or download any of the DVD burning software titles that are available on the market. For some computers that are purchased new, DVD burning software already comes installed and configured for your machine and DVD burner. You just need to open up your DVD burner software, choose to burn a data DVD and follow the instructions. You can usually burn a full length DVD (about 4.7 GB of data) in less than 20 minutes and even quicker with high speed DVD burners.

Burning Multimedia Files to a DVD

Multimedia files are usually larger files that include video either recorded from a TV set, camcorder or digital camera or downloaded from the internet. You may also want to convert an old VHS tape to a more user friendly DVD.
With today's DVD authoring tools, you can easily burn multimedia files and give them professional features such as adding a title or menu page or cataloguing many TV shows that you have already saved on your computer's hard drive. Some DVD burning software packages even allow you to add subtitles that you can create yourself.
You can add DRM (digital rights management) with the help of your burning software, if you are creating commercial videos that you would want to make difficult to copy.

Copying and Burning a Commercial DVD

Many people use their DVD burner to burn copies of commercial DVDs. In most parts of the world, it is illegal to copy a commercial DVD and sell or distribute it. However, you may want to make a copy for archiving purposes.
There are many tools that can copy a commercial DVD. However, apart from the normal DVD burner and DVD burning software, you will also need special software that can decode or crack the digital rights management. It is also important to note that besides cracking the code and copying the data of the commercial DVD, you may need to shrink the file.
Most commercial DVDs are dual layer and have between 7 and 8.4 GB of data. These files must be compressed to fit on a normal 4.7 GB DVD. Once you have cracked the commercial DVD and compressed it, you can use ordinary DVD burning software to burn your DVD.