"Coho, it just seems strange that both of your computers would have this problem at the same time, and since the CDs work ok it just seems to point to the DVDs as the problem. I have found that some of the blank cheaper brands of DVDs do seem to have a higher failure rate when they get older. I no longer store anything that I want to keep only on DVDs, but make sure I have copies on external hard drives." As do I. I would much rather send a DVD to Alaska family than my external drve. Guess will reinstall Windows in about 2 weeks unless someone comes up with a better way. Thanks

Or you could use the following software which is compatible with windoze seven. SOFTWARE STEP BY STEP

A quick note to say that DVDflick worked. I got the video's made - just in a nick of time (bc. I have a full day conference tomorrow). Now my daughter can bring her friend the videos (and scrapbook). DVDflick was amazingly easy compared to other things I tried. Once on the program, I printed the 6 page guide - which explained most of what I needed to know. Two things I had to figure out myself - and am posting here for others who may try this. 1 - on the Configure your Project tab, there are settings for video. If you want to change the resolution/file size (as I did to fit a 45 minute video on a standard dvd), you can adjust the bit rate). 2 - I would recommend on the burning settings (also under configure your project tab), choose to have it burn it to dvd, and verify, and eject. The first dvd I made I only selected burn it and verify. It burned it - ejected, reinserted and played it. But then the dvd tray was locked and couldn't be opened. This is somewhat frequent occurence with disc burning software - which wants to prevent you from accidentally opening the tray before it's done. The only way I could open the tray was to shut the computer, and hit the open disk tray button as it was rebooting. The next video I made, I selected eject when done - and it ejected it. For a while I thought the tray was broken - and tried the usual methods to release - like the paper clip in the tiny hole near the tray. And going to my computer, d:, eject disk. Nothing worked bc. the software was preventing it. Once my disk was ejected - and the software closed, the open and close tray works fine with other programs. Thanks so much. This was a great program. Just curious if convertxtodvd would get me additional features. I can see burning many dvd's for people (we seem to be the videographers of many social gatherings and I'd like to give dvd's to people who were part of the plans). DVDflick worked great - but I don't mind paying a little if it gets me more features. Any thoughts? Thanks so much. You saved me. Lynn.

CDs are used for storage but executable files can be ran from them - all you programs are loaded via the CD/DVD. Yes, all files burned to CD become read only and if you copy any back to your hard drive you will need to change the name if you intend to modify the file. I know nothing about re-writable CDs but I would suggest you erase everything when wiping it. Do not apologise for asking seemingly basic questions, asking is learning.