family pics DVD wont work on all players

[Zeb]

If you're sure the DVD has burnt as a movie and not as a series of pictures (which not all DVD players support) then its probably due to the DVD-R being incompatible with the player. This shows in various ways...

1. Plays without problems (compatible)
2. Plays mostly but pauses now and then at random places (slightly incompatible)
3. Plays but pauses at a lot of random places (very incompatible)
4. Doesn't even get recognised as a DVD (incompatible)

Many think that a DVD is a DVD just like a video tape is a video tape but they're not. The best DVD players are actually the really cheap and cheerful ones. I've found they play the largest range of formats where the more expensive ones are often limited. I bought mine (ALBA) for £60 from Argos about 5 years ago and its multi-region, plays PAL and NTSC (those from America) including MP3, VCD and SVCD. Just doesn't like picture discs or DivX movies.

When buying blank media or even thinking of buying a new DVD player/burner check out www.videohelp.com and check out all the reviews there. You can cross reference players/burners with different types of media and using feedback from others can see what will and won't play.

[Linda_J]

Hi Zeb

Thanks for your comments.
We just found out the make and model of one of the DVD players that wont work.

The spec claims this-
DVD features: DVD-video, DVD-R, CD, CD-R, CD-RW, SVCD, VCD, MP3 and JPEG playback compatible.

Looks like that should give us a few things we can try till we find some thing that does work.

Our own £16 dirt cheap DVD player from Netto's   claims to do only DVD-video, CD and MP3.

Linda

[Zeb]

If it claims JPEG playback and it still doesn't work then there is another thing it could be (just to over complicate things )

Quite often the way data is written to a DVD can make a whole lot of difference as well. For example, a standard DVD movie can have I think about 4 different formats which would ultimately effect the way it plays back. These "configurations" would be in the preferences/settings of the burning software and, usually the default settings of the software are set correctly so that the burning of discs is more widespread compatible.  If this is the case then its a case of trial and error with the settings and burning discs to see what works and doesn't work but this is not something I'd like to do.

Personally I blame all these variations in DVD media, DVD burners and DVD players to the fact that when DVDs were released into the public that no standard had been set. Its a bit like when Betamax, VHS and Video 2000 were fighting for a place all those years ago, except with DVDs its more complex than "yes it works" or "no it doesn't"

[Linda_J]

Hi Zeb

Thanks for the reply.

Well we can try a few things and your mention of VHS just clicked. If all else fails we can use our VHS recorder and record from our DVD player and just send them the tape.

Linda

[Zeb]

What an excellent idea!

That way you know its always going to work

[Linda_J]

Hi Zeb

We should have thought of it before!

Linda