Question about formatting CDs...

Do any of you guys know how you format a cd when burning it so that it will play in your DVD player? I've heard there is a way to do it but I'm not sure how. I'm using Roxio 5.0. Thanks ahead of time for anyone who can help!

(My "boombox" that I used to play them on is with the troops over in Iraq or Kuwait. I had given it to my "husband" to take over so they had music at least, and he passed it on instead of bringing it home. I figured it's for a good cause, but my speakers are hooked up through the DVD player...)

Unless your DVD player is really old or something, you shouldn't need to format the CD. Just put it in your DVD player. If that doesn't work, then maybe your DVD player just doesn't support burned CDRs. You could try another CDR brand if that's the case. at www.dvdrhelp.com there's DVD comparison charts and stuff, and just look up your player's model number and it will tell you what it can and can't play.

I have mine rigged up something like yours too, and I noticed that some of the CDRs are much lighter and some are heavier. The heaveys play and the light ones don't.

Well Doctor_How, if I had put in a CD in and it worked, I wouldn't have wrote this thread up, huh? Just put the CD in...my gosh.

I've tried 3 different brands of CD-Rs, so this is not the case. My model isn't on that website, so I'll check some other sites. I was just told that there is a way to format the disc so it can be played.

Well, I've never head of having to format a CD, so please report back on what you find! You could also try burning a data CD of mp3s (at 128 kbps), which some DVD players support.

PW, that depends on what formats your DVD supports. Usually, older DVDs support the VideoCD and Audio CD format. So if you use your CD recording software to record either a VCD or an AudioCD, it should work. Newer DVD players can also play MP3, as doctor_how mentioned, meaning you could record a data CD on your computer, full of MP3s and your DVD player should be able to play it.

At the best of my knowledge, there isn't much difference nowadays between media, regarding it being playable or not. There is, however, certainly a difference regarding the quality of media - and therefore the time it will hold your data/audio/whatever harmless.

Yes yes, I've done some research as well. It seems the only way is to try the VCD thing. Either that or just get my little stereo back from Iraq! lol. Thanks guys!

It really depends on how picky you are. I'm rather selective on what brand I use. The best of the best anywhere are Mitsui, but they are rather expensive. I use the second best, which is Fujifilm, in my opinion. Sometimes CDs will just be rendered useless after while for some weird reason, or it won't support certain formats. Fujis work for VCD, MP3 CD, SVCD, pretty much anything I record onto it. I stay away from the no named, blank label CDs. Though it all depends on how much you are willing to spend for CDRs, what will work for your burner, and how badly you want your information preserved.

And I second the Mitsui suggestion. Usually, I just get what is available down here in Brazil, such as TDK or Maxell. Name brands seem to be (although that is not always the case) more reliable than generic brands, as you mentioned.

Are you using a PC or Mac? If you're using a Mac I can guide you straight through the process!

TDK for me.

I try to use Maxell for everything recordable (cassette tapes for my 4-track, CDRs), as I've gotten only one defect in five years or so of use. (One tape had a drop-out point, which I just ignored.)

If Maxell CDRs aren't available, I'm all about the Fujifilm ones.