How do you copy camcorder wmv files from your hard drive on to a disc?

[ChristmasCaroligula]

I have tried using DVD+RW discs and it comes up with a message saying there is no disc in the drive. Is this because the disc is unsuitable, or because the drive is broken?

Cheers

bump

try writing something else to the disc to check if it is ok.

Tried it and it's not working.

So it looks like the disc.

Have just phoned the PC World helpline and been told that the only thing to do is put the recovery disc in.

This cannot be right can it?

Sorry meant it looks like it's not the disc, it's the disc drive

I really can't get any joy out of the helpline. Will warn you all not to buy a computer from PC World because all their advice ever is, is to wipe your PC and start again. Which is really not very helpful.

Update and rant: 3 times I've phoned the helpline.

Phone man 1: Wipe your computer, lose all your data and programmes and start again

Phone man 2: I have no record of you. Go to the shop you bought your computer and get a reference number

Phone man 3: I am the only intelligent person in the company. I will take you through the steps you need to make sure this happens, without you needing to wipe your computer or go to the shop.

How can a helpline be so inconsistent?

because they employ people for peanuts who have no experience and care less!

No way you need to reinstall the whole operating system - if it is just the dvd drive that is not working.

Can you play things on it ? Is it just writing that is the problem ?

If the drive plays ordinary disks then the problem may be with the writing software - it may not recognise which drive it is supposed to use. I would try uninstalling and reinstalling just that bit first.

Do you have to convert the file to DVD? I have to with AVI files and use convertXtoDVD software - not sure if it is the same with wmv files.

Is your drive a DVDR/RW or a DVD rom with CDR/RW? My PC only has a CDR/RW and a DVD Rom so I can play DVDs/CDs and burn CD's but not DVD's - I had to buy an external DVDR/RW to be able to do this. I presume it has got a DVD writer though otherwise the PCWorld guys would have said.

Hi FB. Yes wot you said. I've realised that this is what you have to do - just keep phoning the helpline until you find the guy who knows! Helpline man number 3 talked me through the problem and now everything works.

But this is my tip - just like with a plumber, don't accept the first piece of advice, just keep calling back till you find someone trained who obviously isn't going to stay there for long!

so - what was the problem ?

Oh I have no idea Throck. I just know he fixed it. He made me uninstall and re-install the CD and DVD drives, and hey presto, all was OK again.

No need whatsoever to wipe my computer. I really wish I'd taken the first guy's name so I could ring him up and tell him!

that means that the files that tells the dvd drive how to work had not been installed properly.

Techie speak - he helped you reinstall the drivers (I think !)

Glad it works now.