How to Burn a DVD When It Doesn't Want to Work

Whether you are burning a DVD to archive files or to make a backup copy of your favorite movie, it's annoying when the DVD won't burn as expected. There are many reasons you might get a cryptic error message when you try to burn a DVD on your computer. Here are a few of the most common culprits:

Cheap DVDs

DVDs cost just a few cents worth of plastic, and they are manufactured in massive quantities. Sometimes you end up with a bad disc or a bad batch. Try a new disc or a whole new brand, and you may have more luck burning your DVD.

Dirty DVD Drive

Dust or debris in your DVD burner can prevent it from burning DVDs correctly. Buy a lens cleaning disc and use it in your DVD burner drive. This can clean things up and give you a clean, successful burn.

DVD Burning Speed

It’s tempting to burn DVDs at the highest speed possible. In theory, you’ll save time and can get more DVDs burned. In practice, though, higher speeds can result in unreliable burns.

Slow things down and set your DVDs to burn at 4x or even 2x. This may eliminate errors.

Overworked Computer

We all love to multitask. Most of the time your computer can handle many tasks simultaneously, but DVD burning isn’t necessarily one of them.

When burning DVDs, step away from the computer and let it concentrate all of its energy on burning the disc. This can prevent random errors during the burning process.

Outdated Firmware

If you aren't in the habit of keeping your computer's software updated, you may have missed out on a firmware update for your burner at some point. Go to the manufacturer's website and see if a firmware or software update is available. It may solve your problem.