Burning a Windows-compatible DVD

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Level 1

17 points

Burning a Windows-compatible DVD

I'm new to Macs and also I've never had a DVD writer before so apologies if this is a dumb question.

I wanted to burn some files to DVD to send to someone with a Windows box. I also wanted to make it multi-session (I've since found out you can't make multi-session DVDs) so I RTFM and followed the instructions (which imply that both CDs and DVDs can be multi-session) to use Disk Utlity, create a disk image of the files, then burn the image.

All worked well and my Mac could read the DVD just fine.

When I tested it on a Windows box (3 different ones actually, just to be sure) it can't read it. In Explorer it shows the drive as a DVD/RW drive, but once it has tried to read my DVD it changes to CD Drive so Windows seems to think it is a (blank) CD.

Am I correct in thinking that by creating a disk image (.DMG) that it has created a Mac-specific DVD rather than the hybrid format the documentation describes?

Since I can't make a multi-session DVD should I just put a blank DVD in the drive, drag the files and folders out of Finder and drop them on the DVD icon on the Desktop to burn them to DVD in a format compatible with Windows?

Thanks.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 4, 2009 1:43 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Roger Wilmut1

Level 10

131,540 points

Feb 4, 2009 3:56 AM in response to parish_chap

should I just put a blank DVD in the drive, drag the files and folders out of Finder and drop them on the DVD icon on the Desktop to burn them to DVD in a format compatible with Windows?

Doing this creates a data DVD which will be readable by both Macs and Windows. Or you could create a 'Burn Folder' from the Finder File menu, drag your files to that (aliases will appear in the folder) and burn from there by clicking the 'Burn' button at top right.

You should be able to make 'appendable' DVDs. Put the material you want to burn in a folder. Open Disk Utility: choose File>New>Disk Image from Folder. To burn, click the Burn icon on the Disk Utility toolbar. Navigate to, and click once, the disk image and click Burn.

In the Burn Disk dialog box which appears, click the blue disclosure button at upper right. When the box expands you will have a checkbox for 'Leave Disk appendable'.

Next time you burn and want to add something, you will see an 'Append' button instead of a 'Burn button'.

Note that each new session creates a new volume on the disk: it does not add material to the existing volume. This means that if, for example, you create a disk and append twice, when you load it you will see three volumes mounted on the Desktop, each containing the files from one burning session.

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Answer 2

Feb 4, 2009 2:57 PM in response to parish_chap

The Finder burns data CDs and DVDs in 'Hybrid' format - on a Mac it mounts as Mac OS extended, and on Windows as ISO9660 (the standard format), both showing the same files. Using Toast it is possible to make a more complicated version, where some some files can appear on both, and some on one or the other.

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Answer 3

Feb 4, 2009 5:12 AM in response to parish_chap

I did it slightly differently. I opened Disk Utility, clicked the New Image button and created a disk image that way, then burned it. Should that make any difference?

It may well do. When you just create a Disk Image it will be a Mac-only one. Try it using 'Disk Image from Folder' and see if it all works.

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Answer 4

parish_chap Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 4, 2009 10:35 AM in response to parish_chap

Roger, I put the DVD in my Mac and Get Info reported it as Mac OS Extended.

I then burned another copy using the Burn Folder method and that worked on Windows - although Get Info still says it's Mac OS Extended. Is this because the DVD is a hybrid format so the Mac can mount it as a native Mac filesystem?

Took me a while to figure out that "Burn button top right" meant you have a customized toolbar in Finder.

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 5

parish_chap Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 4, 2009 4:49 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Roger Wilmut1 wrote:

Doing this creates a data DVD which will be readable by both Macs and Windows. Or you could create a 'Burn Folder' from the Finder File menu, drag your files to that (aliases will appear in the folder) and burn from there by clicking the 'Burn' button at top right.

Thanks.

You should be able to make 'appendable' DVDs. Put the material you want to burn in a folder. Open Disk Utility: choose File>New>Disk Image from Folder. To burn, click the Burn icon on the Disk Utility toolbar. Navigate to, and click once, the disk image and click Burn.

I did it slightly differently. I opened Disk Utility, clicked the New Image button and created a disk image that way, then burned it. Should that make any difference?

As I said, I've tried the DVD in 3 Windows boxes (2 running XP, 1 running Vista) and it didn't recognize the disk.

In the Burn Disk dialog box which appears, click the blue disclosure button at upper right. When the box expands you will have a checkbox for 'Leave Disk appendable'.

'Leave Disk Appendable' was greyed out/disabled and in another thread I found here it said that it is only available for burning CDs, not DVDs.

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Answer 6

parish_chap Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 4, 2009 5:59 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Roger Wilmut1 wrote:
It may well do. When you just create a Disk Image it will be a Mac-only one.

Thanks for confirming.

Try it using 'Disk Image from Folder' and see if it all works.

Since you can't burn multi-session/appenable DVDs then I may as well just do it from Finder using a burn folder. Useful to know how it works though for if I ever want to do multi-session CDs that are readbale on Windows.

I'll try it when I get home this evening.

Thanks for your help.

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Answer 7

Feb 8, 2009 7:27 AM in response to parish_chap

for windows DVD disks, first you must create an ISO image disk in disk utility, fill it and write to DVD.
an expensive solution is to use TOAST, you have an option to write windows compatible DVD.

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Answer 8

roam

Level 6

13,637 points

Feb 4, 2009 3:34 AM in response to parish_chap

Hi parish chap,

Multi-session, also called appendable is only good for CD's, though you would think if you could do one you should be able to do the other, but apparently not, as I have tried to do "make disk appendable" with DVD's but it is not available.

So anyway, what file format are you burning as it should be readable by the windows OS.

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Answer 9

Feb 5, 2009 2:27 AM in response to parish_chap

When you create a disk image you can choose the format - various Mac versions (the default being 'Mac OS Extended - journaled', which is what you should choose - never use the case-sensitive version) or 'MS-DOS (FAT)' (i.e., PC) but not hybrid.

When you create an image from a folder there are again various options, including CD/DVD image.

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Answer 10

parish_chap Author

Level 1

17 points

Feb 5, 2009 1:29 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Thanks Roger. Interesting about being able to make files selectively available using Toast.

I guess then that by creating a disk image (DMG) the way I did creates a Mac OS Extended only disc - unless I missed an option/check box to make it hybrid.

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Answer 11

Artist3

Level 1

17 points

Feb 8, 2009 5:30 AM in response to parish_chap

I made a dvd video and a cd with pictures for someone with XP it will not play on there computer they only get the sound and no picture of video? I just got a mac and no nothing about them what did I do wrong in making them so they would be compatible with XP?

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Answer 12

LGGeiger

Level 1

39 points

Mar 25, 2009 9:23 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Roger,

I'm attempting to create an appendable DVD. I followed the thread from February and found your posting:

In the Burn Disk dialog box which appears, click the blue disclosure button at upper right. When the box expands you will have a checkbox for 'Leave Disk appendable'."

However, after following these directions my 'Leave Disk Appendable" box is grayed out. Any suggestions?

George

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