how do I know what my dvd drive can burn?

I have a dvd drive in my computer and how do I know if It can write a dvd? It says dvd rewriteable on it but does that mean i can use dvd -R or dvd +R?

 

If it says it is "DVD+/-RW", then you can burn any format, exlcuding Dual Layer discs. Post your drive's make/model number here and we may be able to shed some light on it ourselves.

If you don't know what make/model your drive is, then search for, download and run Nero Info Tool to find out.

 

im not sure wat model it is, its in a dell dimension 9100 if that helps. All it says on it is dvd r/rw.
Ill try the nero info tool. Thanks.

 

it also says dvd +rewriteable so I guess its for +r only.

 

You can also get the make and model by going to My Computer, click on Control Panel, then click on the System icon, then click on the Hardware tab, then click on the Device Manager tab, and finally on the + sign to the left of DVD/CD-ROM drives.

List the make and model number, here.

 

it says _NEC DVD +-RW ND-350A. So I am guessing only + and - RW work?

 

I'm presuming you meant 3500A, not 350A?

Anyway..

Should burn anything. Don't know if that drive supports DL tho.

 

oops i made a a mistake here it is.
_NEC DVD +-RW ND-3530A.
When i put in a dvd-r to burn a dvd to with dvd decrypter it gives me an error so I thought that maybe my computer can't do dvd-r.

 

What error does it give you?

 

if that doesnt work click this link
http://img252.imageshack.us/img252/4406/erreqr9.png

 

Unrecognised media = firmware update.

Click Me

Download, extract and run that. Make sure you don't have anything else running and nothing in the drive.

 

ok i ran it and now i have to restart my pc, ill tell you if it works, thanks!

 

So fair it looks like it is working, i didn't get an error when i started, thanks alot!

 

No problem. Glad you're sorted

 

One more question, where did you find that firmware update?

 

http://forum.rpc1.org/dl_all.php

That'll set you up for good ;-)

 

Thanks for all your help, My computer is about 6 months old, maybe a little more so i would never have thought it would be the firmware. I donwloaded a bunch of programs to try to get this avi to dvd and the problem was the firmware. lol Thanks.