DVD won't play on older DVD machine

[b&wdmc]

Using Premiere 3.0 I successfully burned to a HQ DVD (.wmv) and tested on multiple DVD machines (video/audio is great). But the bride can't play in on an older DVD. What are my options?

[ATR]

I need to get some clarification to get a handle on this issue.

You say that you burn to high quality DVD (.wmv), and it plays great video and audio on newer DVD Player(s). Most TV/DVD players that I have encountered do not support .wmv playback, but I have not done an exhaustive search.

Where did the .wmv come from? Photoshop Elements??
What is the make and model of the DVD Player(s) both old and new? What are its specs with regard to compatible formats and disc types? Am I correct that you are dealing with a .wmv file burned to a DVD disc? DVD-VIDEO is not involved??

Have you tried burning to DVD-VIDEO? If so, how does that play on the older DVD player?

ATR

[b&wdmc]

I create the slideshow in PSE 5.0 and select Output - it pops up two options 1. VCD (lower quality) or DVD (higher quality). I select DVD and Burn to Disc. 'Save Slide Show" comes up and defaults to .wmv. The File Type field only has .wmv (I'm a new user so not aware of other files types). This is where it auto starts Premiere 3.0 and I Burn the .wmv to a DVD disk.
Still trying to track down specs & age of DVD players.

Where do I find burn to DVD-video?

Thks
DMC

[ATR]

I am just going to review the steps to DVD-VIDEO in Premiere Elements 3.0. It sounds like you are producing a DVD-VIDEO, but let us just make sure we are together on the details.

You create your Slideshow in Photoshop Elements 5.0. When you are finished creating, you go to Output.

In Output, you select Save As A File.
Then, you select Movie File (.wmv)
A few lines down, you will see "File Settings". This should be set to DVD NTSC or DVD PAL depending on your location when you are on course to the DVD-VIDEO in Premiere Elements 3.0. This setting defines the codec and sizing to be used in writing the wmv.

Once this wmv is written and in Premiere Elements on the Timeline, if there is a red line above the video track, you need Render in Edit by pressing Enter before moving on to the DVD mode.

In the DVD mode you can setup your menus or not, followed by checking via the DVD Preview in the DVD Layout Dialog. Then, hit the Burn button in the DVD Layout Dialog. That will take you to the Burn Dialog. Leave the fit to disc checked in the Burn Dialog and use Burn to Disc setting. Your DVD disc in the drive will represent your slideshow in DVD-VIDEO format on your DVD disc.

All that being said, from what you have written, I suspect a compatibility problem with the players.

Let us know what happens.

ATR

[Mary]

I have had better luck with DVD Minus Rs on older players. Are you using plus or minus R's? RW's won't play on many old Players either. :)

[WayneS]

Many of the older DVD players will only play a specific disc type.
For example, I have a Toshiba SD1600. The only type of disc it will play is a DVD-R It won’t even play a DVD-RW
An excellent source for answers to this problem is www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers
Just enter the Make, in the box “Search Player”, and then scroll down to the model number of your unit, and it will show what it will play.
Hope this helps

Wayne

[b&wdmc]

Its confirmed that it is an older DVD player - they are buying a new one!

Thks to everyone for the feedback - I'm glad to know I didn't do anything wrong and the tools worked as they should.

[ATR]

Thanks for the feedback.

ATR