Using the DVD Features of Your ZipCD^™ Drive

Your ZipCD^™ drive is capable of reading and writing many types of CDs, such as audio CDs, CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, and CD-RWs. In addition to the various types of CDs, your ZipCD^™ drive can read DVD-Videos and DVD-ROMs. Your ZipCD^™ drive can be used in the following ways:

1. Play/Read all types of CD media.


2. Write CD-R discs.


3. Write and Rewrite CD-RW discs.


4. Read DVD-ROM software titles.


5. Play DVD-Videos (some special hardware and software may be required).
   

What is DVD?

DVD (Digital Versatile Disc or Digital Video Disc) is an emerging standard for storing video, audio, and data files that has been embraced by both the computer and home entertainment industries. DVD allows up to 17GB of data on a single CD-sized disc—many times more data than the 650 MB stored on a standard CD. DVDs can be either single or double sided and contain more than one layer per side. A single-sided, single-layered DVD can hold 4.7GB or about 2 hours of high quality video; however, a double-sided, double-layered DVD can hold 17GB or about 8 hours of high quality video.

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Playing DVD-Videos

If your computer is configured correctly, your ZipCD^™ drive can be used to play DVD-Videos. Read the following section for more information on playing DVD-Videos on your computer.

Regions

All DVD players are assigned a region code. Your ZipCD^™ drive can only play DVDs that have the same region code as your ZipCD^™ drive or that do not have a region code. Your ZipCD^™ drive may not be set to your region by default. The first time you insert a DVD-Video, your DVD software may prompt you to change the region code of your ZipCD^™ drive. You will not be prompted to change regions again unless you put in a DVD from a different region. If you are unsure which region to select, consult the map below.

CAUTION! Although it is simple to change the region code of your ZipCD^™ drive, you should avoid changing it after the initial set up. The region code of your ZipCD^™ drive can only be changed four times. After four times the region code will be permanently set to the last region selected.

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Playing DVD-Videos on a Windows^® PC

Your computer may have come preconfigured to use all of the DVD features of your ZipCD^™ drive. To determine whether your computer is preconfigured for DVD compatibility look at the front of your computer's original CD drive.

If the front of your CD drive displays the DVD-ROM or DVD-RAM icon, your computer is probably ready to use the full functionality of your ZipCD^™ drive.

If the front of your drive displays the CD-ROM icon, you may be able to run DVD-ROM software titles, but will need to purchase an MPEG decoder to play DVD-Videos.

You can use Microsoft's DVD player (standard in Windows^® 98 and Windows^® 2000) or the DVD-Video player software that came with your MPEG card to play your DVD-Videos.

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