[reverendanthony]

Basically, I want to create a DVD which works as one would expect when placed in a DVD player, but also contains a few files which can be accessed from a computer. For example, I want people to be able to listen to an MP3 and access a powerpoint presentation by browsing the contents of the DVD on their computers, but I also want the DVD to function on any regular DVD player that isn't connected to a computer.

However, when I burn the mp3 and powerpoint presentation to my DVD-RW and try to then burn the movie information using DVDStudioPro, I am informed that doing so will overwrite whatever data is currently there; conversely, if I burn the movie first using DVDSP and subsequently try to add the computer-accessible files using something like Nero, I am told that the movie information will be deleted.

Is there any way to get these two types of files to exist on the same disc without deleting each other? I'm positive it is possible as I own a few DVDs which do this, but I have no idea how to accomplish it myself.

[parasolution]

Are you on a Mac or PC?

On my Mac, I was able to do this with the iDVD program. I wanted to do this with my PC, but couldn't find the ability to do it with either Nero or Ulead.

[fairnooks]

It works in the PC when a DVD slideshow is made, the original pictures are included in a seperate folder that is ignored by the DVD player but can be accessed via computer.

The key I think is that the data and playable DVD media have to be added/burned at the same time and there needs to be a program that is smart enough to make DVD playable files and also allow you to include seperate non-playable data files/folders that don't cause the DVD player to have a fit.

I can sort of do it because I have an AVI-Divx/Xvid and JPEG and MP3 compatible DVD player that doesn't need special formatting to play those files and it just ignores what it doesn't understand.

[Courtneyc]

Create your DVD on your hard drive. The DVD video files will be stored in a folder called VIDEO_TS. (An AUDIO_TS folder will also be created, but it will be empty.) Put any other files you want in another folder, just not in the two listed above and don't put any files in the root. Burn the whole thing to a DVD.

The DVD player will ignore everything except the VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS folders. A PC can see everything.

Courtney