It is a fairly new model.. a Lite-On DVD burner. The drive also came with Sonic DVD Maker and that works fine. A couple of clicks of a button with Sonic and I've already made a few DVDs, however, its editing is very limited, thus wanting to use Architect. So no, I do not have any issues with the drive at all.

I will look into the updated version, however, it just seems weird that I cannot select my Burner from the drop down list. This is what I am trying to do:

1) Click on Make DVD button
2) Click the Burn button
3) Browse for my project
4) Click Next
5) Choose Burn settings
Choose your DVD Burner from the Device drop-down list.

Since I cannot choose anything, I cannot go any further than this... ??

Grep,
Can't you just click "Finish" and go?

Personally, I've had problems with reliable burning from DVD-A2. I received Roxio's DVD burner software with my DVD drive that burns DVDs as data(not a video DVD authoring program). I just let DVD-A2 do the prepare step, then copy the final files to the DVD with the Roxio software. It's more reliable in my case. This final DVD must have the folders AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS as it's root directory, with all the vob files created by DVD-A2 in VIDEO_TS(AUDIO_TS is always empty, for some reason, and that's apparently correct).

-Jayson

Thanks for the note, Jayson...

The "Finish" button is greyed out too since it appears there is no 'Device' chosen from the drop down menu, so I can't go any further than this. Other than using this "Make DVD" wizard, is there somewhere where I could manually connect to my DVD drive? Like in Options, Preferences, etc? I looked, but I can't find anything. The manual is of no help since it just goes through the steps as I indicated in my last note.

I guess I can do what you do in terms of actually burning a DVD. I am simply capturing video from my old VHS tapes, creating a few clips along with a menu and burning them using Sonic MyDVD. Kinda stinks though.. DVD A2 seems like alot better to use than Sonic, but I guess I won't rack my brain over it. I just hate it when something is not working right and I can't figure it out! LOL!

Grep,
I would bet the software with your DVD drive should be able to burn straight data disks somehow, and if so, go with that. It's not too inconvenient and DVD-A2 is MUCH more powerful then pack-in or consumer level DVD authoring products. DVD-A2 will create the AUDIO_TS and VIDEO_TS folders for you whereever you tell it to prepare the DVD, then just drag those folders onto your DVD and burn. It's really quite easy. It's not worth giving up DVD-A2 to avoid this. Check through the software included with your DVD drive.

-Jayson

I will look into the updated version, however, it just seems weird that I cannot select my Burner from the drop down list.

Many Lite-On users have experience compatability issues with DVDA. Some have had more success with the latest update. Believe it or not, sometimes it matters whether or not you have a disc in the drive before you click Make DVD (better if you do). Or even whether you have -R media or +R media in there.

Rob

Ok, thanks for the tips Jayson and Rob... I will do the update and if that doesn't do the trick, I'll just do what Jayson suggested.. no big deal. I appreciate your help very much.

Hey, for what it's worth, I have the exact same problem. Just installed DVDA2 this evening, used their sample project to test with, did the Prepare...and yet I cannot burn because both the burner device listing and finish button is greyed out as well.

And I can burn DVD's with Pinnacle Instant CD/DVD 8, so something's not working right with DVDA2, and I have the latest version installed as well.

Dude, grab the patch... it worked! I installed the patch, went in and just did a quick DVD and there it was, my Lite-On drive in the drop down box. I was able to continue on where I used to stop right there..

Install the patch and hopefully it will work for you too.. !

Well, I have the patch, and no luck with my problems. I have no problem seeing my drive and starting the burn. But, one of 3 different things happens each time I try to burn:

1. The burn completes successfully and is fine.
2. The burn works for about 30 seconds, then says it completed successfully, which of course it did not in 30 seconds. Disc is no good.
3. The burn runs ofr a normal burn time, disc is burned, but some video clips play badly; stuttery sound, black pauses, long read, etc. This is the worst as I don't know it till I actually try to play back the disc.

So, I just burn with Roxio and never have problems. I would like better behavior out of DVD-A2, but I won't give it up over this. It is a great tool for creating the DVD in the first place, and I can suffer through a little inconvenience to use it.

-Jayson

Jayson, well I haven't actually burned a DVD yet, so I am yet to see what happens there.. I was just excited that I was able to actually select my drive now so I can move on. I wasn't really burning anything, just checking to see if I could ever move on from the set up step. I will keep you posted.

I had already installed the DVDA2 update, but still no burner is showing up. I'm to the point now of going out and buying another DVD burner.

NShane,
Even if the drive is new, one thing to try is to check the drive's web site for updated drivers or firmware. Give that a try before returning the drive. No guarantees, but with any computer problem, updated drivers and firmware are always a good starting point.

-Jayson

I figured out the problem. I had to setup the DVD burner as Master rather than Slave, as soon as I did this, it showed up without problems.