Windows DVD Maker vs. Modern DVD Software: Which Should You Use?

How to Use Windows DVD Maker: A Beginner’s GuideWindows DVD Maker is a simple, user-friendly tool that was included with Windows Vista and Windows 7 to help users create video DVDs playable on most standalone DVD players. Although Microsoft discontinued it in later versions of Windows, many people still use it on older systems or in virtual machines because of its straightforward workflow. This guide walks you through installing (if needed), preparing your videos, creating menus, burning a DVD, and troubleshooting common problems.

What you’ll need

• A PC running Windows Vista or Windows 7 (or a compatible virtual machine).
• Windows DVD Maker installed. (Often preinstalled on Vista/7; if not, you can enable it from Windows features or obtain it from trusted backups.)
• A DVD burner drive and writable DVD discs (DVD-R or DVD+R recommended).
• Video files in supported formats (WMV, MP4, AVI, MOV — may require codecs).
• Enough free disk space for temporary files and project caches.

Installing or enabling Windows DVD Maker

1. On Windows 7, Windows DVD Maker is typically installed by default. If it’s missing:
   • Open Control Panel → Programs and Features → Turn Windows features on or off.
   • Look for “Windows DVD Maker” and enable it (if listed).
2. On Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate, DVD Maker is included. On other editions, you may need to upgrade edition or use alternative software.
3. If you have no access to the original OS installers, consider running a Windows 7 virtual machine (using VirtualBox or VMware) to use DVD Maker, or choose a modern alternative (listed at the end).

Preparing your video files

• Gather all video clips you want on the disc and place them in one folder.
• Convert or transcode files to compatible formats if necessary. HandBrake (free) can convert to MP4/H.264 or WMV; aim for a reasonable bitrate to fit disc space.
• Decide on the order of videos and whether you want one main movie, multiple titles, or chapters.
• If you plan to add background music or custom images for menus, prepare those assets in common formats (MP3, JPG/PNG).

Starting a new DVD project

1. Open Windows DVD Maker (Start → All Programs → Windows DVD Maker).
2. Click “Choose photos and videos” (or drag files into the program window).
3. Browse to your folder and select the videos you want to include. Click “Add.”
4. Arrange files in the desired playback order using the up/down arrows. The order here becomes the DVD’s title order.
5. At the bottom, choose the disc mode: “Fit to disc” will re-encode to fit; otherwise you may be warned if content exceeds capacity.

Choosing menu templates and customizing menus

• Click “Next” to open the “Choose a title menu” screen. Windows DVD Maker offers several templates.
• To preview a template, select it and press the play/preview button.
• Customize elements:
  • Click “Options” or “Customize” (wording depends on version) to change text, fonts, background image or video, and background music.
  • To set a custom background image, click “Change background picture” and select an image. Use a 16:9 image for widescreen templates.
  • To use custom background music, click the music option and browse to an MP3 file. Lower the music volume if it competes with previews.
• Add titles and chapter names: click on the title text and type the desired name. For chapter points, DVD Maker auto-generates chapters for each video; you can add more by splitting clips before importing.

Menu options and playback settings

• Under “Options” you can set DVD-Video quality (Standard play vs. Fit to disc), aspect ratio (4:3 or 16:9), and playback behavior (play movie automatically or show menu first).
• If you want the disc to start playing immediately, select “Play movie automatically.” To require the user to choose from the menu, choose “Show menu.”
• Choose the TV standard (NTSC or PAL) based on where the DVD will be played.

Previewing your DVD project

• Always use the Preview button to test menus, background music, and title order.
• Click through the menu items and start each title to ensure videos play correctly. This helps catch missing codecs or clips that need re-encoding.

Burning the DVD

1. Insert a blank DVD-R or DVD+R into the burner. DVD-R is more widely compatible with older players.
2. Click “Burn” to start encoding and burning. Encoding converts videos into DVD-Video format (MPEG-2 and VOB files), which can take time depending on CPU speed.
3. Monitor the progress bar. The program will usually show separate stages: encoding and burning. Do not use the computer for heavy tasks during this time.
4. After burning completes, the disc will be finalized (closed) so it can play on standalone players.

Troubleshooting common problems

• Video won’t play on DVD player: Check TV standard (NTSC/PAL), region compatibility, and whether the player supports DVD-R vs DVD+R. Try burning to the other disc type.
• Missing codecs or “cannot play” errors in preview: Convert the file to a more compatible format (WMV or MP4 with H.264) using HandBrake or similar.
• Burn fails or disc unreadable: Use high-quality media (Verbatim), lower the burn speed, clean the optical drive lens, or try a different burner.
• Menu customization options limited: Windows DVD Maker is basic; for advanced menus, use third-party DVD authoring software (see alternatives below).
• “Not enough disk space” during encoding: Free space or change the temporary folder to a drive with more space (advanced settings or system environment variables).

Alternatives to Windows DVD Maker

If you’re on Windows ⁄₁₁ or need more features, consider these modern tools:

• DVD Styler — free, cross-platform, customizable menus.
• ImgBurn — low-level burning (pair with HandBrake for encoding).
• Nero Burning ROM — commercial, full-featured.
• HandBrake + DVD authoring GUI (e.g., AVStoDVD on older systems) — for advanced control.

Tips for best results

• Use high-quality source files; avoid repeatedly compressing lossy files.
• Choose the correct aspect ratio to prevent stretched or letterboxed video.
• Keep menus simple and readable; use short titles.
• Burn at a moderate speed (4x–8x) for better compatibility.
• Test burned discs on the target player(s) before distributing.

Windows DVD Maker is a convenient, no-friction option for creating basic playable DVDs on older Windows systems. For modern Windows versions or advanced needs, pair a reliable encoder (HandBrake) with a flexible authoring/burning tool. If you want, tell me which Windows version you’re using and the types of videos you have, and I’ll give tailored, step-by-step instructions.