How Do I Tell if my PC's DVD drive is DVD+R or DVD-R?
411384
It should tell you on the front of the drive.  Should either have a sticker or be engraved.  Looking in your hardware configuration is not necessary or valid for the most part.  What if you have installed the wrong drivers?  Your hardware will list it under whatever you've installed - not what it actually is.
94305
It's more of a difference in the media type.  DVD-R is not compatible with DVD+R drives and DVD+R is not compatible with DVD-R drives.  However, if you buy a DVD-/+R drive, then both medias will work.  DVD+R are cheaper usually.\n\nThe DVD-R standard was formed by Time Warner, Mitshubishi, Sony and Hitachi.  DVD+R was formed by DVD+RW Alliance i.e.  Sony, Yamaha, Philips, Dell, and JP.\n\nIt's more of a "securing market share" move.  However, now most drives are DVD-/+R drives.  So, the difference is not that noticeable
38502
If your dvd burner is listed as "DVD +/- RW" then you can use either DVD-R or DVD+R discs. I'd recommend using DVD+R discs, generally speaking, the blanks are cheaper and can burn faster.
409902
The storekeeper was more or less correct. There is no substantial difference between DVD-R and DVD+R; they are just two opposing formats supported by two different camps of companies. DVD-R was created by Pioneer, and has been recognised by the DVD Forum, a forum consisting of DVD authors and manufacturers. However, this forum has no power to set industry wide standards. Apple uses this format. DVD+R is supported by Sony, Philips, HP, Dell, Microsoft, Yamaha, amongst others. Both formats are based on CD-R/RW technology, with the major difference being DVD+R's natural ability to contain more than one layer of data. However, this also results in excessive costs. Nowadays it is possible to find dual layer DVD-R' too. Amongst all standalone DVD players, around 89% support both DVD-/+R, while the remaining 4% support only DVD-R, and 7% support only DVD+R. Thus, which type to purchase is your decision; if you wish to burn DVD movies, purchase the type which is supported by your DVD player. However, before purchasing, check the specifications of your DVD burner to see which format(s) it supports. Neither can be considered "better" off-hand. If your work requires handling large amounts or Data, then go in for a dual layer DVD+R, as they are easier to locate than dual layer DVD-R's, which have not gained market acceptance.
629547
There is a software called Nero InfoTool that can show you exactly what your cd-rom drive is capable of. Just download the zip and execute the infotool.exe. It will show you a detailed report.\n\nhttp://ww2.nero.com/nero7/enu/Info_Tool.html
658256
DVD-ROM is a dvd drive, DVD-RAM is a type of DVD http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD-RAM\nthat can be burned too.  DVD+/-RW is more common.  If you just bought the computer and it is a new computer, you have a DVD-rom drive or a DVD+RW or -RW drive.  DVD-RAM isn't really that common anymore.  Easiest way to check what you I have I have found is to either go check your system components in the control panel, look at your invoice or open up your burning software, odds are if it gives you the option to burn a DVD you have a DVD RW drive and you should just see if it is a + or - RW drive cause their are different blank DVD's to use for each
842579
The first thing you have to do is buy a DVD burner (if you haven't already). You can know if you did by looking on the drive and seeing if it says DVD+/- RW. If it does, than it should come with software called Sonic MyDVD. It's pretty simple, but you can add onto this question if you need any more help. If you don't have a DVD burner, you can get one from Dell. Click on the link below to chat with someone about that.
1062462
go to START / MY COMPUTER right click on it, this opens system propertes go to hardware / device manager and see what dvd/cd-rom drives you have,  example samsung sp12345 or ide-dvd drom6216 use the info to find the newest drivers from the net.  the look for new drivers thing never works that is in system manager so do not bother.
760
DVD-R (pronounced "DVD dash R") and DVD+R (pronounced "DVD plus R") are nearly identical formats. The discs look the same and are both supported by most DVD-ROM drives and DVD burners. The only difference between the formats is the way they determine the location of the laser beam on the disc. DVD-R discs use tiny marks along the grooves in the discs, called land prepits, to determine the laser position. DVD+R discs do not have land prepits, but instead measure the "wobble frequency" as the laser moves toward the outside of the disc.\n\nThe DVD-R format was developed by Pioneer and was released in the second half of 1997. DVD+R was developed by Sony and Philips and was introduced in 2002. Companies that support DVD-R include Pioneer, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Panasonic, while companies that support DVD+R include Sony, Philips, Hewlett-Packard, Ricoh, and Yamaha.\n\nHowever, most of these companies now develop hybrid DVD drives that support both DVD-R and DVD+R formats. They are known as DVD±R or DVD±RW drives. When looking for media for your DVD drive, make sure it ends in "-R" if you have a DVD-R drive or "+R" if you have a DVD+R drive. If you have a DVD±R drive, you can use either format. DVD-R is still more popular than DVD+R, but since they are both widely supported, it should not matter which format you choose.
951599
PC - In my experience the best software is Nero.  But your computer probably already came with something like Roxio.\n\nAnyway, as far as +/-.... I prefer the MINUS.  In my experience a greater number of DVD Players accept the minus discs (especially the older ones).  If you are just archiving data... there's probably no noticeable difference.
45669
To answwer your first part, any DVD player newer than two years will most likely be able to play DVD-/+R discs.  The problem is that not all DVD players from that era or even ALL new DVD players can play those formats.  So the first thing you should do is check your DVD players manual to see if it can play -/+R discs and if you need to buy a new one, check the specs to make sure as well.\n\nAs far as the technology goes, there is no difference the only difference is the start and stop points on the disc.  But for the most part data is written in the same way on the discs but it is enough of a difference that you can't read a -R disc if it only support +R and the opposite is true.\n\nSee the following for more information, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dvd-r and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD%2BR
559345
If the drive is old, it could be that it is broken.  A different laser is used for CDs and DVDs, so this is an indicator that the drive could be broken.  To double check, insert a computer CD (not dvd).  If this is read, you have a software configuration problem.  If it is not read, I think you have a dodgy cd/dvd drive
900022
If it's saying that it's a DVD ... then congratulations ... you have a DVD ... whether it's a DVD Rom or a DVD Burner is another question entirely :)
738232
if you are so inclined, you can physically remove it from your PC, then reboot your PC.  When windows starts up again, check to see that the hardware is gone.\nshut down\nReinstall the hardware, \nreinstall the driver\nif that doesn't work, you probably need to replace the DVD drive.
1075673
Before buying a new one, try this:  First, check the cables (power and ribbon) to make sure they're seated properly.  Next, using the Device Manager, RIGHT click on the drive that's shown, and choose "uninstall".  Say "Yes" to the next question.  Then re-boot, and if the drive is working, Windows will find it as "new hardware" and install the drivers for it.  If it is still not recognized or not working, then sure, go ahead and purchase a new one.  By the way, you might as well get yourself a DVD drive if you're getting a new one, since it'll handle both DVD's and CD's as well.  Good luck.
1089962
your dvd burner only  supports dvd +r discs so get dvd +r discs
447317
should say CD/r or rw\ncan look in control panel, system, hardware tab, device manager,right click device> properties.\nthis will display the info too.