Software on DVD:

New Versions Force Upgrades

Over the years, we have seen software delivered in many formats. With PC’s it was 5¼” Floppies and 3½” floppies. After having stacks of floppy disks, software vendors moved to using tape and CD’s as the method of software delivery. Well today the software delivery is shifting gears again, only this time to DVD. Many major vendors are now shifting away from multiple CD’s to DVD delivery of software. What does this mean for you?

My New CD is Blank
I cannot tell you how often this happens. We are talking to a customer who just got an upgrade. They have inserted the new media and give us a call. “Say, I just got the new “insert your software name here” and I put it in my machine. It appears that the CD is blank. This happens time and time again with the software that was shipped in the past three months. In most cases, there was not a problem with the media; the problem was with the hardware. Many of the PC’s that were out there had only CD-ROM drives. Those drives will not read DVD media. While they are the same size as CD media, DVD media is in a completely different format and capacity and that requires a DVD-ROM Drive.

Can the Media Be Identified?
Yes, actually, it can. The rule of thumb is that if the media is not labeled, it is a CD-ROM. CD-Rom and DVD-ROM media can be labeled as such by the vendor. The logos to the right are typical of those located on the media label for the different formats. Equally important, the drive in your computer should have the same, or higher, markings on the drawer for the media you intend to use. For example, if your drive says it is a CD-ROM, you can only read CD media, but if your drive indicates it is a DVD-ROM, you can read DVD media and CD media. Having this ability for your computer is something that may well require a simple drive upgrade for your system. But therein lies the catch, because if your system is already at the edge of the specifications for the software you intend to run, now may be an excellent opportunity to upgrade your PC hardware and get it configured with a DVD-ROM drive.

What If I Do Not Want To Upgrade?
Many vendors, while their new products are being distributed on DVD-ROM, do allow the customer to request the software be sent on CD-ROM, for an additional charge. This can often solve the problem of loading the software on a short term basis. Another option is that you can purchase an External DVD-ROM with a USB or FireWire (IEEE1394) interface, assuming your computer has one of these. You could then purchase the external drive with the correct interface and load the software that way. No matter which solution you choose, eventually your system will need an internal DVD-Rom in order to function and load all future application software and operating systems as they become available.

How can I get more information on this subject?
You can find information of external DVD drives and internal one for most major hardware manufacturers and we can provide you with a quote on upgrading your hardware or on a new state of the art system as well. If you have questions or comments about this article, contact me.

 

All product names / logos, company names / logos are copyrights of their respective holders. John Boline is an MCSE, CNE and a member of the Network Professional Association. The content herein is often based on late-breaking events. Much of the material is based on information from sources that are believed to be reliable. Hagerman & Company, Inc. disclaims all warranties as to the ultimate accuracy or completeness of the information. Hagerman & Company, Inc. and its employees shall have no liability for errors, omissions or inadequacies in the information contained within this article or for any interpretations thereof. The recommendations, positions and best practice policies outlined herein represent Hagerman & Company, Inc. initial analysis and therefore are subject to change as further information which may have bearing on these positions is made available. The reader assumes sole responsibility for the selection of these materials to achieve its intended results. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Entire contents © 2005 Hagerman & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this publication in any form without prior written permission is forbidden.