I recently got a windows vista laptop and every other time I write a DVD with photos the in windows program just stops working, it seems like it is fine but nothing is actually being written. Only way to then shut down the program is to manually reboot the computer.

Does anybody know if it is a hardware or software problem and if it is fixable.

What program are you using to write to the DVD? DVD writing is a real PITA in Vista unless you use a compatible program (and even then, it's still a PITA!)!

I just bump in a DVD and press "burn disk using windows" then "use windows live file system"
I kind of liked this way to write dvd's because it was really fast but if it is the problem...

the burner I am using is an Optiarc DVD RW AD-7530A ATA

It seems to be like all the files that don't want to be burnt all come from my old external harddrive. Could files be corrupt and not writable but still playable? These files come from my old XP computer. I honestly had problems writing files with that computer as well. Would formating the harddrive work?

It's not likely that they'd be playable but not burnable. Could DRM (Digital Rights Management) be a factor here?

I'd suggest trying another burner to see if the Windows one is the problem.

ok I tried using the NEC program I got with the laptop, same problem and on the same files, no problems on others. It is actually individual files, so episode 18 of Jericho for example, the rest work fine.

Well normally DRM should not be a problem unless it starts flagging fansubbed bleach as illegal.

If all else fails I will have to format, but I kind of want that to be my last option.