ric
SPTD.sys is associated with StarBurn, not BurnAware. Source: http://www.neuber.com/taskmanager/process/sptd.sys.html

I checked my drivers folder after installing BurnAware, and SPTD was nowhere to be found . . .

Bob Upshon
Hi.
What antivirus/antispyware/antimalware are you using?

Bob Upshon
It's later in the day, almost midnight, and I see that there is now a direct download link. Thanks, GAOTD.

However: I have the same problem that I've had with previous downlinks from emails: I extract (all files) to a folder, open Setup.exe, get the Windows UAC prompt, then a couple of small GAOTD windows ("Activating..." and "Activation successful") and then the GAOTD "What next?" page. What I don't get is an "Installing..." configuration or progress prompt from the installer, and I don't get an installed program. (Win7Pro x64)

Is this a punishment for those of us not members of Facebook or Twitter, or is there a similar problem with downloads from those sources?

TK

free dvd auth application: http://www.dvdstyler.org/en/

that should help overcome that limitation

plus who wants a jack of all trades yet master of none?

TK
You'll be much happier using authoring software for authoring DVDs & Blu-Ray, & burning software like BurnAware for burning discs. Most authoring apps include the capability to burn discs as a convenience -- one that you're better off ignoring. Likewise you can do more better & faster & easier authoring the contents for those discs using dedicated authoring apps.

Many might think of Nero & Roxio as burning apps that let you author discs, but they're actually suites tying separate authoring, video editing, & burning apps together. Trying to tie those separate apps together is a big part of how & why Nero & Roxio are so unpopular nowadays. Software should not try to be what it's not -- BurnAware is a great example of developers focusing on improving the app rather than trying to gain sales by making it *appear* to be something it's not. Doing that BurnAware avoids becoming a Jack of all trades, master of none.

mike
Personally I prefer a program that does Everything I need in a particular job. If I wanted to have a series of specialised programs that have the source data piped from one program to the next to get the complete job done I'd be using linux and shell scripts ¦ piping stdout to stdin.... under windows I expect to be able to stay in one competent application to perform the task. I was dissapointed because the description clearly says.

"With BurnAware, you also be able to create bootable or multisession discs, high-quality Audio CDs and Video DVDs, "

We cannot create Video-DVDs solely with burnaware as we need them pre-authored, Burnaware can only burn pre-authored Video-DVDs not CREATE the data structures necessary from scratch!

In my understanding the description is making the program apear to be something it is clearly not!

There is no rule in windows app development that requires functions and procedures to be seperated out into multiple disconnected executables either, like burnaware is! It is resource inefficient with each module needing to check its registration state on launch and multiple instances of burning routines in each program. In fact it is a potential design flaw... The main program is allowed to be launched in multiple instances! Not exactly logical. And add to that from a single main burnaware window we can launch multiple functions all running at the same time, even multiple instances of the same function at the same time all referencing a single optical drive!

Mario
I have a portable DVDStyler "installaion" so first got DVDStyler to author and format and burn a 1.4G DVD-RW disc, DVDStyler did the job without error and the resultant video DVD played on all my installed players.
Next told DVDStyler to generate the DVD folders and then tried burning them with Burnaware premium... First problem Burnaware only knows of 4.7G and DL DVD's not any other sized DVD discs...
Since I knew the DVD folders created by DVDStyler were built for 1.4G DVD discs that should not be a serious problem if the burnaware routines are written properly...
The Burn proceeded without any apparent error, but verification failed and the produced video-DVD disc would not play on any player on my system.

Then erased the disc and let windows burn the DVD folders and the burn went without a hitch and the video-DVD played in all players on my system.

Also tried using freemake video converter to author a DVD folder set and this time got windows to burn the DVD folders to the same 1.4G DVD-RW disc and that worked and played just fine.

So apears Burnaware is not so aware on what to do with other DVD sizes... Maybe not Jack of all trades BUT master of not even burning...

TK
sounds like a good test, thanks helped me make up my mind to pass on this offer

Ari
Hi.
A quick search (in their download page) shows All versions are multilingual and work under Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10 (32 and 64 bit).
There they should add windows server 2003 (see next lines).

Instead in their online manual, system requirements "say":
600 MHz Pentium processor or faster
20 Megabytes of free disk space
128 Megabytes of RAM
800x600 video resolution
Windows XP (all service packs)
Windows Server 2003
Windows Vista
Windows 7-8.1 (32-bit or 64-bit)

There, they should add windows 10 32/64 and vista 64.
Hope this helps.

Ari
The BurnAware website states that the software is Vista compatible. (I have installed on my Vista Home Premium system and it installed and ran OK although I have not yet tried burning a disk.)

MikeR
As a registered customer, you are entitled to a full version of the software and free upgrades released within 1 year from the date of purchase. After this year, you will be able to purchase another year of free upgrades with 50% discount or continue to use existing version.

I'm missing where it says that it is the full version for 12 months only. Where does it say that? It's important to me, because I have the full version of 7.4 Premium, and don't want to risk overwriting it for a time-limited version. (Other than antivirus software, I never install time-limited products intentionally.)

Tobias
The GAOTD build is a special build that does not include the registration checking module (ba8premium.dll), as such it also has NO usable key or registration name to be used with an installed update/upgrade from the vendors site directly. If you try and install a newer version at any time over the GAOTD build you will invalidate the pre-registered status of the giveaway and need to obtain normal premium registration credentials at whatever the going price is at the time!

On that basis remember to uncheck the setting to check for updates automatically in the settings!

I see no indication that the GAOTD build will lose its pre-registered state in the future if we don't try and overwrite it with a different version.

Sparky
You can install the giveaway into a different folder and choose a different start menu folder, the installer is well behaved, the only parts that could overwrite are the desktop icon and the quicklaunch shortcut, do not enable those if you don't want them overwritten with the GAOTD shortcuts :)

In their FAQ "Each license allows one year of free upgrades beginning from the date of purchase. After this year, you should contact us to receive a special upgrade offer, or continue to use the last working version. The version does not expire after one year."

rodken
"Their FAQ" does not apply to Giveaway offers like this. Even the wording is not applicable as WE DO NOT MAKE A PURCHASE!

tc1uscg
There aren't that many alternatives other than storing your stuff with some cloud service like One Drive or Drop Box etc., where the company running the service is responsible for mirroring data across multiple hard drives, replacing those drives as they age & fail etc. Flash drives & hard drives [SSD & regular] fail. A well made DVD is not only fairly cheap, at 100 < $20, but will last for decades. Unfortunately Blu-Ray blank discs are another story -- it's not hard to find reports of failure after just months, & I've had blank BD discs go bad sitting on the shelf while waiting to be used.

tc1uscg
Some people are not able/allowed to have computer/Internet access, so having someone else burn media onto a disc that they can then play on a standalone player is great.

tc1uscg
Of course we do that, if you are a reall music and movie lover so is it needed to watch/or listen on cd/dvd or BD.... To get the best qulity you can get....

tc1uscg

Wow people. Thanks for responses. Though I still have MANY CDr's and blank DVD's on my shelf. I use them to cut ISO's sometimes but with multi boot USB's, I tend to stick with those as unless your using a DL dvd/BD, you don't get much data on them. As far as sound quality goes, I still have LP's and a turntable that allows me to rip albums into MP3's. And a cassette deck that does the same. But my post was just a dig at those who still use them as much as it would be towards those who still use Reel to Reel, cassette or 8 tracks. The format is OLD and outdated and unless your keyboard is broke, CD's are prone to rot just like paper. I'm still a HD-DVD fan (yeah, I have bout 40 HD movies and 2 xbox HD-DVD players.) We all have our faults I guess.

Doc
For years Nero & Roxio have been multimedia suites that also happened to include burning software. *To me* one of their biggest selling points used to be the included DVD & Blu-Ray player software, but Roxio abandoned their player years ago, while Nero dropped their re-branded Cyberlink player this year with Nero 2016 -- at ~$30 for Nero Platinum on sale it was less than 1/2 the price of PowerDVD versions that play Blu-Ray. Nero Recode etc. was a bonus.

That said, you're right, Doc, in saying that Roxio & Nero are big & complicated, at least from the standpoint of their impact on Windows, & potential impact on Windows media handling. In that respect Roxio is worse, & AFAIK cannot ever be removed completely short of a fresh Windows install.

"I have only used this to burn music CDs so if someone out there does a dvd id like to see their results im just used to using ConvertX to DVD for movie burning"

The only thing special about *burning* video DVDs is if/when you're doing dual layer DVDs -- it seems the free ImgBurn owns that segment of the market, though it can also be confusing & difficult to use with so many options available. Putting together the content you want to burn to a video DVD [or Blu-Ray] is another story entirely...

You're better off using software designed just to create or author DVDs to package your content, including menus etc. if you want to include more than the main or title video, then use burning software like Burn Aware to put it on disc. DVD & Blu-Ray authoring apps usually include the option to burn discs as a convenience that's far from best in class -- the same can be said for the authoring features offered with some burning software. Use authoring software for authoring -- burning software for burning -- & you shouldn't have any problems.

mike
Thanks Mike i don't rely on any one program i got the pro version from here awhile back as i also have the Ashampoo Burning which works well thanks to the great offers from GATD one thing i noticed unless they have corrected the issue is that you cannot use Roxio suite and have nero suite on at the same time at least it used to be that way it would not sure of the correct term but erase the drive from showing i guess the two do not play well together so when i removed Roxio the drive reappeared this was when i was running 7 curious if it was just mine or this happened to others

al
I use a rewriteable disk when experimenting with burning software or hardware. It saves a lot of write-once disks.

Scott
I used to think using RW discs a good idea to test out burning software... but RW discs can be made unusable too by faulty software not controlling a re-writer drive properly, and generally speaking RW discs are significantly more expensive than normal writable discs!