I have windows vista the dvd-rw that i burn does not play on dvd players

It;s possible that you may have left the disc open or re-writable. Check this first.
The settings will be located in the software you used to burn the disc. Easiest would be to start a new burn session and read the available settings throughout the window prompts. It may also be located in advanced settings, if you don't find it this way.

Hi,

You have not pointed out what type of program are you using for DVD authoring. The option to finalize the disc is usually provided when you start burning.

I have an alternate solution for you which is easier. You can use the Windows DVD maker available in Vista Home Premium. This way you will not have to manually finalize the disc; it will take care of it itself.

Remember to install codecs such as k-lite basic coded pack for trouble free work with different formats. Then run DVD maker from the start menu. A tutorial can be accessed here.

Note that DVDs created by DVD maker can be played on most DVD players and on computer as well.

What Operating System do you have?
What you need is a DVD authoring program. You have a plethora of programs for Linux (K3b, DVDAuthor...) and for Windows, it depends on the Version (XP: Windows Movie Maker, Vista: Windows DVD Maker).
Just open the concerned program, create a new project, add your movie and burn your DVD!

HI,
Check the manuel some DVD Players do not support DVD RW or -R +R formats.When Ifirst put my burned movie in I got the message that the player cant play that format Just ignore that and advance the Video to where the movie is starting then all my burned movies played fine. My Pioneer BD 51 FD does support DVD RW +R -R formats so be sure that you can play burned DVD RW +R -R on your Sony player. I was in Wal Mart the other day and they had some DVD players on sale but on the box it said that they do not play DVD RW +R or -R Burned DVD's so be careful if you do buy another one I went to best buy and found mine. Check first it will save a lot of hassle later. This software works great but it may not play in your DVD Sony Player there is a list here of compatible DVD Players


OR

your disc is scratched or a pirated one


thank you for using fixya,rate my answer,
vijay

THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM - BECAUSE THERE IS NO INBUILT JPEG SOFTWARE WHEN WE BUY LAPTOPS- IT HAS TO BE DOWNLOADED FOR MP3, JPEG AND DVD BURNING PURPOSE
VNRao

Nero 6 and 7 does not provides us the facilitiy of burning the DVD in appropriate DVD Format. Instead it burns the DVD in the normal DATA Format, which is not supportable by our DVD Player. To play the DVD in our DVD Player we should burn the DVD in the appropriate DVD Burner which itself converts the extension of the movie and make it proper for a DVD Player to read it. It also adds some files to the DVD which is sometimes used by the dvd player in running the DVD.

Thank You 
Vinay Ramani
INDIA

clean the lense of your dvd player and try.

It may be how you are burning these discs, if you burn it as a data disc you will only be able to read them with a computer dvd drive, if burnt as video it should work on any dvd drive.

check to see what format your computer burns on.[ex:dvd-r, dvd-rw,dvd-+r,dvd-+rw]different dvd players play certain dvd formats.the format for burning on your computer is probably different from the dvd players that aren't playing the disc.you also must finalize the burned disc.
good luck
wg

I had the problem of burned CD's not playing in my car. I used a CD-R and burned it at "slow" burn rate. Now I don't have a problem with playing the cd's in my car player. Try it, it worked for me.