Lightscribe CD/DVD question: Is this technology now a dinosaur? It's been nearly five years since I last used it, but I'm ready to use it again. If memory serves me correctly I was...

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

Is this technology now a dinosaur? It's been nearly five years since I last used it, but I'm ready to use it again. If memory serves me correctly I was using Windows XP. Last Dec I bought a new desktop with Windows 8. I updated two software products that have Lightscribe printing functions, but in both cases the "print Lightscribe function" was not a selectable item. All I can do is print to a printer. Software instructions are quite clear, but does not work. Windows does recognize the drive, so that is not the issue.

Curiously, I did a DVD drive search on Best Buy and did not find any with Lightscribe capability.

I'm thinking about getting a cheap photo printer that can print on printable CD/DVDs. At least I would be able to print in color.

Comments?

nicksr1125 Loc: Mesa, AZ

I have an almost 7 year old Compaq laptop with a lightscribe drive. When I upgraded to Windows 10, Lightscribe will no longer load. It's been quite some time since I've seen Lightscribe discs available anywhere.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

nicksr1125 wrote:

I have an almost 7 year old Compaq laptop with a lightscribe drive. When I upgraded to Windows 10, Lightscribe will no longer load. It's been quite some time since I've seen Lightscribe discs available anywhere.

Thanks for the reply. Looks like Lightscribe is a dinosaur. I guess being able to print direct to disk in color is now the way to go. The neat thing about Lightscribe, however , is that it does not require printer ink.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Billbobboy42 wrote:

Is this technology now a dinosaur?

Curiously, I did a DVD drive search on Best Buy and did not find any with Lightscribe capability.

I'm thinking about getting a cheap photo printer that can print on printable CD/DVDs. At least I would be able to print in color.

Comments?

Yes, "dinosaur" is a good word for it. Get some "hub-printable" DVD's and a printer that can print on them. The hub-printable have a larger printing surface, without that wasted space in the center. I buy them 100 at a time, both regular and DL. I use SureThing Disc Labeler Deluxe, but I'm sure there are lots of similar programs.

IndianRider

You can find all the CD/DVD lightscribe discs you will ever need at Amazon or Ebay. I have a lightscribe capable optical drive which I have not used in years. Much prefer printable discs.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

IndianRider wrote:

You can find all the CD/DVD lightscribe discs you will ever need at Amazon or Ebay. I have a lightscribe capable optical drive which I have not used in years. Much prefer printable discs.

I fully agree on available discs, of which I have an ample supply. The problem appears to be in the software side. I.e., Nero Label Maker (newest version) will not print to my Lightscribe drive. I assume Windows 8 may be the culprit. Anyway, I have purchased a cheap Canon printer that prints on discs. Of course, I will need to buy printable discs.

Related to this subject: are there printable Bluetooth discs available?

IndianRider

I Googled "Lightsceibe Software" and came with multiple sources....the 1st of which is:

http://lightscribesoftware.org/lightscribesystemsoftware/

jrharton Loc: Grand Prairie, TX

In addition to the "lightscrbe" disks, you must have a Lightscribe Drive to do this, its possible that when you got your new desktop, it was not compatible on the new drive. I used it for a long time and I think the new white print on disks are superior, but make sure your printer has the holder for disks to make even this work.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

jrharton wrote:

In addition to the "lightscrbe" disks, you must have a Lightscribe Drive to do this, its possible that when you got your new desktop, it was not compatible on the new drive. I used it for a long time and I think the new white print on disks are superior, but make sure your printer has the holder for disks to make even this work.

I have an LG Lightscribe drive. It works recording data/video, etc.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

IndianRider wrote:

I Googled "Lightsceibe Software" and came with multiple sources....the 1st of which is:

http://lightscribesoftware.org/lightscribesystemsoftware/

Thanks, but after downloading I found out I had already done that. What's downloaded is general information about how to use the Lightscribe function with references to other software required to make it work, incl Nero and others. Could not get any of them (there were 4) to work.

I'm convinced that color printing is much more desirable , but had hoped to be able to use the old method in order to use up my Lightscribe disks with neat printable labels.