How to Copy DivX/Xvid to DVD: Playable DVD-Video or Data Disc

DivX and Xvid videos became popular because they could keep movies and long home videos in much smaller file sizes while still offering decent visual quality. DivX, developed by DivX, LLC, has included video technologies based on MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-4 AVC, and HEVC over the years, and it was widely used for downloadable videos, personal video libraries, and playback on DivX-certified set-top players and TVs.

Many of us still have these old DivX or Xvid files saved on a computer, external drive, or backup folder. Before copying them to DVD, decide which type of disc you need. A DVD-Video disc converts and authors the video for playback in a conventional DVD player, while a data DVD simply stores the DivX/Xvid files and works only when the target device supports those video files.

For a regular living-room DVD player, DVD-Video is the more compatible option. A data DVD makes sense when you already know the player supports the DivX/Xvid codec, container, resolution, and disc type. DivX Certified devices can play supported non-VOD DivX files burned to CD or DVD without VOD registration.

Playable DVD vs DivX Data Disc: Which One Do You Need?

Copying DivX to DVD can describe two different jobs. If the disc needs to behave like a normal movie DVD, with DVD navigation and standard DVD-Video playback, the DivX/Xvid source needs to be authored as DVD-Video. If the target player already supports DivX/Xvid files, you can instead place the original files on a data DVD without creating a DVD-Video structure.

A data DVD does not gain DVD-Video compatibility simply because the files are written to DVD media. Windows Media Player can create data DVDs, but playback on a standalone player still depends on whether that device supports the file type stored on the disc.

How to Convert DivX/Xvid to a Playable DVD

If the disc needs to work as a conventional DVD-Video, use DVD authoring software instead of simply copying the DivX/Xvid file to the disc. The authoring software prepares the video, disc structure, navigation, and output needed for DVD-Video playback.

1. DVDFab DVD Creator

DVDFab DVD Creator is a good choice when I want to turn DivX or Xvid videos into a standard DVD video disc without spending much time on the setup. It supports DivX, Xvid, AVI, MP4, MKV, MOV, VOB, TS, and many other common video formats. After loading the source video, I can choose the disc size, adjust the video quality, add subtitles, edit chapters, and create a stylish DVD menu before burning the disc.

What I like about this tool is that it keeps the main DVD creation process in one place. This is helpful when the source video has more than one audio track, when the subtitle needs to be added manually, or when several DivX clips need to be placed on the same DVD. It can also save the project as an ISO file or DVD folder first, which makes it easier to check the result before writing it to a blank disc.

How to Convert DivX/Xvid to DVD Via DVDFab DVD Creator

Video Instruction:

Text Guide:

Step 1: Download and launch DVDFab DVD creator and select the desired "Creator Mode." Then upload the DivX or Xvid source file using the "Add" button.

Step 2: Click "Advanced Settings" and choose the output size and quality you prefer. You can also select Menu properties including TV Standard and Aspect Ratio, and Playback Mode.

Then click "Menu Settings" to select a menu template with its built-in DVD menu maker. You can customize the menu templates, including background art, thumbnails, text font, color, and size, etc.

Next, return to the main interface and click the "Trim" icon (scissors) to remove any unwanted clips. Then, tap the "Video Edit" icon (pencil) to crop, rotate, or change the aspect ratio of your footage, etc.

Additionally, try the "Effect" module to enhance color performance. Switch to the "Watermark" tab to add text or image watermarks, protecting the originality of your DVD content. You can also adjust the position of inserted subtitles in the "Subtitles" section and more.

Step 3: Finally, choose the directory where you want to keep your result DVD file and click on the "Start" Button.

2. DVD Flick

DVD Flick is a legacy DVD authoring program that delivers high-quality results through a straightforward and efficient workflow. It supports a wide range of video formats, including DivX, MP4, AVI, and MPEG, allowing users to burn digital files into DVDs. The software also offers standard features such as basic menu creation, as well as support for adding subtitles and multiple audio tracks. However, SourceForge lists its last update as September 2019.

How to copy DivX/Xvid to DVD with DVD Flick:

Step 1: Download and install DVD Flick. Click the "Add titles" option to upload your required DivX videos.

Step 2: Click on "Project settings" on the top navigation bar. Then, you can configure parameters such as format, audio track and playback, etc.

Step 3: Insert your DVD into the disc drive. Then navigate to the "Burning" tab. Select "Create DVD" to start burning the files into DVD format.

3. Xilisoft DivX to DVD Converter

Xilisoft DivX to DVD Converter is another tool made for converting DivX and Xvid videos to DVD. It can create a DVD disc, DVD folder, or ISO file, and it also includes basic options for menus, subtitles, audio tracks, and simple video editing.

This tool is suitable for users who want a focused DivX to DVD converter instead of a larger DVD creation suite. I would use it for straightforward projects where the main task is to load a DivX video, choose a DVD menu, adjust a few settings, and burn the disc. It may not feel as modern as newer software, so I would check system compatibility before using it on a current computer.

How to use Xilisoft DivX to DVD Converter:

Step 1: Load your DivX video into Xilisoft DivX to DVD Converter. Insert a recordable disc and adjust settings such as destination, volume label, writing speed, and number of copies. If desired, create a DVD menu using templates provided. 

Step 2：Add subtitles or audio tracks to your video file from the toolbar options. Adjust their properties based on your needs. Use the "Clip" function to extract segments from your video if necessary.

Step 3: Enhance videos with effects like cropping area size or adding watermarks. Once satisfied with all adjustments, click on the "Burn" button at the right bottom of the file list to start creating your DVD.

How to Burn DivX/Xvid to a Data DVD

A data DVD stores the DivX/Xvid files themselves rather than converting them into a DVD-Video structure. This preserves the existing video file when no conversion is performed, but the receiving player must support the file's codec, container, resolution, and DivX profile.

DivX Certified devices are designed to play supported non-VOD DivX files burned to CD or DVD. Certification levels differ, so support for one DivX file does not mean the player will accept every AVI, DIVX, MKV, resolution, or codec combination.

Burn a DivX/Xvid Data DVD on Windows

Windows Media Player can create a data DVD containing video and other files. A standalone DVD player must support the file types stored on the disc for playback to work.

1. Insert a blank writable DVD into the DVD burner.
2. Open Windows Media Player and select the Burn tab.
3. Open the burn options and choose Data CD or DVD.
4. Add the DivX/Xvid files that the burning application accepts to the burn list.
5. Select Start burn.
6. Test the finished disc in the DVD or media player that will actually be used.

Burn a DivX/Xvid Data DVD on Mac

Finder can write files directly to CD or DVD through a Burn Folder when a compatible optical burner is connected. This stores the files on the disc as data rather than creating a DVD-Video project.

1. Connect a writable optical drive and insert a blank DVD.
2. In Finder, choose File > New Burn Folder.
3. Add the DivX/Xvid files you want to store on the disc.
4. Open the Burn Folder and click Burn.
5. Test the finished disc on the target player.

Can DivX Software Still Burn a Data DVD?

No. On current Windows versions, DivX Software is no longer a disc-burning tool. The built-in Burn to DVD function was removed from DivX Player in version 10.8.10, while the current DivX Software focuses on playing and converting video.

If you want to keep the original DivX/Xvid files on a DVD, use Windows Media Player or another data-disc writer and create a Data CD or DVD. The video files are copied to the disc without DVD-Video authoring, so their playback still depends on whether the target DVD or media player supports those files.

If you want the disc to behave like a regular movie DVD with broader DVD-player compatibility, menus, and DVD navigation, use one of the DVD-Video authoring tools, like DVDFab DVD Creator in the previous section instead.

Why a DivX Data DVD May Not Play

The DVD Works on a Computer but Not on the DVD Player

• Symptom: The disc opens on a computer, but the living-room DVD player does not play the DivX/Xvid file.
• Likely cause: The disc may have been written correctly as a data DVD, while the player does not support the video's codec, container, resolution, or DivX profile.
• Check: Compare the player's specifications with the actual file type. DivX certification levels support different file types and maximum resolutions.
• Next action: If the player does not support the file, create a DVD-Video disc with one of the authoring tools above instead of burning the same data file again.

The Player Supports DivX but Does Not Read the Disc

• Symptom: The player is advertised as supporting DivX, but it does not recognize the burned DVD or the files on it.
• Likely cause: The player may reject the recordable disc type, the file may exceed the supported DivX profile, or the project may not have been written as a normal data disc.
• Check: Confirm that you created a data DVD and compare the blank-media type and supported video specifications with the player's manual.
• Next action: Burn a new data disc using media supported by the player. If compatibility with conventional DVD players matters more than keeping the original DivX file unchanged, author the source as DVD-Video instead.

The Data DVD Has No Movie-Style Menu

• Symptom: The player shows a file list or starts the DivX/Xvid file directly, but there is no DVD menu.
• Likely cause: This is normal for a data DVD. The disc stores video files instead of a DVD-Video navigation structure.
• Check: Confirm whether you created a data DVD or a DVD-Video project.
• Next action: If you need menus, chapters, or standard DVD navigation, create a DVD-Video disc with DVD authoring software.

Conclusion

Copying DivX or Xvid to DVD starts with choosing the disc type. If the DVD needs to play like a conventional movie disc, convert and author the source as DVD-Video. DVDFab DVD Creator, DVD Flick, and Xilisoft DivX to DVD Converter cover that type of project. A data DVD stores the DivX/Xvid files instead of creating a DVD-Video structure. The video does not need to be transcoded when the existing file is copied unchanged, but the receiving player must support the file type stored on the disc.

For a regular DVD player, create DVD-Video. Use a data DVD when you have already confirmed that the target device supports the DivX/Xvid files you plan to burn.