actually, SVCD is MPEG2...

and yes pooh74, .avi files will not play on most all DVD players, unless you have one capable of playing divx files, which do exist...you will also need to check what your DVD player does play, as many do NOT play SVCD files, only VCD (which is of much lower resolution)

as for DVD format, you will need to convert to said format before you burn..as Aaron has tried to suggest, check out http://www.videohelp.com/ , that is where I learned a hell of a lot about video files and how to deal with them

thanks guys ,got some tools there much obliged.just another question what is audiostream?its telling me to select auiostream but i havent got a clue what that is ...........I hope myineptitude is not gettin the better of you guys!!! pooh74(lost again)

Sometimes there's more than one audio track in a file.
They are called "streams" in some software. Same thing.

what do i do to select it and how do i know which audiostream the film is using ?

Each program is different. Sometimes you use the menus at the top, sometimes
you right-click on the video screen, then you follow your nose to the audio
tracks or settings. See if the built-in help pages make sense.

DVD Authoring software
 

As you posted above you require free burning sofware. Well personally I find NERO Premium the best and the latest version is downloadable free as a trial version at the Official NERO website. NERO 7 Premium. there are many codec packages ect. around may I suggest ACE MEGA codec's pack availible from limewire as it has all of them almost. Hope this helps you. P.S. the Trial version lasts 60 days then you need a product key. Sure you can find one somewhere;)

easy answer
 

try dvd sa**a its nice and easy to use u could use limewire to search for it be carefull dont download any file at 857 kb its useually a virus!!:D

I think Platinum is a good one. Try to save money for it. It's good. I used to use it until my dvd burner broke. I miss it. It used to burn cds too. :( :( :(