I am considering buying a set of videos, but they only come on VCD. Before I buy them, I need to make sure tht they will work on my computer:

I am running Mandrive LE 2005. I do not have any kind of DVD player. My computer
has a 32x12x48x CD-Writer. The Control Center lists this as a ARTEC WRA-WA.

1. Can I play VCDs on my computer?

2. Will my burner be able to make a copy of them to another disk so that I can avoid scratching the original disks? I use the graveman burner.

Thanks.

due to the fact that vcd's are regular cd rom's, a cd writer will easily read/copy them. All you need is the right program. I have watched vcds only on windows, so i cannot help you with the next part

2. Will my burner be able to make a copy of them to another disk so that I can avoid scratching the original disks? I use the graveman burner.

Seems like you want to give away/sell movie CDs, but I'll try to buy your story nonetheless.

Yes, you can play VCDs. I personally recommend using Xine, possibly with the Totem front-end, although I just use xine-ui as the f-e. Downoading the files for it is a breeze, because you're given step-by-step instructions.

I think you can get the Xine (Mandrake/Mandriva) RPMs from here. You'll need libdvdcss, as well as the ones that the Xine website tells you to get. Apart from that, enjoy!

J_K9

P.S Oh, and for a good CD burner, I recommend K3b.

Thanks for the quick reply!