What's the difference between a VCD & CDR

[Kenny]

I have a Samsung DVD player which plays VCDs just fine.But when I put a CDR of a VCD in it doesn't like it.Why?

[Doom9]

don't you think your title is a bit misleading? I was about to start flaming you when I read the content and realized what your question was.

Not all dvd players can handle CD-Rs... this has to do with the physical properties of CD-Rs which are different from pressed CDs (as in VCDs or audio CDs you can buy in a store).. you need a special laser capable of reading CD-Rs (and RWs for that matter).. many older players did not have the required dual pickup and hence couldn't read CD-Rs. Sometimes you can try an RW disc.. they actually come closer to the reflectance properties of a dual layer DVD than a CD-R.