Burning an AVI file to Image in Nero 7

[Azimov]

I've been trying (unsuccessfully on countless occasions) to burn an AVI file to an image for burning to DVD later. The problem i've experienced is that the resulting image file is often wayyyyyy to big to fit on a normal DVD (ie 6+GB) despite the original AVI being less than 1GB and "Fit to DVD" being selected.

Incidentally, the reason I make the image file in the first place, is because I've wasted discs in the past which have failed at the final hurdle so I figure if the image file fails I've lost nothing.

Does anyone have any idea why Nero 7 would create an image file so large it wouldn't fit on a DVD and if so, how do I get around this?
Is there a setting somewhere I've missed and should know about?

Thanks for your time!

[vascop]

Where does the avi file come from?

[Azimov]

I made video of my nieces birthday party which came out at 716,622 KB AVI. I don't know how to convert it. I have no money to purchase conversion software. Do I need it?

[trish432]

Download sothink moviemaker(freeware)
I usually burn to rewritable disc first, so nothing wasted if it doesn`t work out.

http://www.sothinkmedia.com/movie-dvd-maker/

[ACtheTROLL]

normal DVD (ie 6+GB)????
normal dvd = 4.7Gb
dual layer = 8.5Gb

try
http://isorecorder.alexfeinman.com/isorecorder .htm

then
create virtual cd/dvd
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/m ount-an-iso-image-in-windows-vista/

if it works
burn the image
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/burncdcc.html

all free

[Azimov]

Trish I tried your solution... wasted another dvd lol

AC I didn't get to your solution, I managed to have the file converted to an Mpeg (a friend did it for me) and it burned ok.

Thanks to all who answered except...
I still don't know why it failed in the first place.
If I knew this I may be able to avoid these problems in future.
My original question may therefore be shortened to;
"How do I tell Nero to create image files of a size I can burn to a standard DVD, as previously selected (Fit to disc, DVD)?"
I hope I've explained the problem adequately.

Thanks.