"But it always runs into a problem with burning a DVD from file. It says it burned sucessfully, but neither one of my DVD players nor my PC will read it! Then the dialog box I played it with said an unspecified error crept up. Every time."

What software are you using? Are you sure it is mastering the DVD correctly (i.e. is there a VIDEO_TS and AUDIO_TS directory on the DVD?) You can't drag-&-drop this stuff like an audio or data CD.)

I use NERO, and it's been perfect every time, either copying another DVD, or mastering my own.