I'm sorry if this is a really basic question but I'm having trouble copying
files to CD.

Although I can import files from CD ROM without any problems, whenever I try
and copy to the same drive I receive the message 'Drive not accessible'.

I am using a Sony VAIO laptop running Windows XP and CD I'm trying to copy
to is 'CD-R'.

I've tried several different CDs but the result is always the same.

Do I need to format something?!

Thanks in anticipation.

On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:49:09 +0100, "Terry Bennett"
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>I'm sorry if this is a really basic question but I'm having trouble copying
>files to CD.
>
>Although I can import files from CD ROM without any problems, whenever I try
>and copy to the same drive I receive the message 'Drive not accessible'.
>
>I am using a Sony VAIO laptop running Windows XP and CD I'm trying to copy
>to is 'CD-R'.
>
>I've tried several different CDs but the result is always the same.
>
>Do I need to format something?!


Yes, you need to format the CD before you copy to it.

But finding the program to format is a matter of luck, because no matter how
hard you look for it, you never find it, but sometuimes it pops up on your
screen whe your's not expecting it. When that happens, put a CD in tour drive
and format it quickly, whether you need it or not, because the next time you
need it you probably won't find it, or you'll find it is blanked out.


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

Reading from CDs and data DVDs is intrinsic in XP.

But, writing to CDs and DVDs usually requires a third-party program, such as
Nero or Easy Media Creator. A decent free alternative is called
"DeepBurner", and is available from: http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download
Get the portable version, as that requires no installation, just unzipping.

I have heard that XP may have limited drag&drop capability for writing to
CDs, but writing in that fashion is generally a bad idea, since even if it
works, such CDs are often unreadable on other computers. Also, there are
some rules about formatting, whether you can write once or several times,
whether you can erase, whether you can use CD-R or CD-RW media, speed of
media, etc. In general you will be happier if you avoid drop&drop, UDF,
DLA, DirectCD, and similar packet writing options. Write-once CDs (CD-R) is
very cheap, if bought 25 to 50 at a time. All write faster than the faster
CD-RW. And, a properly written (closed, finalized) CD-R can be read on most
PCs, MACs, even LINUX boxes.

Of course, in order to write CDs you must have a CD writer. If you have an
older PC it is possible that all it has is a CD reader. Check the PC
specifications to be sure.


"Terry Bennett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm sorry if this is a really basic question but I'm having trouble
> copying files to CD.
>
> Although I can import files from CD ROM without any problems, whenever I
> try and copy to the same drive I receive the message 'Drive not
> accessible'.
>
> I am using a Sony VAIO laptop running Windows XP and CD I'm trying to copy
> to is 'CD-R'.
>
> I've tried several different CDs but the result is always the same.
>
> Do I need to format something?!
>
> Thanks in anticipation.
>

Many thanks Bob, that seems to have resolved the problem.


"Bob Harris" <rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:%(E-Mail Removed)...
> Reading from CDs and data DVDs is intrinsic in XP.
>
> But, writing to CDs and DVDs usually requires a third-party program, such
> as Nero or Easy Media Creator. A decent free alternative is called
> "DeepBurner", and is available from:
> http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download Get the portable version, as that
> requires no installation, just unzipping.
>
> I have heard that XP may have limited drag&drop capability for writing to
> CDs, but writing in that fashion is generally a bad idea, since even if it
> works, such CDs are often unreadable on other computers. Also, there are
> some rules about formatting, whether you can write once or several times,
> whether you can erase, whether you can use CD-R or CD-RW media, speed of
> media, etc. In general you will be happier if you avoid drop&drop, UDF,
> DLA, DirectCD, and similar packet writing options. Write-once CDs (CD-R)
> is very cheap, if bought 25 to 50 at a time. All write faster than the
> faster CD-RW. And, a properly written (closed, finalized) CD-R can be
> read on most PCs, MACs, even LINUX boxes.
>
> Of course, in order to write CDs you must have a CD writer. If you have
> an older PC it is possible that all it has is a CD reader. Check the PC
> specifications to be sure.
>
>
> "Terry Bennett" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
>> I'm sorry if this is a really basic question but I'm having trouble
>> copying files to CD.
>>
>> Although I can import files from CD ROM without any problems, whenever I
>> try and copy to the same drive I receive the message 'Drive not
>> accessible'.
>>
>> I am using a Sony VAIO laptop running Windows XP and CD I'm trying to
>> copy to is 'CD-R'.
>>
>> I've tried several different CDs but the result is always the same.
>>
>> Do I need to format something?!
>>
>> Thanks in anticipation.
>>
>
>

On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:34:24 -0500, "Bob Harris"
<rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>Reading from CDs and data DVDs is intrinsic in XP.
>
>But, writing to CDs and DVDs usually requires a third-party program, such as
>Nero or Easy Media Creator. A decent free alternative is called
>"DeepBurner", and is available from: http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download
>Get the portable version, as that requires no installation, just unzipping.

Will it format CD-R discs for writing?


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:40:39 +0200, Steve Hayes
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:34:24 -0500, "Bob Harris"
><rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>Reading from CDs and data DVDs is intrinsic in XP.
>>
>>But, writing to CDs and DVDs usually requires a third-party program, such as
>>Nero or Easy Media Creator. A decent free alternative is called
>>"DeepBurner", and is available from: http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download
>>Get the portable version, as that requires no installation, just unzipping.
>
>Will it format CD-R discs for writing?

CD-R discs don't need to be formatted for writing. You write once and
that is it. After that, they are read only.

--
Remove del for email

On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:39:35 -0700, Barry Schwarz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:40:39 +0200, Steve Hayes
><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:34:24 -0500, "Bob Harris"
>><rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>Reading from CDs and data DVDs is intrinsic in XP.
>>>
>>>But, writing to CDs and DVDs usually requires a third-party program, such as
>>>Nero or Easy Media Creator. A decent free alternative is called
>>>"DeepBurner", and is available from: http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download
>>>Get the portable version, as that requires no installation, just unzipping.
>>
>>Will it format CD-R discs for writing?
>
>CD-R discs don't need to be formatted for writing. You write once and
>that is it. After that, they are read only.

They do need to be formatted if you want to copy files to them, as the
original poster asked - DLA (Drive letter access).

I want a program that will format them, and preferably one that will format
DVDs as well.


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:05:48 +0200, Steve Hayes
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:39:35 -0700, Barry Schwarz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 08:40:39 +0200, Steve Hayes
>><(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sun, 16 Aug 2009 07:34:24 -0500, "Bob Harris"
>>><rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>>Reading from CDs and data DVDs is intrinsic in XP.
>>>>
>>>>But, writing to CDs and DVDs usually requires a third-party program, such as
>>>>Nero or Easy Media Creator. A decent free alternative is called
>>>>"DeepBurner", and is available from: http://www.deepburner.com/?r=download
>>>>Get the portable version, as that requires no installation, just unzipping.
>>>
>>>Will it format CD-R discs for writing?
>>
>>CD-R discs don't need to be formatted for writing. You write once and
>>that is it. After that, they are read only.
>
>They do need to be formatted if you want to copy files to them, as the
>original poster asked - DLA (Drive letter access).
>
>I want a program that will format them, and preferably one that will format
>DVDs as well.

XP will has the ability to write CDs built in. You simply drag the
desired files to the drive and follow the pop-ups. There is no
separate format command.

--
Remove del for email

On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:56:06 -0700, Barry Schwarz <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>>>CD-R discs don't need to be formatted for writing. You write once and
>>>that is it. After that, they are read only.
>>
>>They do need to be formatted if you want to copy files to them, as the
>>original poster asked - DLA (Drive letter access).
>>
>>I want a program that will format them, and preferably one that will format
>>DVDs as well.
>
>XP will has the ability to write CDs built in. You simply drag the
>desired files to the drive and follow the pop-ups. There is no
>separate format command.

So what I'm asking is whether there is a third-party program available that
will format CD-R discs.

My laptop came with XP and a formatting program, but my desktop computer
doesn't seem to have this.

In the laptop when I click on "Properties" for a CD-R disc, one of the options
is "format", but in the desktop computer it is blanked out.


--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

What makes you feel that a CD-R needs to be formatted, or that it can be?

"Steve Hayes" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
: On Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:56:06 -0700, Barry Schwarz <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:
:
: >>>CD-R discs don't need to be formatted for writing. You write once and
: >>>that is it. After that, they are read only.
: >>
: >>They do need to be formatted if you want to copy files to them, as the
: >>original poster asked - DLA (Drive letter access).
: >>
: >>I want a program that will format them, and preferably one that will
format
: >>DVDs as well.
: >
: >XP will has the ability to write CDs built in. You simply drag the
: >desired files to the drive and follow the pop-ups. There is no
: >separate format command.
:
: So what I'm asking is whether there is a third-party program available
that
: will format CD-R discs.
:
: My laptop came with XP and a formatting program, but my desktop computer
: doesn't seem to have this.
:
: In the laptop when I click on "Properties" for a CD-R disc, one of the
options
: is "format", but in the desktop computer it is blanked out.
:
:
: --
: Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
: Web: http://hayesfam.bravehost.com/stevesig.htm
: Blog: http://methodius.blogspot.com
: E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop
uk