CD-RW problems

Hi

I'm using CD-RWs for backups with my HP a1700n, with a Lightscribe DVD
SuperMulti Drive / CD writer. After writing files to discs only about a dozen
times, the discs seem corrupted; I can no longer write to them and folders
that had contained dozens of files are now empty. When I try to reformat
them, I get an error message saying Windows could not complete the format.
Anybody know what the problem might be?

thanx

"Ron" <Ron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4DC626CE-449F-4605-9EE0-347341BDE7CC@microsoft.com...
> Hi
>
> I'm using CD-RWs for backups with my HP a1700n, with a Lightscribe DVD
> SuperMulti Drive / CD writer. After writing files to discs only about a
> dozen
> times, the discs seem corrupted; I can no longer write to them and folders
> that had contained dozens of files are now empty. When I try to reformat
> them, I get an error message saying Windows could not complete the format.
> Anybody know what the problem might be?
>
> thanx
The problem is that you are using CD-RW disks. They are not reliable enough
for backup.
Jim

"Ron" <Ron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4DC626CE-449F-4605-9EE0-347341BDE7CC@microsoft.com...
> Hi
>
> I'm using CD-RWs for backups with my HP a1700n, with a Lightscribe DVD
> SuperMulti Drive / CD writer. After writing files to discs only about a
> dozen
> times, the discs seem corrupted; I can no longer write to them and folders
> that had contained dozens of files are now empty. When I try to reformat
> them, I get an error message saying Windows could not complete the format.
> Anybody know what the problem might be?
>
> thanx

Use normal CD-R or DVD-R discs, re-writeable discs use a gel that the laser
can punch a hole through and fill it in later, unfortunatly it's even more
violatile than CD-Rs. Best thing to do is buy a huge spindle of DVD-R's, and
toss the discs after you replaced them with a new backup. Use a CD-shredder
and recycle the bits and plastic, recycle damn it!

Thank you, Jim and Andy. That's good information. I had no idea CD-RWs were
such junk.



"Andy [YaYa]" wrote:

> "Ron" <Ron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4DC626CE-449F-4605-9EE0-347341BDE7CC@microsoft.com...
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm using CD-RWs for backups with my HP a1700n, with a Lightscribe DVD
> > SuperMulti Drive / CD writer. After writing files to discs only about a
> > dozen
> > times, the discs seem corrupted; I can no longer write to them and folders
> > that had contained dozens of files are now empty. When I try to reformat
> > them, I get an error message saying Windows could not complete the format.
> > Anybody know what the problem might be?
> >
> > thanx
>
> Use normal CD-R or DVD-R discs, re-writeable discs use a gel that the laser
> can punch a hole through and fill it in later, unfortunatly it's even more
> violatile than CD-Rs. Best thing to do is buy a huge spindle of DVD-R's, and
> toss the discs after you replaced them with a new backup. Use a CD-shredder
> and recycle the bits and plastic, recycle damn it!
>
>

Your mileage will vary no matter what media you use. CD-RWs that I've only
written to once (music - not mp3) have lasted for 4 years in my car, but I
used Nero and used its method to verify the discs. Other CD-RWs I've used
for temporary storage and rewritten maybe 10 times have not failed me
either, but I don't do that much. It could be that this particular type of
CD-RW is not fully compatible with your particular CD writer.

-Paul Randall

"Ron" <Ron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4DC626CE-449F-4605-9EE0-347341BDE7CC@microsoft.com...
> Hi
>
> I'm using CD-RWs for backups with my HP a1700n, with a Lightscribe DVD
> SuperMulti Drive / CD writer. After writing files to discs only about a
> dozen
> times, the discs seem corrupted; I can no longer write to them and folders
> that had contained dozens of files are now empty. When I try to reformat
> them, I get an error message saying Windows could not complete the format.
> Anybody know what the problem might be?
>
> thanx

"Ron" <Ron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F3E65AFF-AD5E-4846-A818-DD1AC296EC9A@microsoft.com...
> Thank you, Jim and Andy. That's good information. I had no idea CD-RWs
> were
> such junk.
I have had some that lasted a long time. Others have failed in short order.
I no longer use them.
The DVD+-RWs that I have used seem somewhat better.
Jim
>
>
>
> "Andy [YaYa]" wrote:
>
>> "Ron" <Ron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:4DC626CE-449F-4605-9EE0-347341BDE7CC@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi
>> >
>> > I'm using CD-RWs for backups with my HP a1700n, with a Lightscribe DVD
>> > SuperMulti Drive / CD writer. After writing files to discs only about a
>> > dozen
>> > times, the discs seem corrupted; I can no longer write to them and
>> > folders
>> > that had contained dozens of files are now empty. When I try to
>> > reformat
>> > them, I get an error message saying Windows could not complete the
>> > format.
>> > Anybody know what the problem might be?
>> >
>> > thanx
>>
>> Use normal CD-R or DVD-R discs, re-writeable discs use a gel that the
>> laser
>> can punch a hole through and fill it in later, unfortunatly it's even
>> more
>> violatile than CD-Rs. Best thing to do is buy a huge spindle of DVD-R's,
>> and
>> toss the discs after you replaced them with a new backup. Use a
>> CD-shredder
>> and recycle the bits and plastic, recycle damn it!
>>
>>

I kept the hard disc from my old XP system that unfortunately had to be
replaced with Vista. Initially I needed this to load all the files that were
not elsewhere. Now I use it for backup.....

Annie

"Paul Randall" wrote:

> Your mileage will vary no matter what media you use. CD-RWs that I've only
> written to once (music - not mp3) have lasted for 4 years in my car, but I
> used Nero and used its method to verify the discs. Other CD-RWs I've used
> for temporary storage and rewritten maybe 10 times have not failed me
> either, but I don't do that much. It could be that this particular type of
> CD-RW is not fully compatible with your particular CD writer.
>
> -Paul Randall
>
> "Ron" <Ron@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:4DC626CE-449F-4605-9EE0-347341BDE7CC@microsoft.com...
> > Hi
> >
> > I'm using CD-RWs for backups with my HP a1700n, with a Lightscribe DVD
> > SuperMulti Drive / CD writer. After writing files to discs only about a
> > dozen
> > times, the discs seem corrupted; I can no longer write to them and folders
> > that had contained dozens of files are now empty. When I try to reformat
> > them, I get an error message saying Windows could not complete the format.
> > Anybody know what the problem might be?
> >
> > thanx
>
>
>