Why am I having to format CDs?

For some reason (and on the same computer) I have to format my CDs before
adding anything to them. When I first started burning CDs, I did not have to
format them (again, same exact computer) but for the last couple of CDs I
have had to format them -- they also seem to format at a smaller size; for
example, I have 700 MB and they are formatting at something like 576MB. Both
my brother and my sister told me that they never have to format their CDs.
I'm wondering if I might have "hit" or clicked something by mistake that is
not making me format the CDs.

Brohdaw wrote:
> For some reason (and on the same computer) I have to format my CDs before
> adding anything to them. When I first started burning CDs, I did not have to

You talking about re-writable CDs right?

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XP did and does the same thing!

Vista is merely writing its file system to it.

That is why we all use third-party burning software: Nero, etc.

"Brohdaw" wrote:

> For some reason (and on the same computer) I have to format my CDs before
> adding anything to them. When I first started burning CDs, I did not have to
> format them (again, same exact computer) but for the last couple of CDs I
> have had to format them -- they also seem to format at a smaller size; for
> example, I have 700 MB and they are formatting at something like 576MB. Both
> my brother and my sister told me that they never have to format their CDs.
> I'm wondering if I might have "hit" or clicked something by mistake that is
> not making me format the CDs.

Well, I simply drag and drop new data and it writes the new data to the
disk. Doesn't format anything.
--
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Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!E8E5CC039D51E3DB!9709.entry
"Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:67423395-D0FE-4F25-9D0E-3C7D505D34FE@microsoft.com...
> XP did and does the same thing!
>
> Vista is merely writing its file system to it.
>
> That is why we all use third-party burning software: Nero, etc.
>
> "Brohdaw" wrote:
>
>> For some reason (and on the same computer) I have to format my CDs before
>> adding anything to them. When I first started burning CDs, I did not
>> have to
>> format them (again, same exact computer) but for the last couple of CDs I
>> have had to format them -- they also seem to format at a smaller size;
>> for
>> example, I have 700 MB and they are formatting at something like 576MB.
>> Both
>> my brother and my sister told me that they never have to format their
>> CDs.
>> I'm wondering if I might have "hit" or clicked something by mistake that
>> is
>> not making me format the CDs.

There are two 'formats' that Vista supports. 'Live File System' and
'Mastered'.

Vista seems to prefer the 'Live file system' if you don't tell it Mastered.

When you insert a blank disk (RW) Vista's AutoPlay should see it and ask
what you want to do.
On My system it offers three choices: Burn an audio CD (Windows Media
Player), Burn files to disc (using Windows) and Create a CD or DVD using
Roxio Easy Media Creator 7.

If you select the Burn Files to disc using Windows, or if that is what you
set for default on a blank disk then Vista will offer to format the disc for
you.

You get a 'Burn a Disc' dialogue, there is a button for Show formatting
options, click it and Vista will allow you to set the format type. (check
out the Which CD or DVD format should I choose link for fairly good
explanation). The Live File System is what makes the CD look much like a
floppy disc. The Mastered is the 'Old' way of doing things. In this
dialogue you can either select Mastered or cancel to whole thing. If you
instead select to format Live File System, it will take awhile.

If you have a Live File CDRW installed and you drag files to it, they are
there on the CDRW.
If you have a Mastered CDRW installed and you drag files to it, they are
stored on the hard drive ready to transfer to the CDRW when you hit the
'burn' button.

If you use some other program (rather than dragging files to the CDRW) then
that program will do all the necessary formatting and copying, so the
'format' that you did initially will be overwritten.

Bottom line is don't format (or format in Mastered) unless you are going to
use the CDRW as a floppy drive equivalent.

Michael

"Brohdaw" <Brohdaw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:618D54CB-324D-46C9-8DF0-B69E0DFFE029@microsoft.com...
> For some reason (and on the same computer) I have to format my CDs before
> adding anything to them. When I first started burning CDs, I did not have
> to
> format them (again, same exact computer) but for the last couple of CDs I
> have had to format them -- they also seem to format at a smaller size; for
> example, I have 700 MB and they are formatting at something like 576MB.
> Both
> my brother and my sister told me that they never have to format their CDs.
> I'm wondering if I might have "hit" or clicked something by mistake that
> is
> not making me format the CDs.

On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 00:52:05 -0500, "Michael Walraven"
<mexxwalraven@verizon.net> wrote:

>If you use some other program (rather than dragging files to the CDRW) then
>that program will do all the necessary formatting and copying, so the
>'format' that you did initially will be overwritten.
>
>Bottom line is don't format (or format in Mastered) unless you are going to
>use the CDRW as a floppy drive equivalent.

(Snipped for brevity)

Gee, Vista makes life so much easier.

WaIIy wrote:
> On Thu, 8 Nov 2007 00:52:05 -0500, "Michael Walraven"
> <mexxwalraven@verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> If you use some other program (rather than dragging files to the CDRW) then
>> that program will do all the necessary formatting and copying, so the
>> 'format' that you did initially will be overwritten.
>>
>> Bottom line is don't format (or format in Mastered) unless you are going to
>> use the CDRW as a floppy drive equivalent.
>
> (Snipped for brevity)
>
> Gee, Vista makes life so much easier.

Well, you lot should realise we are all unwitting beta testers here.

Wait for SP1 for real Vista! : )