Which CD - DVD format

[Dave C.]

With the variety of format, when would one choose "+" or "-"? For example
CD-R vs. CD+R or DVD-R vs. DVD+R.

Second question: I recently installed a new DVD-CD burner and after the
installation and from the Windows Explorer, the title of the burner got
picked up as "Photosmart Printer F:" The drive letter is correct and the
burner works fine, but I can't find out how to rename it from "Photosmart
Printer" which is the printer I have. (This is only an inconvenience.)

In Windows Explorer, right-click menu does not have a rename item.

Dave C.

 

[Grinder]

With the variety of format, when would one choose "+" or "-"?
For example CD-R vs. CD+R...

There's no such thing as CD+R as far as I've seen. Perhaps you've seen
CD-R and CD-RW and conflated those two with these:

...or DVD-R vs. DVD+R.

I started using DVD-Rs earlier because they were reported to be a bit
more compatible with standalone DVD players. That's not really an issue
now with anything but those older players. Capacity is about the same,
but if I remember correctly there are some esoteric, technical reasons
why DVD+R could be considered better.

Unless you have a specific application that demands one format or the
other, I can't see how it really matters.

Second question: I recently installed a new DVD-CD burner and after the
installation and from the Windows Explorer, the title of the burner got
picked up as "Photosmart Printer F:" The drive letter is correct and the
burner works fine, but I can't find out how to rename it from "Photosmart
Printer" which is the printer I have. (This is only an inconvenience.)

In Windows Explorer, right-click menu does not have a rename item.

That name looks like it's the label of a disc that has been inserted
into your PC. If you have auto insert notification turned off, it won't
necessarily update the name. With a "My Computer" window open, and the
disc drive empty, hit F5 and see what that does for you.

 

[Jan Alter]

There's no such thing as CD+R as far as I've seen. Perhaps you've seen
CD-R and CD-RW and conflated those two with these:


I started using DVD-Rs earlier because they were reported to be a bit more
compatible with standalone DVD players. That's not really an issue now
with anything but those older players. Capacity is about the same, but if
I remember correctly there are some esoteric, technical reasons why DVD+R
could be considered better.

Unless you have a specific application that demands one format or the
other, I can't see how it really matters.


That name looks like it's the label of a disc that has been inserted into
your PC. If you have auto insert notification turned off, it won't
necessarily update the name. With a "My Computer" window open, and the
disc drive empty, hit F5 and see what that does for you.

Either format, DVD + or DVD- will be compatible with most machines produced
in the last few years except Apple machines, until within the last 6 months.
Apple used DVD- drives until very recently. If one happened to burn a movie
on a PC using DVD + and stuck it into a year old Apple the machine would
simply kick it out.

 

[Dave C.]

That name looks like it's the label of a disc that has been inserted into
your PC. If you have auto insert notification turned off, it won't
necessarily update the name. With a "My Computer" window open, and the
disc drive empty, hit F5 and see what that does for you.

I was thinking of uninstalling and reinstalling using the device manager,
but I think I'll leave it alone....everything works well.

Thanks to both you and Jan Alter for your thoughts.

Dave C.

 

[Steven Latus]

With the variety of format, when would one choose "+" or "-"? For example
CD-R vs. CD+R or DVD-R vs. DVD+R.

Second question: I recently installed a new DVD-CD burner and after the
installation and from the Windows Explorer, the title of the burner got
picked up as "Photosmart Printer F:" The drive letter is correct and the
burner works fine, but I can't find out how to rename it from "Photosmart
Printer" which is the printer I have. (This is only an inconvenience.)

In Windows Explorer, right-click menu does not have a rename item.

Dave C.

See the following PC Magazine article titled, "Customize Your Drive
Icons." http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2018093,00.asp

Steve