Cannot Delete Files on a CD-RW Disk (always write protected)

[Graham Brooker]

I have a Dell Optplex PC with a NEC DVD+RW ND-1100A drive using the Roxio
Easy CD Creator v5 software supplied by Dell. I cannot delete or format a
used CD-RW disk as the Win XP error message says the files and folders are
read only. I cannot remove the read only attribute. There is no format
option in the Win XP folder window and no disk erase option in the CD
Writing pane. It seems that the disk can only be used once and becomes
inaccessible. The Roxio Easy CD Creator has the Disk erase commands
unavailable as "grey" options.

As a precaution I have upgraded the BIOS and the NEC DVD firmware and the
Roxio Easy CD Creator software to the latest versions. Both the Roxio
software and the Win XP commands to writing to the CD are unavailable when
trying to reuse the CD.

Any help appreciated

Graham Brooker

 

[Yves Leclerc]

CD-RWs used directly with XP or Easy CD Creator can not allow you to delete
selected files. Once the CD-RW is written this way, it becomes a CD-ROM
disk. The only thing you can do is to completely erase the CD and start
over.

If you want to be able to write/erase selected files on a CD, look at the
DirectCD module of Easy CD Creator. Starting with version 6 of Roxio, it is
known as "Drag to CD".

 

[Graham Brooker]

The only thing you can do is to completely erase the CD and start
over.

If you want to be able to write/erase selected files on a CD, look at the
DirectCD module of Easy CD Creator.

I looked at the Direct CD Format Utility and the Format and Erase and Make
Writeable buttons are all "grey" for unavailable. The Scan Disk button gave
an error message saying it was either a Closed CD not a Direct Disk CD so
could do nothing with it.

There appears to be no way of erasing the whole disk from the Direct CD
Format Utility or from within Easy CD Creator

Thanks for your comments but so far not much happening.

Graham Brooker

 

[Graham Brooker]

Further investigation shows that Direct CD Format utility reads the disk
information as a Closed CD-R so will not allow Erase or Format. It seems
that the CD-RW has been marked as a CD-R and can no longer be used.

How do I change this?

Graham Brooker

 

[Glen]

Even a closed CDRW should be able to be erased by your cd burning software.
I don't use roxio myself but I think its fairly similar to Nero which i use.
I also dont use packet writing software I use my cdrw like regular cds. If
your disk has never been formated then easy cd creator should be able to
erase the disc no matter if its open or closed. Have you tried the disc in
another computer or a different CD recorder. The other thing is try a
different brand of disc as some cheap discs can exhibit strange behaviour.
If you can narrow down whether its a computer or disc problem you will be
half way to a solution.

Glen

 

[Rctfreak]

Further investigation shows that Direct CD Format utility reads the disk
information as a Closed CD-R so will not allow Erase or Format. It seems
that the CD-RW has been marked as a CD-R and can no longer be used.

How do I change this?

Graham Brooker

You cant. Once the CD has been marked closed thats it. You can not
reverse it.

 

[Graham Brooker]

Thanks for this Glen

I am getting there slowly. I put it into a Win 98 PC with an HP CD unit and
the type of disk was displayed properly. I was then able to erase and
format the disk.

I now suspect a problem with the Dell NEC drive hardware on my Win XP PC for
which I am waiting for Dell Tech Support to reply. I shall just invoke the
on site warranty if I get nowhere and see what they do but I feel I must
have some hard evidence to give them or they may try an wriggle out of their
responsibility. My CD-RW are Memorex so should work OK.

Graham Brooker

 

[Lil' Dave]

How to erase the cdrw depends if its written in ISO/Joliet or udf format.
And if in udf format, what version may be pertinent as well in relation to
the udf writing software.

 

[Guest]

I am having the same problem and I can't believe this. 'Normal' reading and
writing direct to CD, plus file deletion capability, was all there with
Win2000. It has only disappeared with my upgrade to XP.

Please tell me it's some sort of bug and they are going to correct it.

 

[Bob I]

Why should someone tell you its a bug when it's actually caused by not
installing the support software?

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Reinstall the software you were using with Win2000. It does not come with it
natively, you had to be using a third party program. WinXP includes a
burning engine, but it is *very* limited in capabilities. Read/write such as
you are asking about is a feature of packet writing (UDF) software,
something not supported by the WinXP burning engine (it uses a form of
ISO-9660).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Plato]

I am having the same problem and I can't believe this. 'Normal' reading and
writing direct to CD, plus file deletion capability, was all there with
Win2000. It has only disappeared with my upgrade to XP.

It was NEVER "there" with windows 2000. It was only "there" due to an
application you had loaded to deal with rewriteable cds. Install one now
for your XP pc.