CD-RW FORMATTING

[Tom]

The option to completely format a CD-RW does not appear
in my CD-writing-window-thing.

I looked through the help/support on my PC and it said
that this may happen if the CD is completely full, but
none of the CD-RW's I'm working with are and some aren't
even 1/4 full.

Please help, anyone!

Tom, newsgroup newbie, excuse my poor technical language.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

1. Open XP's "Help and Support" program.
2. In the Search box type: ERASE , and hit enter.
3. Click on the task titled: "Erase files from a CD".

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| The option to completely format a CD-RW does not appear
| in my CD-writing-window-thing.
|
| I looked through the help/support on my PC and it said
| that this may happen if the CD is completely full, but
| none of the CD-RW's I'm working with are and some aren't
| even 1/4 full.
|
| Please help, anyone!
|
| Tom, newsgroup newbie, excuse my poor technical language.

 

[Wislu Plethora]

-----Original Message-----
1. Open XP's "Help and Support" program.
2. In the Search box type: ERASE , and hit enter.
3. Click on the task titled: "Erase files from a CD".

The OP didn't ask how to erase a CD--he wanted to know
how to *format* one. There is a difference, you know. If
formatting is required, 3rd party software such as Nero's
InCD is required--XP has no native CD formatting
capability.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

XP CD writing system does not handle CD-RW media as CD-RW. If you want to
format the CD-RW, you need to use Roxio's Drag to CD (DirectCD) or Nero's
InCD.

 

[Guest]

just write to it

 

[Gordon]

just write to it

Please quote the post you are replying to. In the Web interface this is the
DEFAULT. i.e. it does it for you.



http://www.netmeister.org/news/learn2quote.html

Thank you.

 

[Alex Nichol]

The option to completely format a CD-RW does not appear
in my CD-writing-window-thing.

Read up at http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpcd.htm

The inbuilt burning does not use 'packet writing' and does not format
disks in advance

 

[Guest]

Thanks everyone and excuse me if I'm a little slow...

BUT what IS the difference between "formatting"
and "erasing" a CD?

The "Erase this CD-RW" option does not appear under CD
Writing Tasks on my PC. It used to do, but not any more,
for some strange reason.

 

[Borgholio]

Formatting allows you to use the disc as a big floppy....erasing makes it
completely blank and unreadable, unless you format it.

 

[NobodyMan]

Formatting allows you to use the disc as a big floppy....erasing makes it
completely blank and unreadable, unless you format it.

Close but no cigar.

Formatting is only used with packet-writing software. It does allow
you to use the CDRW like a big floppy; you were correct about that.

Erasing a CDRW can be done whether you use packet-writing or regular
mastering.

However, if you erase a CDRW, it is not "completely blank and
unreadable, unless you format it." A blank CDRW will work just fine
for regular mastering, so it isn't unreadable until you format is.

 

[Borgholio]

Close but no cigar.

Formatting is only used with packet-writing software. It does allow
you to use the CDRW like a big floppy; you were correct about that.

Erasing a CDRW can be done whether you use packet-writing or regular
mastering.

However, if you erase a CDRW, it is not "completely blank and
unreadable, unless you format it." A blank CDRW will work just fine
for regular mastering, so it isn't unreadable until you format is.

Well I was assuming that he only intended to use the disc with
packet-writing software. If he intends to use the disc as a traditional
CD-R, then yeah it doesn't need to be formatted.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----



Well I was assuming that he only intended to use the disc with
packet-writing software. If he intends to use the disc as a traditional
CD-R, then yeah it doesn't need to be formatted.

Riiiiight... I'm not very good at this, please excuse me.
SO... I should be able to ERASE a CD-RW (using "regular
mastering", i.e. the stuff that's built in with XP?).
This would make the CD-RW blank (correct me if I'm wrong
here) and then I could write other stuff to it, yes? OR
do I need to FORMAT it (using packet writing software) in
order to be able to use it as a "big floppy", as you so
elequently put it?

If I SHOULD be able to work with it fine using only the
ERASE function, I still have the problem that the option
to ERASE the CD-RW doesn't appear under the CD Writing
Tasks heading for some reason.

 

[dev]

/[email protected]/ said:

<snipped unreadable text)

Riiiiight... I'm not very good at this, please excuse me.
SO... I should be able to ERASE a CD-RW (using "regular
mastering", i.e. the stuff that's built in with XP?).
This would make the CD-RW blank (correct me if I'm wrong
here) and then I could write other stuff to it, yes? OR
do I need to FORMAT it (using packet writing software) in
order to be able to use it as a "big floppy", as you so
elequently put it?

XP's built-in burning will totally erase the CD/RW.

If I SHOULD be able to work with it fine using only the
ERASE function, I still have the problem that the option
to ERASE the CD-RW doesn't appear under the CD Writing
Tasks heading for some reason.

Try a right-click on the CD burner's drive letter.

For more info...
http://www.aumha.org/a/xpcd.htm

Topics covered include:

1. Fundamentals
a. The ISO File System
b. The UDF File System
2. The Inbuilt System in Windows XP
3. Reading UDF Format Disks in Windows XP
4. Third Party Software, & Upgrading to Windows XP
5. Writing & Using UDF Format Disks in Windows XP
6. Settings for the Inbuilt Software
7. Problems
a. There is no recording page...
b. My CD drives have vanished...
8. More Information

Additionally, you can find a small list of MS Knowledge Base articles on
troubleshooting CD problems by clicking "CD & DVD Drives" here:
http://aumha.org/kbhrdwar.htm