Copying to a CD

[RG]

This is the first time I've been in a user group, so forgive me if I don't do
everything right.

I'm trying to copy files to a CD, and it's also the first time I've done
that. I was able to copy a folder from my hard drive to the CD, and I can
open files within that folder on the CD. However, I experimented by making a
change (they're all Word files, text, and I added a sentence to the beginning
of one) to a file, then told Word to save it. I got an error message that it
could not be saved, that the file is "read only." It shouldn't be. The file
can be opened on the hard drive and edited with no problem, and the CD is a
"CD-RW" disk, "Rewritable," and "Reinscriptable," and it was a blank disk.
The total size of the folder is minuscule compared to the storage capacity of
the disk, so it didn't fill it.

If anyone can tell me what I'm doing wrong, I'd appreciate it, and I hope
this is the right place to put a question such as this.


RG

 

[RobertVA]

This is the first time I've been in a user group, so forgive me if I don't do
everything right.

I'm trying to copy files to a CD, and it's also the first time I've done
that. I was able to copy a folder from my hard drive to the CD, and I can
open files within that folder on the CD. However, I experimented by making a
change (they're all Word files, text, and I added a sentence to the beginning
of one) to a file, then told Word to save it. I got an error message that it
could not be saved, that the file is "read only." It shouldn't be. The file
can be opened on the hard drive and edited with no problem, and the CD is a
"CD-RW" disk, "Rewritable," and "Reinscriptable," and it was a blank disk.
The total size of the folder is minuscule compared to the storage capacity of
the disk, so it didn't fill it.

If anyone can tell me what I'm doing wrong, I'd appreciate it, and I hope
this is the right place to put a question such as this.


RG

Windows XP by itself is only able to use conventional CD-R session
writing techniques on CD-RWs.

You need packet writing software similar to Nero or Roxio's Easy Media
Creator (there is probably other competitors). Be prepared for a time
consuming formatting operation on each blank CD-RW the first time you
put it in the drive. The resulting disk MAY only be compatible with
packet writing software from the company that developed the software it
was formatted with.

 

[M.I.5¾]

This is the first time I've been in a user group, so forgive me if I don't
do
everything right.

I'm trying to copy files to a CD, and it's also the first time I've done
that. I was able to copy a folder from my hard drive to the CD, and I can
open files within that folder on the CD. However, I experimented by
making a
change (they're all Word files, text, and I added a sentence to the
beginning
of one) to a file, then told Word to save it. I got an error message that
it
could not be saved, that the file is "read only." It shouldn't be. The
file
can be opened on the hard drive and edited with no problem, and the CD is
a
"CD-RW" disk, "Rewritable," and "Reinscriptable," and it was a blank disk.
The total size of the folder is minuscule compared to the storage capacity
of
the disk, so it didn't fill it.

If anyone can tell me what I'm doing wrong, I'd appreciate it, and I hope
this is the right place to put a question such as this.

You have misunderstood the way CD filing works. When files and folders are
copied to CD-RW (or CD-R) then they are copied in a read only mode because
the file and folder really cannot be changed. Material may be added, and
indeed an existing file or folder may be overwritten (it isn't really but
the system makes it look that way). The 'rewritable' description of the
CD-RW refers to its ability to be *completely* erased and have fresh folders
and files written.

What you want to do can be achieved with the use of a special CD writing
utility that uses 'packet incremental format'. Nearly all of the commercial
CD burning packages include such software, but Windows XP does not. You
should note that you should never store anything valuable on a CD in packet
incremental format unless you have another copy of it somewhere. For
technical reasons unlikely to become clear in this post, packet incremental
format has a low level of reliability because the drive can sometimes
overwrite the wrong area of a CD rendering it useless (and in some extreme
cases impossible to erase or reformat). If you really need to use packet
incremental format, then consider using a DVD+RW (not a DVD-RW) which does
not have these limitations.

 

[Xandros]

You can not save directly to any type of CD from an application like Word.
You have to save the file to the hard drive first. After that you can drag
and drop the file to the CD. There is a work around. See the information
here http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/saving_files_to_cd.htm

There are programs you can buy which use the packet writing format. One such
program is called InCD (from the makers of Nero) another is called DLA (from
the makers of Sonic). These programs will format a CD-R/W to behave like a
huge floppy. Once formatted and providing you have the program on your
computer you will then be able to save files directly from an application to
the CD-R/W.

 

[RG]

My thanks to all three of you for your prompt and concise replies. M.I.5 3/4
is correct in saying I didn't understand the way CDs work. What I'm trying
to do is, as Xandros suggested, use the CD as a huge diskette. The folder I
copied contains files that are chapters in a book, too large to fit on a
single diskette, and I thought to use a CD instead, so that when I'm not at
my desktop I can still edit those files.

Thanks, again, to one and all, your answers were quite helpful. I'm 70
years of age, and, when it comes to technology, frequently need all the help
I can get.

 

[Bob I]

In that case invest in a USB memory stick or thumb drive instead.

 

[Panic]

Maybe it's a cop-out but USB "thumb" flash drives are very cheap and you can
write directly to them. You can't write to a CD. You can only change
things on the file on your hard drive and then copy that changed file to the
CD.

 

[Onsokumaru]

LOL, why is that a cop-out? USB drives are far more useful and convenient
than CDs.

 

[M.I.5¾]

My thanks to all three of you for your prompt and concise replies. M.I.5
3/4
is correct in saying I didn't understand the way CDs work. What I'm
trying
to do is, as Xandros suggested, use the CD as a huge diskette. The folder
I
copied contains files that are chapters in a book, too large to fit on a
single diskette, and I thought to use a CD instead, so that when I'm not
at
my desktop I can still edit those files.

Thanks, again, to one and all, your answers were quite helpful. I'm 70
years of age, and, when it comes to technology, frequently need all the
help
I can get.

Even if you use a CD in Packet incremental mode to work like a huge
diskette, you will find that it is interminably slow for what you are trying
to do. As someone has suggested a USB stick would be a better option
(generally, the larger the stick, the faster it works).

 

[RG]

Once again, my thanks for prompt and useful replies. I was not aware one can
write to a memory stick, and that certainly sounds like the solution.

I appreciate y'all taking the time to help. Yes, I know, that's what the
group is for, and y'all enjoy helping folks, but it still means a lot.

 

[Panic]

I only called it a cop out because he wanted to work with a CD. I think
they're too much trouble for that kind of activity. I have 2 USB external
hard drives that I use to copy/save files, etc.