dvd-rw

  • Thread starter Thread starter dann
  • Start date Start date
D

dann

I thought windows xp had software for formatting the dvd-
rw disk. I would like to know where to locate it.
And if it is on the cd why do they hide progams like
that and the windows backup program.
 
This all depends on your drive, its firmware, and the DVD-RW disc you
are using. It is possible for the disc to not be recognized by the
drive. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, try inserting the
DVD-RW into your drive, open My Computer, right click on your DVD-RW
Drive, and there should be an option to format/erase. Hopefully this helps.

Nathan McNulty
 
You'll need to copy and paste this into word, so that the TAB / spacing will align the columns properly.

Don't forget to make sure that you use the correct blank DVD media for your drive. There are really onlyn two types. DVD-R and DVD+R: get the wrong one and it's as good as sticking in a blank floppy [if one could].

DVD Compatibility Guide

Here is a summary of recordable DVD compatibility. Below each drive is a column indicating how well it can read or write each format (for simplicity, "doesn't write" is implied if not otherwise specified).

DVD unit DVD-R(G) unit DVD-R(A) unit DVD-RW unit DVD-RAM unit DVD+RW unit
DVD-ROM disc reads reads reads reads reads reads
DVD-R(G) disc often reads reads, writes reads reads, writes reads reads
DVD-R(A) disc usually reads reads reads, writes reads reads reads
DVD-RW disc often reads reads reads reads, writes usually reads usually reads
DVD-RAM disc rarely reads doesn't read doesn't read doesn't read reads, writes doesn't read
DVD+RW disc usually reads usually reads usually reads usually reads usually reads reads, writes
DVD+R disc often reads usually reads usually reads usually reads reads reads, may write
 
dann said:
I thought windows xp had software for formatting the dvd-
rw disk. I would like to know where to locate it.
Click to expand...

No - just the opposite: your DVD-RW drive might come with some
software that _you_ install on XP - then everything will show up and work :)
And if it is on the cd why do they hide progams like
that and the windows backup program.
Click to expand...

The XP backup is not hidden.

--PA
 
Not quite...

Basic software is in XP to copy files & folders to a blank CD or DVD, but
not to a DVD+/-RW in rewritable format.

Using a DVD+/-RW as an accessible 'removable drive' requires packet-writing
or DLA (Drive Letter Access) software. DLA may be included in the software
package that accompanies the DVD+/-RW drive (e.g., Sonic MyDVD).
 
You're right. I believe you can erase a CD-RW from Explorer (unless that
was something I installed that added that to the right click menu), but
you cannot format from Explorer. Windows should be able to write to a
formatted CD-RW or DVD-RW as well (as long as it was formatted).

Nathan McNulty
 
If the CD-RW or DVD-RW was formatted using DLA software, XP may not be able
to write to that disc unless the appropriate driver is available. I'm not
familiar enough with the UDF (IIRC, the generic basis for DLA) drivers that
come with XP.

For data safety, ensure you have the same software installed on the machine
that was used to format the disc.
 
True 'nuf. XP can write to a CD-RW in the same manner as it would write to
a CD-R. It has the ability to erase a CD-RW so that it can rewrite data in
a non-DLA/UDF mode. For the CD-RW to be used in a DLA mode again, it would
have to be reformatted yet again using DLA/UDF software.

With the price of CD-R blanks these days, I can't see many reasons to use
DLA/UDF for "permanent" data -- writing to a CD-R and throwing it away when
the data becomes stale makes more sense in portability and data safety.
However, for those who need high-capacity, portable, rewritable media, CD-RW
and DVD+/-RW using DLA make good sense. When the price of USB "jump drives"
and similar come down, they may supplant the CD-RW in that respect.
 
Back
Top