Formatting a CD-RW / DVD-RW

[Cooter]

Is it safe to do other work on the computer while a CD-RW or DVD-RW is being
formatted? If it makes any difference I am using Nero 6. I know it is not a
good idea when one is being burned, but formatting is a different process.

 

[ThePainter]

Hi,
If you mean formatting as in to be able to drag and drop
files to it ( I have only used Roxio Direct CD but i know
NERO has an equivalent) then there is a file index table
being written to the CD so I would wait. and I would wait
whie files are being copied to the CD afterwards because
it can freeze your system.

 

[Sharon F]

Is it safe to do other work on the computer while a CD-RW or DVD-RW is being
formatted? If it makes any difference I am using Nero 6. I know it is not a
good idea when one is being burned, but formatting is a different process.

I've always done other (light) work while a CD or DVD was formatting and
have never run into a problem.

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

This is entirely dependent upon your system. If you have a modern, fast
processor, lots of ram, and you don't do anything in the background that is
pagefile intensive, I would not expect a problem with formatting a CD-RW in
the background. You can expect your system to perform much slower during
the process.

Bobby

 

[Harry Ohrn]

If your CD Writer has some type of burn-proof technology as most modern
writers do then it should not have too much trouble with multi-tasking while
burning. I have no problem multi-tasking while formatting or burning disks
on a PIII-500 with 512MB of RAM. My writer on that system is a lite-on
52x32x52 with smart burn technology. My P4-2.6Ghz has 1GB RAM and I
multi-task while burning DVDs. My DVD Writer also has smart burn technology.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Formatting shouldn't be a problem. Burning may take more resources and you
might want to go get coffee.