Formatting DVDs

[Noel S Pamfree]

I have some DVDs -RW that I used to record films on from the VHS tapes I
own. All but one were recorded on my Dell Dimension using my Plextor PX740A
drive and Plextor Converter PX-N402U.

I want to re-use these but when I right-click on the DVD drives (with the
DVD in!) there is no 'Format' option. The software Plextor supply does not
appear to have a 'Format' Option when I insert the used disks.

Does anyone know how I can re-format them to use again?

Thanks,

Noel

 

[Martin Potestas]

Noel S Pamfree skrev:

Thanks,

Noel

Hi Noel,

It doesn't quite work that way. You can simply overwrite the media with
the new data.

More on the subject can be found at:
http://dvdxcopy.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/47096
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/c84afc5f-a21b-4229-b15b-850b548ee4b21033.mspx
http://forums.techarena.in/windows-xp-music/700027.htm

--
Kind regards

Martin Potestas
Microsoft MCP | Astaro ACA, ACE
CompTIA A+, Server+, Linux+

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have some DVDs -RW that I used to record films on from the VHS tapes I
own. All but one were recorded on my Dell Dimension using my Plextor
PX740A
drive and Plextor Converter PX-N402U.

I want to re-use these but when I right-click on the DVD drives (with the
DVD in!) there is no 'Format' option. The software Plextor supply does not
appear to have a 'Format' Option when I insert the used disks.

Does anyone know how I can re-format them to use again?

What you describe is entirely correct. Windows XP has no ability to format
your DVD-RW dics. It's just as well because that is probably not what you
want to do anyway.

You neglected to mention what application Plextor supplied to record the
DVD-RW disc in the first place but it should contain a menu item somewhere
that allows you to *erase* the disc (not 'format'). The chances are that if
you try to write another video to the disc, your application will ask you if
you want to erase the disc first.