How do I Format CDs

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Guest

I am trying to format CDs using Windows XP Professional. The help system
tells me I go to File and the command format will be avaialable but its not
there?

Whats going on?
 
Windows XP cannot format CD-RW media by itself; you must use a third party program
that formats a CD-RW in UDF, such as Roxio's DirectCD or Nero's InCD.

In Windows Explorer, on the CD Writing Tasks list, can you use the option to "Erase
files on CD-RW"?

Also, to format a CD, the disc must be a CD-RW, and the drive must be a CD-RW drive
or a DVD writer. What type of drive and disc are you using?
 
Funny! I format CD-R disks "all the time"!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Since I don't have a CD-RW drive currently in my XP machine, why don't you tell us
how it's done, then?
 
http://www.plextor.com/english/support/faqs/SW00013.htm

<quote>
Windows XP cannot format a CD-RW disc for UDF packet writing, but it will accept
unformatted CD-RW media. Unformatted CD-RW media is treated the same as CD-R, and
you can copy files or folders to the disc, but you can only erase the entire disc,
not the individual files. When using CD-RW media, only the "quick erase" function is
supported by the Operating System.

If DirectCD or other packet writing software application is installed, and the CD-RW
disc is formatted with that software, then the CD-RW disc works normally under
Windows XP as a large floppy, and individual files can then be deleted.
</quote>

How do *you* do it, Richard, without third-party software installed?
 
Guys

Thanks for this sdiscussion. I guess in summary you are telling me that I
need to get some disc writing software to format CDs?

Best Wishes

Mike
 
Format or Erase?

Formatting is done with third party packet writing software, and is not
usually necessary in an XP system using ISO9660. WinXP is only capable of
the Erase function with CDRW media, which just clears the disk of all data.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Hi Mike,

Why do you think you need to format them? Most CDR media is already
formatted for normal disk writing. Formatting is usually only necessary for
packet writing.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
Rick

Because when I put a CD in the drive it doesn't recognise that there isa one
there???!! I can only assume its because its not formatted?

Mike
 
Rick

Because when I put a CD in the drive it doesn't recognise that there isa one
there???!! I can only assume its because its not formatted?
Click to expand...
possible wrong assumption. It took me weeks to find out my DVD writer would not
write to DVD-R's but had no problem with DVD+R's.
With CD-R's it has no problem.
Apples and oranges. Are you talking CD or DVD ?
My 1st week, I wasn't even aware of DVD disks. I was trying to write DVD media
to a CD.
 
Mike, I suggest you might want to start a new thread, either here or in:
microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
There are more people there. Also, just tell what has happened from start to
end, as there is no need for you to diagnose or assume anything. By just
giving the symptoms, the group will solve your problem, as it has come up in
the past.
 
I place the CD in the tray. I right click on the Drag-To-Disk icon in my
notification tray. I choose "format". After it is done I can write one, or
many files directly to the CD using Explorer or my file manager program. I
can delete one, or many, files (does not free up space though) from the CD
after they have been written. I can run a repair on the CD if the file
tables get screwy!

So you see, all you need is the proper program to accomplish this, Roxio
Drag-to-disk or Nero InCD.


--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
So then, you did not read my replies in this thread before making your comment?
I stated first thing in my original reply:
"Windows XP cannot format CD-RW media by itself; you must use a third party program
that formats a CD-RW in UDF, such as Roxio's DirectCD or Nero's InCD."
 
Sorry. I missed that.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Also, you said it has to be CD-RW to format. That is not so as I format CD-R
disks at will.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
Hi Mike,

Not likely, it's more likely that the drive is having trouble recognizing
the media for what it is. This can happen when the drive lens has some dust
on it, usually a cheap CD lens cleaner disk will resolve this.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
 
That's what I've been told and what I have read many times....that one can format a
CD-R...though when I insert a CD-R disc, right-click InCD icon> Format, it tells me
the disc is not supported for formatting, and to insert a CD-RW disc. As I said, I
don't have a CD-RW drive in the XP machine right now, so my experience with InCD has
been with an older version (3.5.24.0), on Win9x.

....and BTW, I wrote "Windows XP cannot format CD-RW media by itself". I did not
write that it *had* to be CD-RW, or that it could *not* be CD-R.
 
OK, lets end this. This is a quote from the your first post in this thread.

*****

Also, to format a CD, the disc must be a CD-RW, and the drive must be a
CD-RW drive
or a DVD writer.

*****

My reply to your post was: "Funny! I format CD-R disks "all the time"!


BYE!

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
So, now that you got an education you are trying to weasel your way free of
your "authoritative comment" that in order to format a CD it MUST be a
CD-RW. Just say you were wrong and move on. We all make mistakes in
learning!



--
Regards,

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!
 
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