Missing Files after burning CD

[Noel S Pamfree]

I have just added some photographs to a CD on my laptop using Windows
Explorer. I clicked on 'Write files to CD' and after a couple of minutes it
completed the task.

If I put the CD in my desktop only the original files are visible but if I
go back to the laptop the two new folders and their contents are there.

I would appreciate any ideas as to how I can get to see them on my desktop.

Many thanks,

Noel

 

[Sharon F]

I have just added some photographs to a CD on my laptop using Windows
Explorer. I clicked on 'Write files to CD' and after a couple of minutes it
completed the task.

If I put the CD in my desktop only the original files are visible but if I
go back to the laptop the two new folders and their contents are there.

I would appreciate any ideas as to how I can get to see them on my desktop.

Many thanks,

Noel

You're running into a hardware limitation and possibly a software
limitation as well.

You have at least two writing sessions on this CD - "original files" and
"two new folders." Not all cdrom drives are capable of reading
multi-session disks.

Many CD burning programs have a setting with wording similar to "make this
disk readable on most computers." This finalizes the CD. Blocks off future
writes but "closes" the CD in a way that any cdrom drive can read them,
even those that have trouble with multi-sessions. "Finalize" is the term
used within the most burning programs for this kind of handling.

One of my favorite sites for the ins and outs of CD burning is here:
http://www.cdrfaq.org/

MVP Harry Ohrn has a page that includes that link and many more for other
burning info and resources:
http://www.webtree.ca/newlife/cd_burning_info.htm

 

[Sharon F]

I have just added some photographs to a CD on my laptop using Windows
Explorer. I clicked on 'Write files to CD' and after a couple of minutes it
completed the task.

If I put the CD in my desktop only the original files are visible but if I
go back to the laptop the two new folders and their contents are there.

I would appreciate any ideas as to how I can get to see them on my desktop.

Many thanks,

Noel

PS: Noel, I imagine that the reason you've asked this question is that you
would like to use CDs to transfer files back and forth between your two
computers. The limitations of that one drive are hampering that process at
the moment.

You *might* be able to work around it by installing the same third party
software on both machines (Nero, for example) and use that for all of your
CD writing. If you're lucky the common software will bridge the gap between
separate writes that the hardware cannot handle on its own. I mention Nero
because I like it and because it has free trial to experiment with. There
are other programs that offer free trials - some that are free altogether -
so experiment a bit to see if you can find one that will work with both
systems (lots of leads to software at Harry's site).

Of course another approach might be getting a newer cd drive for the system
that currently can't read the multi-session disks.

 

[Noel S Pamfree]

Thank you so much - I now understand why it won't work - I'll put Nero on
both instead of just one machine.

Noel

 

[Sharon F]

Thank you so much - I now understand why it won't work - I'll put Nero on
both instead of just one machine.

You're welcome, Noel, and good luck with this.