Did you try using a word document, or excel?
There is two ways to use a rw:
1) You use it the same way as a cd-r. In this case, once a file is placed
on the cd-r, it cannot be modified, and is read only.
2) You use the cd-r, or cd-rw as a read-writeable media. However, what
happens is that is really fakes this process. When you modify the word
document, it actually re-saves the word document to a NEW LOCATION on the
cd-r (or cd-rw). This means this kind of re-use will ONLY work with document
based systems like word, or excel. You can't use ms-access, as it does NOT
modify the whole document, by modifies PARTS of the document. As a result,
you would have to copy the mdb file to your local hard drive, modify it, and
then copy it back. Note that each time you are making a copy. This also
applies to word/excel etc. This also means that after a certain amount of
time, the cd-r, or cd-rw will get full, as no free space is left to re-write
the file. So, up to this point, the cd-r, or cd-rw really behaves alike a
large floppy disk. When the cd-r is finally full, then you have really throw
it out. However, since the cd-r has sooo much space, you can edit a few
documents 100's of times before the disk gets full. However, if you use this
process with a cd-rw, when it does finally get full, you can erase it..and
start over.
3) Direct CD. In this mode, the cd-rw is formatted. It can take a good 1
hour to do this format. Once done, the cd-rw works as a standard removable
hard disk. You can read, and write files over and over, and the disk will
NOT fill up. Cd-rw's do have a limited number of read/writes, and thus
direct-cd does try and use different spaces on the disk to increase the
life. However, for all intensive purposes, it is a like a large removable
able floppy disk. You can drag and drop files, and when you delete files
from the cd-rw, space is re-claimed. In addition, this mode will work with
ms-access. However, I would as a rule not do this. I would always copy the
data file to the hard disk. Do all the updates, do a compact and
repair...and then copy back to the cd-rw. The real problem is that a rw is
not that reliable, and it is a lot slower then the hard disk. I don't think
I would recommend using direct-cd and a rw with ms-access. Ms-access needs
first rate disk i/o, and it needs lots of memory to work with.
So, not knowing what cd writing software you are using (and in which of the
3 or 4 differnt modes), and kind of cd session you are using, it is hard to
tell what your problem is. I would right click on the file, and check if the
read/only flag is set. You need to un-set this flag to work on the file.
