How do I format a blank CD-RW disk?

[Adam Albright]

On Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:49:50 -0400, "Retired" <retired@my.hom> wrote:

>
>"Retired" <retired@my.hom> wrote in message
>news:e6H3fLGfHHA.4136@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "Retired" <retired@my.hom> wrote in message
>> news:ONoXvGGfHHA.3508@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>> "LG" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
>>> news:%23BxnRNFfHHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>> Retired wrote:
>>>>> You don't need to format a CD or DVD disk. Are you sure you have a
>>>>> burner?
>>>>
>>>> Wow....where have you been. LOL
>>>>
>>>
>>> Where have I been? I've been building computers for 2 decades. Up to now
>>> I've never had to format a CD-ROM or a DVD disk. If I want to copy a set
>>> of files to a CD or DVD disk, I just copy them. Do it all the time -
>>> without ever going through any formatting process.
>>>
>>
>> I should add that it's called "burning a disk", which is not exactly the
>> same as formatting - which you can't do with DVDs and CD-ROMs.
>>
>First of all, I think (but I'm not sure) that Vista and XP are the same in
>regard to their capabilities (or lack thereof) about formatting a CD-RW
>disk. My remarks are specifically about XP.

Use Vista's help, look up format a CD disc.

[Blaze]

I am having trouble understanding the difference between the format command
on the CD drive context menu, and the "formatting" discussed in the help
(Live File vs. Mastered) - and when - or even if - they are required.

Every time I insert a disk and try to "open" it, I get "Insert a disk."
Assuming that the disc cannot be seen because it is not formatted, I right
click and choose format. This format dialog has nothing to do with Live File
or Mastered - it is the same format dialog as you get when you format a hard
drive or floppy. So, first question: is this type of formatting necessary?
If not, why can't I do anything with my CD-RW disc unless I format it?

After I format the disc, I then drag files to it. They look as if they are
on the disc, and there are no prompts or menu items asking me to write the
files to the disk, but if I remove the disc and re-insert it, they do not
appear. But, if I drag the same file to the disc, I get a message that it is
already there. Whattup with that? (I get similar results if I use the Burn
button.)

As far as the other type of "formatting" (Live File, Mastered) is concerned,
what steps do I need to take to even see the dialog that gives me that
option? As I said, I cannot seem to use a disc unless I uses the old-style
format command, but when I do, I never seem to get the option to format with
either Live File or Mastered.

Thanks!



"Stan Kay" wrote:

> My new PC has a Pioneer DVR-111CD optical drive. I have Vista Ultimate ver
> 6000 and the help files tell me to insert a blank disc into my DVD drive and
> a dialogue box will appear. I am then told to click on "Burn files to
> disc", click "Show formatting options" and choose one. However, when I
> insert my blank disc up pops a dialogue box but it does not give the
> messages referred to in the help files. Instead it states "Windows cannot
> read the disk in drive F. Make sure the disc uses a format that windows
> recognises. If the disc is unformatted, you need to format it before using
> it". This is hardly helpful.
>
> Can someone please tell me how to format a blank CD-RW disc?
>

[Blaze]

"Stan Kay" wrote:

> My new PC has a Pioneer DVR-111CD optical drive. I have Vista Ultimate ver
> 6000 and the help files tell me to insert a blank disc into my DVD drive and
> a dialogue box will appear. I am then told to click on "Burn files to
> disc", click "Show formatting options" and choose one. However, when I
> insert my blank disc up pops a dialogue box but it does not give the
> messages referred to in the help files. Instead it states "Windows cannot
> read the disk in drive F. Make sure the disc uses a format that windows
> recognises. If the disc is unformatted, you need to format it before using
> it". This is hardly helpful.
>
> Can someone please tell me how to format a blank CD-RW disc?
>

[Steve]

I have a different drive but I am having the exact same problem. Did you
ever fix yours?

"Stan Kay" wrote:

> My new PC has a Pioneer DVR-111CD optical drive. I have Vista Ultimate ver
> 6000 and the help files tell me to insert a blank disc into my DVD drive and
> a dialogue box will appear. I am then told to click on "Burn files to
> disc", click "Show formatting options" and choose one. However, when I
> insert my blank disc up pops a dialogue box but it does not give the
> messages referred to in the help files. Instead it states "Windows cannot
> read the disk in drive F. Make sure the disc uses a format that windows
> recognises. If the disc is unformatted, you need to format it before using
> it". This is hardly helpful.
>
> Can someone please tell me how to format a blank CD-RW disc?
>

[Translator French - English - Creole]

unless you want to do a floppy style cd, there is no need to format it, it's
blank and ready to be burned onto. if you want to do floppy style, which is
drag and drop you have to insert blank cd in drive go to the my computer go
into your burner and in the menu above there should be option to burn cd,
clicking that will give you the wizard you need, or you can also in my
computer right click on your burner drive choose format

--
New Boating Capt. Jonathan Perreault

Personnal Advice To You:
#1: Do Not Undermine Windows's Work, Or It'll Undermine You As A User.
#2: Torture Windows (Any) Now Before It Tortures You
#3: Windows Is Bad Enough In English, Why Get It In Another Language

Best Comments From Users:
No Matter The Problem Even With Linux, It's Microsoft's And Windows's Faults

A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely
foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.
"Steve" <Steve@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:712C9D37-11D7-4B82-9584-DB80D427A35D@microsoft.com...
>I have a different drive but I am having the exact same problem. Did you
> ever fix yours?
>
> "Stan Kay" wrote:
>
>> My new PC has a Pioneer DVR-111CD optical drive. I have Vista Ultimate
>> ver
>> 6000 and the help files tell me to insert a blank disc into my DVD drive
>> and
>> a dialogue box will appear. I am then told to click on "Burn files to
>> disc", click "Show formatting options" and choose one. However, when I
>> insert my blank disc up pops a dialogue box but it does not give the
>> messages referred to in the help files. Instead it states "Windows
>> cannot
>> read the disk in drive F. Make sure the disc uses a format that windows
>> recognises. If the disc is unformatted, you need to format it before
>> using
>> it". This is hardly helpful.
>>
>> Can someone please tell me how to format a blank CD-RW disc?
>>

[abel]

I had the same issue too my Disc Drive(DVD-RW) had no option to burn what so
ever (unless I installed burning software).

Download and install this Hot-fix. (if it works please replay)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930194


"Stan Kay" wrote:

> My new PC has a Pioneer DVR-111CD optical drive. I have Vista Ultimate ver
> 6000 and the help files tell me to insert a blank disc into my DVD drive and
> a dialogue box will appear. I am then told to click on "Burn files to
> disc", click "Show formatting options" and choose one. However, when I
> insert my blank disc up pops a dialogue box but it does not give the
> messages referred to in the help files. Instead it states "Windows cannot
> read the disk in drive F. Make sure the disc uses a format that windows
> recognises. If the disc is unformatted, you need to format it before using
> it". This is hardly helpful.
>
> Can someone please tell me how to format a blank CD-RW disc?
>

[Clevo]

Formatting means preparing a media to accept files of certain bits and
bobs.... you do not need to format a DVD or CD +/-R.

Format in a modern sense is formating the disc so that determins the
book style. and that's done and selected after working out what your
intensions are with the media.

Erasing previous information on a RW disc is not formatting it in
anysense... it's just removing data.


--
Clevo

[Synapse Syndrome]

"Clevo" <Clevo.32pod0@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:Clevo.32pod0@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> Formatting means preparing a media to accept files of certain bits and
> bobs.... you do not need to format a DVD or CD +/-R.
>
> Format in a modern sense is formating the disc so that determins the
> book style. and that's done and selected after working out what your
> intensions are with the media.
>
> Erasing previous information on a RW disc is not formatting it in
> anysense... it's just removing data.


Wrong. You still need to format the disc when packet writing, like when
using something like Nero InCD or Vista's built-in Mount Rainier writing.

ss.

[Synapse Syndrome]

"Clevo" <Clevo.32pod0@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:Clevo.32pod0@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> Erasing previous information on a RW disc is not formatting it in
> anysense... it's just removing data.

Oh, and this bit is totally wrong. That might be true with CDR and DVD+/-R,
but not CD-RW or DVD+/-RW. When you erase a RW disc, you get the full
capacity back.

HTH

ss.

[Synapse Syndrome]

"Synapse Syndrome" <synapse@NOSPAMgomez404.elitemail.org> wrote in message
news:uBXuYq$TIHA.5208@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> "Clevo" <Clevo.32pod0@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
> news:Clevo.32pod0@no-mx.forums.net...
>>
>> Erasing previous information on a RW disc is not formatting it in
>> anysense... it's just removing data.
>
> Oh, and this bit is totally wrong. That might be true with CDR and
> DVD+/-R, but not CD-RW or DVD+/-RW. When you erase a RW disc, you get the
> full capacity back.


Ah, I misread your statement that time. My apologies.

ss.

[Joyce Streible]

You haven't had Vista or built one because it asks for all of them to be
formatted. It iws verry irritating because it takes for ever and then it may
or may not work.

"Retired" wrote:

>
> "Retired" <retired@my.hom> wrote in message
> news:ONoXvGGfHHA.3508@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> >
> > "LG" <nowhere@nowhere.com> wrote in message
> > news:%23BxnRNFfHHA.2640@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> >> Retired wrote:
> >>> You don't need to format a CD or DVD disk. Are you sure you have a
> >>> burner?
> >>
> >> Wow....where have you been. LOL
> >>
> >
> > Where have I been? I've been building computers for 2 decades. Up to now
> > I've never had to format a CD-ROM or a DVD disk. If I want to copy a set
> > of files to a CD or DVD disk, I just copy them. Do it all the time -
> > without ever going through any formatting process.
> >
>
> I should add that it's called "burning a disk", which is not exactly the
> same as formatting - which you can't do with DVDs and CD-ROMs.
>
>
>

[Clevo]

Joyce Streible;717856 Wrote:
> You haven't had Vista or built one because it asks for all of them to be
> formatted. It iws verry irritating because it takes for ever and then
> it may
> or may not work.
>
> "Retired" wrote:

I have never hadto format a cd -r or DVD -r... I have used RW a couple
of times and don;t recall being asked to format it.

I have formated Floppy Discs, hard drives and some memory sticks..but
never been asked to format DVD or CD.... strange:shock:


--
Clevo

___________________________
Windows Vista Home Premium x64 + SP1
ASUS P5K MB
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz
4GB RAM (DDR2)
NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GTS
Realtek HD onboard sound

Helpful links:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Win...91033.mspx#EEE

[Nonny]

On Thu, 22 May 2008 01:54:23 -0500, Clevo <guest@unknown-email.com>
wrote:

>I have never hadto format a cd -r or DVD -r... I have used RW a couple
>of times and don;t recall being asked to format it.

If you want to drag and drop files to an RW, you WILL have to format
it first. To merely burn to it, no.

[Donald L McDaniel]

On Thu, 22 May 2008 01:54:23 -0500, Clevo <guest@unknown-email.com>
wrote:

>
>Joyce Streible;717856 Wrote:
>> You haven't had Vista or built one because it asks for all of them to be
>> formatted. It iws verry irritating because it takes for ever and then
>> it may
>> or may not work.
>>
>> "Retired" wrote:
>
>I have never hadto format a cd -r or DVD -r... I have used RW a couple
>of times and don;t recall being asked to format it.
>
>I have formated Floppy Discs, hard drives and some memory sticks..but
>never been asked to format DVD or CD.... strange:shock:

To "format" your CDRW, simply "erase" it. In the case of CDRWs,
"erasing" them is the way one "formats" them.


Donald L McDaniel
Please reply to the correct thread and article.
=================================================

[Gordon]

"Donald L McDaniel" <orthocross@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:snmb349gkoa12hbq0ce84ta4d252deovh0@4ax.com...
>
> To "format" your CDRW, simply "erase" it. In the case of CDRWs,
> "erasing" them is the way one "formats" them.
>

Sorry that's wrong. if you format a CDRW it makes it available for packet
writing - ie it turns it into a large floppy disk allowing the user to drag
and drop files to and from the disk without going through the burning
function. Simple erasing does just that - erases the data, it does NOT
format the disk.