Question about CD-R's

[lindamoran]

I seem to have bad luck with CD-R's and it might be because I don't know the basics. Is a CD-R something you can keep writing on, but you can't delete any files from it? Also, when you format it, should you select the option that says "make compatible"? What is DLA?

Am I better off using CD-RW's only? I know they're more expensive, but I don't blow through them quickly, so I don't care about the cost. I'm only trying to use a stack of CD-R's that I have, because I just bought them recently and didn't want to waste them.

Would some kind soul give me a primer on how CD-R's are different from CD-RW's? Thanks.

Linda Moran

My writer site (http://www.lindamoran.net)
My hubby's site that I'm building for him because he's too busy being a web expert (http://www.mikemoran.com)
Betterway Press - publisher of my book (http://www.betterwaypress.com)

[Jick]

CD-R(Compact Disk-Recordable) is basically as you mentioned. You can write to it but you can't delete from it.

CD-RW(Compact Disc-Rewritable) allows you to re-write data to the CD usually up to 40 times.

DLA(Drive Letter Access) is a function in Windows which gives you the ability to easily drag-and-drop your files directly to a recordable CD and make the disc compatible with almost any Windows computer.

I would say that your better off with the cheaper CD-R if you don't plan to keep re-writing the data allot to the same CD.

That's pretty much the simplified run-down. I hope I helped. :)

[pawky]

Originally posted by Jick
CD-R(Compact Disk-Recordable) is basically as you mentioned. You can write to it but you can't delete from it.


um... a CD-R only allows you to burn to it once. You can put as much into it but as soon as you burn it on its done. So even if you only use 1mb on it you cant add more to it.

[Jick]

Oh, I thought that's what Linda meant. That's why I said that. Guess I mis-read it.

[pawky]

Originally posted by Jick
Oh, I thought that's what Linda meant. That's why I said that. Guess I mis-read it.

ok, sounds good then :)

[lindamoran]

Okay let me try and sort this out. If I select a whole folder full of documents, let's say, copy it to the CD-ROM, they'll copy (provided there's enough room of course.) But if I then try to copy a second folder right after that, they won't copy?

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[Jick]

Hmm... now I'm a bit fuzzy...

I haven't burnt a CD in a long time because I don't have a CD burner in this computer.

This is interesting... I did a bit of Googling and the few places I looked, such as some of the big cd burner sites, said that there are options to "write the disk" which writes the info and makes the disk read-only, which means you can't add any more files, or you can "write the session" which writes the files to the disk leaving it open so you can add more files at a later date.

Now that I'm reading some of this I'm starting to remember stuff from when I had access to a CD burner. I do now remember the options that I mentioned above in the CD burner program I had.

So I guess my conclusion is that you can keep writing to the disk, until it's full anyway, but you can't delete any files or overwrite any files. I guess a simple way to explain it is like some of the levels on the classic Mario games. On some levels you could go forward but not back. This is kinda the same effect. You can write stuff but once it's written you can't go back, you can only keep writing new files. This is if you leave the session open of course.

I hope that helps a little better. Sorry about the confusion. I got confused too for a minute there. :p

[rhsunderground]

the best way to work with CD-R's and CD-RW's is to invest in some of each, usually more of the CD-R's. write the info that you want permanently unchanged onto the CD-R's and the info that you might want to change later onto the CD-RW's.

[Dark Dragon]

Just wanted to interject something...if you are planning to copy CD's then it is quite wise to have the CD-RW as the "Master" and the CD ROM as the "Slave". Also..make sure that the "Autorun" feature on the CD ROM is switched off...I ran into this same problem when I installed my CD-RW..

And if you already knew that then please disregard my ramblings. ;)