How to burn on CD-RW

[Puneet]

I formatted a CD-RW disc using DirectCD thus it making it 533Mb after formatting. Now I want to burn a VCD on this formatted CD-RW. But my burner does not recognise it and says "Invalid format or Insert Blank Disc". How can I make it burning compatible

[eyeofbeholder]

Question - why did you format it? You erase CDRWs, not format them.

[Puneet]

When you use DirectCD then u have to format them before you use them. Anyway, how do you erase them

[aheineken]

I would like to know the answer to this too. I formatted an Imation CDRW with Direct cd and it made the disk like 533 mb, which is a bunch of crap. THen i tried to burn to it with Nero and it said something like what Puneet's said. Can anyone help?

[Fredrik]

Use "Erase Cdrewritable" from the Cdburner menue in Nero instead.
After that you can burn 740mb on a cdrewritable in (s)vcd mode.

/ Fredrik

[Puneet]

Fredrick, but can I use that Nero option you mentioned i.e. "Erase CDrewritable" on a disc formatted with DirectCD. If not, then how can I UNERASE the CD-RW formatted with DirectCD

[eyeofbeholder]

You've got me. I don't use DirectCD. Like Fredrick, I use Nero. There's an option in Nero under CD-Recorder to Erase CD-ReWritable.

But I know that formatting a CD will make it like a CD-R where you only get to use it once. I've made this mistake before! Essentially, formatting a CD-RW makes a CD-R.

Look around in DirectCD or check the documentation for an erase option.

[doug1937@hotmail.com]

Bad news: you cannot use DirectCD, InCD, or any other packet-based CD format to create VCDs, SVCDs, or anything similar. The ONLY thing Direct CD is good for, and I do mean **ONLY**, is for making a CD similar to a 533MB floppy diskette. It's good only for saving files to and erasing files from. In other words, it's similar to the CD-ROM option in Nero, in that it can only store computer data files and programs, and can be used only on a computer. CDs formatted with DirectCD cannot be used in a DVD player.

GOOD NEWS: You CAN take a CD-RW formatted with DirectCD and reclaim it for non-packet writing use. In other words, you CAN erase a CD-RW that's been formatted with packet-writing technology, and once you do that, you can use it in Nero to make VCDs and SVCDs.

So-so news: I'm not sure of the exact method for reclaiming CD-RWs. You can try the Erase CD-RW option in Nero. If that doesn't work, try Direct CD. I think if you _unmount_ the CD-RW it can be erased by Nero.

Yes, that UNMOUNT command seems to ring a bell, but I'm not certain.

Good luck. In any event, this post will self-destruct 50 seconds after you've attempted to use the advice posted herein.

[ct991]

[quote="eyeofbeholder"]
But I know that formatting a CD will make it like a CD-R where you only get to use it once. I've made this mistake before! Essentially, formatting a CD-RW makes a CD-R.



This is absolutely false. Formatting a CD-RW with DirectCD basically turns it into a giant floppy disk (or a small hard drive), which you can read, write, AND erase at will. You don't have to erase the entire CD either, you can drag and drop files onto it and delete any files you want, you have full control. That is the whole point of packet writing software.

[Outback Paul]

I converted my Directcd's over to Nero by first saving the stuff on the cd to my hard drive and then go to Nero and do the "Erase CDRW" function. This will allow you to use it with Nero. I then copied the files over into Nero and burned them.

[aheineken]

Thanks for the help guys. I got it now. I just use the erase rewritable in Nero and I don't have to format them for Direct cd. Thanks.

[Puneet]

Will the CD-RW thus created can be burnt using Ulead DVD Movie Factory...coz I was trying to burn a SVCD on the CD-rw but it stopped in between and gave me error