I know its probably a stupid question- But I'm stuck

[project_terror]

I just bought my first dvd burner pioneer

and with it came a dvd+rw disk
I though "Oh great ! I can practice and not waste disk !"
I have Ulead for authoring

heres the million dollar question not in the pamplet and I can't find anywhere

How do I format the disk so I can write to it ??????

[sullen]

Ok...here is a 64,000 dollar gues...using the software that came with your burner? I would say that somewhere in the software you are supposed to use for the burner there is a format function. There has to be...there must be...this is basic. Use the software. Go to the website if it isn't in the book. If you are using XP go to My Computer and right click to see if you get the option there like it gives for formating floppies and CDRWs.
If none of this works...um...take it back to the store and ask them!

[khelms]

I don't think you have to format optical discs like you do magnetic. You just write to them. If it's an "RW" disc, you may have to erase it before using it again, but there's no initial formatting.

[bugster]

If you wish to use the RW disc for DVD video no formatting is required, your authoring software will do all the necesary writing.

If you wish to use the disc for data backup and can write all the files in one go (disc at once), no formatting is required, your disc writing software will do all the necesary writing.

If you wish to use the disc like a lrge floppy drive, writing and deleting files randomly, you will need to format it. The supplied software should have this facility.

[lattedfw]

I was having problems getting a Memorex DVD-RW I made in my Pioneer to play in my Panasonic A120 DVD player (late 1999 vintage). I ran across something I found with Google that said to run a full-disc erase one time on a new DVD-RW to get DVD-RWs to play. I don't have the link handy, but it was a Pioneer help page from their Australian site. I used Prassi to do the full erase (comes with the Pioneer drive).

Now, I can get the DVD-RW to play in the Panasonic, though I still have to eject and re-insert the disc a few times before it will recognize it. Occasionally, playing a regular DVD or CD-RW (audio or VCD) helps it recognize the DVD-RW (focuses the laser?). Obviously never full or quick erase a DVD-R or you've just made a shiny new coaster.

I'm not totally sure that the one-time full erase actually helped, or if I just monkeyed around with it enough that I figured out how to get the Panasonic to play it. It can't really hurt if you have an hour to spare for a full erase.

[Robbins1940]

Its only a stupid question if you don't ask it.

David