Number of re-writes possible on DVD/RW, CR/RW

[pbhalerao]

A search did not give me adequete results though this question must have been asked sometime or other. My question is:

How many times can you write and re-write on DVD/RW (+RW or -RW) and CR/RW? Will the media degrade over repeated re-writes?

Thanks.

[SaSi]

I have been using re-writables for some years. I have found that the number of re-writes depends on the quality of the media (to the extent that brand name equals quality).

I have lost a couple of CDRWs after 15-20 rewrites. These were old, 4x media that I would anyway not use anymore. I have been using some High Speed 10x TDK CDRWs (two) for some time and I have perhaps re-written them more than 50 times so far.

With DVD+RW and DVD-RW, specifications state more than 1000 rewrites are possible (in contrast to DVD-RAM that allows thousands of rewrites). My experience so far is as follows:

I have been using 3 DVD+RW disks, one from SONY that came with the recorder and 2 x Sentinel. I must have rewritten them more than 100 times each (I use them for proof recording and experimenting) over the last 3 months and no problems.

The only problem I have had is with one of the disks that has been slightly "abused" and has collected dust and scratches. I sometimes get a "Power calibration Error" from the drive when erasing prior to re-writing. I clean the disk with water and soap, wipe it dry and records just fine.

I don't have much experience with DVD-RW as I have not re-recorded them often. They are rated at 1x and it's a drag to record on them, so I prefer +RWs. Again, I have never had any problem with 2 x Maxell DVD-RW and 1xTDK and I have re-recorded them more than 5-6 times each.

[Mistress Diana]

I posted this question some time ago and can't seem to get a response. I am sure it has been asked before, but I can't find it. Can you explain to me the difference between DVD -R DVD+R and DVD-RW DVD+RW. I know the difference between R (read only) and RW (Red and Write, but I do not have a clue about the - and +.

Thanks

Diane

[Mistress Diana]

OOPS that should have said read and write (not red and write)

Sorry

[Bob W]

I have heard over 1000. I have one disc that I have used about 100 times so far.

[Cornucopia]

These are pretty good guidelines to go by, assuming high quality media and burners, good storage conditions, no handling wear and tear:

CD-ROM, DVD-ROM -- 0 times (of course) 8)
CD-R,DVD-R,DVD+R -- 1 time (not counting multi-session), 99 times (counting multisession-think "track count")
CD-RW, DVD-RW, DVD+RW -- ~1000 times (including multisession)
DVD-RAM -- ~100,000 times (including multisession, if that's possible for RAM)

Scott

[ZippyP.]

I posted this question some time ago and can't seem to get a response. I am sure it has been asked before, but I can't find it. Can you explain to me the difference between DVD -R DVD+R and DVD-RW DVD+RW. I know the difference between R (read only) and RW (Red and Write, but I do not have a clue about the - and +.

Thanks

Diane

You're off topic on this. Check the glossary for an explanation but they're basically two different (and mutually incompatible) recordable DVD types.