Hi,

I have several files in Wordpad which are saved on my hard drive. I've decided to save these files onto CD (mostly photos and some text documents). My local computer shop suggested I use a CD-RW to save files on. However this has caused me some problems and I am wondering if perhaps I should be using a different type of CD...

PROBLEM #1
After saving a letter/photo to the CD-RW, it won't allow me to "add" any further data to that same file. So for example, I'm collecting pictures of old cars. I've got 7 pictures saved on the CD. I then come across more pictures that I'd like to add to the prevous 7. The computer won't allow me to do this. I basically have to save the additional photos to a new file. It says....

""Error deleting File or folder: Can not delete (file name). Files on this CD are read-only. You can still copy new files to this writable CD which will replace files already on the disc"".

PROBLEM 2:
I've saved 30 files (pictures/text) to the CD-RW. I noticed that I have a couple duplicate files. I tried to delete these extra files, but the computer says I can't.

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Am I using the wrong CD's ???

The way it used to work,, was you had to format the CD,

do not finilize the CD,, that will prevent any more writing to the CD

Then put the pictures on.

to replace a file, you had to move all the files off,, reformat, then put all the files on, or simply rename the file you wish to put on the cd to a different name.

That is the way it used to work for me with rewriteable CD's

Although with my new CD drive, and new CD software, I can open a word document and make a change, and save it back to the CD drive(without reformat, or moving it to the hard drive). not sure if it is the drive, or the software that I am using.

Drive, iomega Super dvd drive
hot burn pro
nero 6 ultra

What drive do you have, and what burning software ?

I would never save prescious photos to CD-RW. I am into photography and I was told to always save my photos to CD-R because CD-RW is not reliable and you could loose your photos. I have been saving mine to CD-R for several years now and I have not had one bit of trouble and I have seen many complaints from other photo people about their CD-RW disk being corrupt and they lost the photos. I not only make one copy of the CD-R with the photos but three. One I keep out, one I tuck away in our filing cabinet and one I leave at my Mom's in case of fire or theft here. Just my experience about the photos for what it's worth.

God knew I couldn't be a pioneer, that's why he gave me a computer!

Shaun what you should be using is "DirectCD" from Roxio or "InCD" from Nero. Both these programmes allow you to format the RW disk so that it behaves like a giant floppy... in other words you can write and delete to the dik at your will. Visit both these sites to find out more about it. You do not say what burning software you are using.

Once I thought I was wrong, now I'm not so sure!

Mary has the right idea. Do not save any data to CD RW as the are quite unreliable. Save to CDR only if you want to find your data there at some point in the future. You are correct in what you say about adding more data to files. Once the file is written the only thing you can do is to erase the disk and replace the file (modified of course). The post above refers to making the CD RW act like a giant floppy. I would like to refer you to this MS bulletin

With all due respect terii if the poster has say 300 files on the disk and he needs to change one are you suggesting he erase the entire disk to achieve that? CD-RW disks are quite safe to use and store data on. I will grant you that continual and extended use of one particular disk for instance will shorten it's life.

Once I thought I was wrong, now I'm not so sure!

It sounds as though you are using CDR versus CDRW where, if, you don't finalize the CD then you can continue to add more files until the CD is full. When adding files you add them to the 'session' and once you finish that session you can not modify it. You can add a new session.

But, as noted, if using software that allows you to use the CDRW as a big floppy disk then you can add files to existing folders and/or remove them and they will also not be "Read Only".

Regards,
Bryan

He is using CD-RWs Bryan but would'nt it be nice if he came back to the thread to let us know how he is going?

Regards

Once I thought I was wrong, now I'm not so sure!