cd writers

[dtansari]

Hi all, just got a new puter with a cd-rw
What I'd like to know is just what all I can do with it, what kind of cd's can I write, copy, ect.

here are the specifications on it

40x max CD-R/CD-ROM reading
33.2x max CD-RW reading
16x max CD/R writing
10x max CD/RW writing

Thank you so much for any help.

[saphalline]

Hmm... quick tutorial on CD-RW drives, huh? Let's see...

A CD-RW drive can function like a regular CD-ROM drive. That is, it can read computer CD's and install programs and play music CD's and all that fun stuff. Yours is rated at a 40X CD-ROM drive. Anything over 16X read speed is added excitement. Ah, but there's more!

A CD-RW drive can also write CD-R's or recordable CD's. If you go into Best Buy or even Walmart these days, you will see tube-shaped stacks or 'spindles' of CD-R media for sale. These usually have an 'X-rating' or a top speed at which they can be written. Yours can write at a top speed of 16X CD-R. If you get lower speed CD-R media (ie rated at 12X) you can only write them at that speed; if you get higher speed CD-R media (ie rated at 20X) you can only write them at your CD-RW drive's max speed of 16X.

Finally, a CD-RW drive can write and rewrite (record over like a VHS tape in a VCR) to CD-RW's or rewritable CD's. This kind of media is usually much more expensive than CD-R's and comes individually or in packs of 5 to 20. But the benefit is that you can use CD-RW's like a huge floppy, storing up to 700MB and being able to write over or edit any files on them. Most CD-RW's can be rewritten a thousand or more times, so they last quite awhile. Darn it all, I can't remember your post exactly, should have done a quote, but I think your CD-RW drive can write and rewrite to CD-RW media at 10X? Should be the lowest number. That second spec of your CD-RW drive refers to how fast it can read CD-RW media: about 33X (greater than the minimum 16X so it's perfectly fine). It's lower because CD-RW media is more difficult to read and less likely to be readable by older CD-ROM drives.

But what do you put on them? Your computer should have software on it to write CD-R's and CD-RW's, one for music and one for regular files. For music CD purposes, use CD-R's; they're more likely to be playable in CD players and cost a lot less. For regular files that you don't need or want altered (back-up files and permanent data usually) or if you just want to transfer a lot of files quickly to another computer, use CD-R media, also. The only reason to use the more expensive CD-RW media is if you absolutely need to alter the files on the CD after you write it. Such as working on some files at home and at work and being able to just use the same CD over and over. Definitely worth the cost. Or just get a CD-RW disk to have fun writing and rewriting it http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Most people who 'burn' or write CD's like to get separate software to do so. For music editing, $50 is well spent on Music Match Jukebox, available in computer/computer software stores. Get the latest version. Easy CD Creator (most likely came with your computer) is generally decent enough to use when writing data/file CD's, but better options are available depending on what you want to write. I'm sure a nice flame war will erupt over what program(s) to use here http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[kayofcircles]

saphalline: Very well written! Should copy/paste and save your post for future questions. No flame war, but I have watched posts here for almost a year and think Nero (if it supports the CD writer in question) has a better reputation for reliability and less hassle.

dtansari: I use mine primarily for backing up files I work on, so use the packet writer..for "data" CDs. And I save all programs that I download from the Net in their original form so will not have to go and download again should disaster strike my puter. One can "copy" almost any CD, but one wouldn't because is a violation of copyright laws. Right?? And one can burn music CDs. My son "borrows" music off the Net all the time, and has tons of music CDs he made with his CD writer. Think he uses Music Match as well as his writer software.

[mjc]

Of course there is the fun of taking music you own (like old LPs...vinyl,records, you know the round black things that you needed a device that had a needle in order to play them) and putting them onto a more modern and usable format...like a CD.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[hiredgoonz]

Funny you mention that, my daughter has never even seen an album (she's almost 3)...heck, cds are going to be ancient technology to her...even DVDs were invented before she was born...

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[This message has been edited by hiredgoonz (edited 03-11-2002).]

[mjc]

My kids have....mainly have to keep the away as I am trying to get them on CD... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[kayofcircles]

How pathetic is it when one has all the old records and intended to put them onto cassettes long ago...and now we're to CDs! Maybe I will just wait and put the music on the "next" thing..lol. Making sure that DVD doesn't go the way of 8 tracks is not a bad idea, right? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

[RMD]

I recently had my computer rebuilt, (Lightning Strike).
I used to use a HP Burner and HP CD wizard for burning data CD. now Im stuck with "In CD" and it will only let you burn on to CDRW. what's up with that?
anyway I also have Nero, while Im sure this is a great program, all I want to do is burn data cd's. Nero just seems too complicated to do this simple task. all I want to do is simply copy data to a CDR and be able to read it on any computer. and also add files at a later time to the same CDR. I may be doing it wrong but when I use Nero to copy a second or third time on the CD all I can see in the explorer is the last folder I copied to the CDR. I must right click the drive letter and go to properties, there I can see the other folders, what's up with that,
HP CD wizard was as simple as anwering the questions and you where done without worry.worked every time, unfortunatly for me my burner is not HP and is not supported by HP software.
(Burner = LitOn CDRW 24x10x40)
anyone who knows HP and Nero please help, sure wiil be appreciated.
Thanks,
RMD

[Paleo Pete]

saphalline: See the little scroll bar on the right side of the screen? When only one post is in a topic it usually shows up below the editing box, you can scroll down any time and re-read it.

RMD: First, this should have been placed in its own topic, rather than "piggybacking" onto another one, even though it is related.

I have Nero, InCD is part of it. Nero isn't difficult to use at all, the wizard that opens when you start the program pretty much sets it up for you, then just drag what you want to copy from the right hand pane onto the left one.

InCD is for formatting CD-R/CD-RW media, making it usable by the burner to write to it, as far as I can rell by looking at the command options. I haven't used it, haven't tried re-writable media yet, so I can't tell you much about it, but the wizard that opens when I click the icon says it will format CD-RW media.

When you open Nero from the Start Menu it should open with the wizard. Click the type of CD you wish to create, data or audio, set the speed if it gives you that option, then it opens the explorer interface. From there, drag and drop, then click the Burn button, that's about it...

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[mwr1550]

I wish nero worked that well for me, I've had it on my system for over a month now and haven't beenable to successfully burn a complete cd yet.

The first one I tried to burn was a data cd, draggedand dropped all the files I thought were needed, but when finished not everything was there.

I've tried to burn music cd's and got the message "nero cannot read this file" This may be due to the fact that I recorded my music to my hd as wma files and only later did I realize nero dosen't recognize them. But how to change over 100 tracks to wav or mp3 files without re recording them? Wish I knew.
About the only thing I have done is to burn a driver file and I'm not even sure it came out right because I haven't had to use it, just wanted a back up from a download.

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"Clone me, Dr. Memory."
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[Sylvander]

and also:

CD-RW disks can be re-written about 1,000 [that's one thousand] times!

If you use software like "Simple Backup" [it came included with my Hewlett Packard CD-RW, which has been even better than expected] you can make backups of your installed software which will help you recover from ALL software and configuration problems [by re-formatting your Hard-Drive and restoring the backup].

I'd also repeat that you should download installation prog's from the web straight to the CD-RW disk [after it's been formatted]using "Packet Writing" software like "Direct CD". You can make folder systems on your CD disk in Windows Explorer just like Explorer makes them on the hard drive or on a floppy disk. In fact, with a CD-RW disk left permanently [or semi-permanently] in the drive it can be used almost like a small hard-drive.
It only has about one tenth of the speed of a hard-drive and I wouldn't want to install prog's to it [in theory you could but there are potential for problems because it's removeable and the registry may try to access that drive with no disk present!]