Read-Only vs. CD/RW

Question

Whenever I copy a folder of Word documents to my CD/RW drive in my Inspiron 1150 running XP Home SP2, those documents have become 'Read-Only' when I open them later in Word.  How can I keep them from becoming 'Read-Only' when I copy them to the CD/RW drive? Thanks. John

Skybird · Answer

Optical Media, by nature, is Read Only. How are you writing the CD? If you
use packet writing, (DLA, DirectCD or InCD) and format a CDRW disc, it will act
as a large floppy and allow the files to be altered. A CDRW disc used in this
manner is good for working with files but is weak for archiving them.

If you move the files to the hard drive, you should be able to uncheck the Read Only and be able to work with the files.

Message Edited by Skybird on 04-20-2005 03:11 PM

jrip625 · Answer

I am new to the Inspiron/XP Home combination. My procedure (feeling my way) is to put a CD-RW disk into the D: drive and copy the folder and subfolders to the "D:" drive in Explorer.

Then a window opens telling me that I have files waiting to be written to the CD/RW. I click within that window, and the writing process begins with a countdown timer.

You wrote: "...How are you writing the CD? If you use packet writing, (DLA, DirectCD or InCD) and format a CDRW disc, it will act as a large floppy and allow the files to be altered. A CDRW disc used in this manner is good for working with files..." AND that's exactly how I want to use it -- as a large floppy from which I can open documents, edit them, and save/close them on the CD.

Where would I find the place to "...uncheck the Read Only..." for the files on the CD? Or, if Read Only must be unchecked before files are transferred to the CD from the hard drive, where do I find the place to uncheck Read Only during that process?

Skybird · Answer

What you are using is the Windows XP built-in burning function which is
very limited. This will write to the disc then close it, thus all files
become Read-Only. The files on the CD cannot be changed from Read-Only.
That is the normal nature of optical media. Optical media is very
different from Magnetic media

Place the file on the hard drive then right click-it and select Properties.
At the bottom of that box are your options. But, that file must be on the
hard drive.

To use packet writing is what you want to do. Some type of burning software
is installed on your system. Lately Dell has been installing Sonic recordNow.
Part of that package is DLA. DLA will format the CDRW disc and then allow
Drag and Drop of files to it, thus, the CDRW disc appears to be a big floppy.
The system thinks it is magnetic media instead of optical. This method will
allow editing files on the disc and they will not be Read-Only. You can add,
alter or remove files from that disc.

Roxio Easy CD Creator has DirectCD for packet writing and in the later versions
it is called Drag-to-Disk. Nero uses InCD. Which burning software do you have
on your system?

jrip625 · Answer

I have Sonic RecordNow.   I did as you suggest:  I created a test message in Word and placed it on the desktop (is that the problem?) .  I right-clicked it and selected Properties.  I made sure Read-Only is unchecked.  I burned the CD and opened the file in Word from the CD.  It opened as Read-Only.   You mentioned formatting/initializing the CD.  When must this be done?  And how?  Don't RW CDs come from the store already formatted?

Skybird · Answer

You have Sonic RecordNow. Part of that package is DLA (Direct Letter Access).
DLA is the packet writing software. Format a CD disc (preferable CDRW disc)
with DLA. Then drag that file you created ands placed on the hard drive onto
the newly created formatted disc. That is it.

If you use a CDR disc, you will be able to add files but it is not rewritable,
thus read-only. If you use a CDRW disc, you will be able to add more files,
alter the ones there and even delete them if desired.

Sonic Drive Letter Access (DLA) User's Guide here ................

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/P76525/

jrip625 · Answer

Thank you.  The User's Guide is a big help. I'll try formatting a disk and go from there.       Message Edited by jrip625 on 04-21-2005 07:41 PM

Storage, Drives & Media

Read-Only vs. CD/RW

Was this post helpful?