How to keep a CD-R open for additions

Question

I have Windows XP and a Dell Dimension computer about 1 1/2 years old.  I like to backup important text folders and files frequently using CD-Rs.   For folders in 'my documents' I use the 'send to' function and designate 'backup E.'  Then I select 'write these files to CD' and the CD Writing Wizard takes over.  In doing so I accumulate a large clutter of CDs, because they always come out of the writing process 'write-protected.'  This seems like a real waste.  I never seem to get an option allowing me to add more text items in the future.  I'm sure that the solution is simple, but somehow I can't figure it out.  Please, can anyone suggest something?

BRIANBORU · Answer

CD-R is short for 'CD-Recordable'. Recordable CDs are WORM (Write Once, Read Multiple) media that work just like standard CDs. The advantage of CD-R over other types of optical media is that you can use the discs with a standard CD player. The disadvantage is that you can't reuse a disc. A related technology called CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) allows you to erase discs and reuse them, but the CD-RW media doesn't work in all players. CD-Rewritable drives are able to write both CD-R and CD-RW discs. All CD recorders can read CDs and CD-ROMs, just like a standard CD-ROM drive.

Bobmitmen · Answer

You want to use a program like Nero and do 'Multisession' disks.  Even when you use CD-R or DVD-R / DVD+R, you can write multisession.  Mind you...unless you use RW...you can't erase...but this is how I archive and backup important files.  With the price of media being as low as it is...a very cost efficient way!   Bob

fireberd · Answer

With the low price of CD-R's, if it's worth backing up then it's worth the price of  the CD-R to back up and finalize it and keep it.   It may not be a full CD-R but again if it's worth backing up it's worth the cost of the CD-R.   RW media is not recommended as it's the least reliable media (it is known to lose data and/or format).  Again, if it's worth backing up - use a CD-R.  If you want to use an RW, do not have your 'only copy' on the RW disc.

RoHe · Answer

I use CD-R disks with Dell's free version of Sonic that came on my 8400. Unless I tell Sonic to close the disk, it's open for additions up to the max limit of disk space. When it's full or I'm sure I won't add anything else, I have Sonic finalize the disk during the last write session.

You do lose some available disk space, above what the files actually take, by leaving it open during multiple write sessions, but I do frequent backups of key client files and would end up with way too many 800-MB CDs with just a few hundred KB of files on them.

My 2-cents...

Ron

Jim Hardin · Answer

Or just use XP's Writing, which is Session based… Thus you can write, add later or even "overwrite" files on CD-R media.

ALL authored media is Read Only but that does not mean it cannot be written to.

Note on "overwrite". No space is recovered and the original file is still there just not accessible

85rx-7se · Answer

The real trick to this is not only to use Multisession in Nero
as mentioned above, but also to tell Nero or whatever cd
burning program you are using Not To Finalize The CD
Once it is Finalized, you Can Not Add Anything to it

Only drawback is sometimes, there is interchangeability
issues reading the cd on other computers

fredhep · Answer

Thank you for the advice.  I tried Sonic.  But when I try to access the files stored on the CD via Sonic, the list of files on the CD comes up blank.  Seemingly the computer doesn't recognize that anything has been stored on the CD.  I need to be able occasionally to access the backed up files to see how something read before I made a bunch of changes.  Guess that I'll have to stick to floppy discs.

fredhep · Answer

Please explain what 'XP's Writing' is.   If you mean the 'save as/save in' function of Microsoft Word, and then selecting the CD drive, I've been doing that, and the CD is automatically closed out.  This I

fredhep · Answer

Thanks for the advice.  I think that I will try Nero. Thye alternative seems to be to go back to using floppy discs.   Can files that have been saved in Nero be accessed from the CD if necessary without going through a 'restore' procedure?

85rx-7se · Answer

Nero will work fine for what you want to do.

RoHe · Answer

Once burned onto a CD, you don't access those files with Sonic. You access them the same way you'd access them on floppy. If it's a Word .doc file, double-click the file on the CD and Word should open it automatically. Or, launch Word, click File>Open and point it at the file on the CD. Same for any other file associated with a specific program. If you want the file back on your hard drive, just drag it from the CD onto the desktop on into whatever folder you want. Obviously, a copy of the file will remain on the CD.

Sonic is a bit quirky. When you insert a CD that has files on it, Sonic may say it's empty, but if you wait a bit longer, it'll read the directory and come back with names of files written and available space on the CD. If it doesn't, click "Load Disk" button and give it a chance to read the directory on the CD.

Ron

Windows General

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