Unable to delete files from CD-RW

[CondorMan]

Hi everyone

I have XP Pro SP2 and have a CD/DVD reader/burner. I've started to user Nero recently (the Suite which has Nero Express 6, as well as several other Nero items). I've seen plently of adverse comments about Nero 7 in comparison with Nero 6.

I was under the impression that I could put some data files on a CD-RW and then delete them at will. There isn't an option to do this in Nero Express so I wondered if I could do this from Windows Explorer or My Computer. I can't, as the files are set to Read Only and I am unable to change the file attributes. The attributes of the original files (before burning) are not Read Only. It seems that the only way that I can delete a file from the CD-RW is to clear it completely and then write all the required files back to the CD-RW.

Am I missing something? I thought that a CD-RW or DVD-RW could be regarded as a large floppy or external hard drive so I could use it for backup purposes or transfer files from A to B.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Glenn9999]

You can't do that within Nero or Explorer necessarily. You need to find a program on your install disk called "Nero InCD". Having this program installed will enable you to do what you're wanting to do.

If you don't have it on your install disk look here:

http://ww2.nero.com/nero6/enu/nero-up.php

Then when you get that installed and it's up and running you should have a systray item for it. Then through that option you should be able to find an option to "format" the RW disk you put into the drive.

Then you should be able to do with THAT disk as you are seeking. Remember, though, that the disk can only be used in a system that has Nero InCD installed on it (or the Nero reader).

 

[CondorMan]

Thank you Glenn

That's not much use though! I want to be able to write files to a CD-RW or DVD-RW and then be able to have access to them on a different PC. It's unlikely that the other PC will have Nero (or InCD) installed. When I installed the Nero suite on my PC, I didn't install Nero InCD because I thought that it had caused some conflict when I had installed it previously.

What would you suggest to allow me to use CD-RW or DVD-RW as simply a big floppy or external hard drive? Would you recommend that I uninstall Nero and use the "Send to > DVD-RW D:" option when I right click a file or folder? I guess that I wouldn't be able to simply delete selected files from the disc but I'd have to erase everything and start again.

This is SO confusing. I hope that the technology advances quickly to allow "ordinary" users (like me) to do things without having to think too much!

Thanks again for your time.

 

[Glenn9999]

What would you suggest to allow me to use CD-RW or DVD-RW as simply a big floppy or external hard drive?

You've already seen my suggestion - doing this is what InCD is for. The only other way is burning complete volumes all at once or in incremental sessions (and that even has its own problems because there's no guarantee all drives can read all the sessions).

But if you're wanting portability, you're going to have to either carry along the Nero Reader program and install it on every PC you want to copy the disk off onto, or burn full ISO compliant volumes.

 

[CondorMan]

Yeeks - it's confusing. I was under the impression that Nero was almost fool-proof!

There is an option to save the project to the hard drive and I think that will allow me to add to it subsequently before burning to the CD or DVD. There's also an option of saving the image. The default names are ISO1 and Image. I copied an Excel file to the CD-RW and the size of the Excel file is 68 KB. I saved the ISO1 and Image files as I did this. When I look at the properties of ISO1, it states "Nero Data Disc (ISO)" (the size of the ISO file is 788 bytes) and it opens with Nero Burning ROM. When I look at the properties of Image, it states "Nero Disc Image" and it, too, opens with Nero Burning ROM. The size of the Image file is 1.17 MB.

When you said "... or burn full ISO compliant volumes.", do you mean burn the Image or ISO1 file (which one) to a CD or DVD? That should allow me to read the CD or DVD on any PC and let me achieve portability without having Nero on every PC.

Sorry to be such a newbie at this - but I suspect that we've all been at this stage!

 

[BadBigBen]

if you want to transfer Data to and from other pc's to yours and vice versa, etc. then I might suggest you get yourself a USB Memorystick, they are pretty cheap these days, and they handle just like Floppy or HDD, where you can do exactly that what you plan on doing, besides that starting from ME upwards they integrate easily into any OS...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

I vote for the USB method as easier to use rather than CD's or DVD.

Some extra information on the in built XP CD writing program.

Cannot Delete Individual Files from a CD-RW Disc in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294883&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Description of CD-ROM Recording in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279157/EN-US/

 

[CondorMan]

Thank you for the suggestions. I have a couple of USB memory sticks (1GB each) and agree that I can use them for backup or data transfer purposes. However, as the PC has a CD/DVD burner installed, it seems a waste not to learn how to use it. Whilst I have not thought about creating video clips seriously, that's a possibility with the Nero suite that I have and I don't think that it's possible using a USB memory stick.

 

[BadBigBen]

For creating playable Videos (on standalone Players, like the ones hooked up to a TV), using of NERO is good and rather good outcome...

as for creating videos for playing on PC's it does not matter if it is in DVD form or any other Format, or on what type of data storage it is on, except maybe Floppy...

for more information on creating Videos, DVD's, SVCD's VCD', etc. check out these guides:

http://www.afterdawn.com/guides/

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[CondorMan]

Thank you Ben. I'll look into this now that I *think* I have CD/DVD burning straight in my head!