Software for formatting Cd's, CD-R's

Since Windows XP Pro o/s seems not to provide for any formatting of CD-R's is there some free download to format the CD-r 4.7 gig disks? I do not want to load easy cd creator nor Roxio.

 

When you say CD-R 4.7gb, do you mean DVD-R? Either way, there are several free burning tools in the Data Backup section here at MG that have an 'Erase Disc' option which is more or less like formatting. But it only works on CDRW or DVDRW discs. Many 3rd party apps allow for 'formatting' of CDR or DVDR discs for direct access. I don't think that any of these are free tho'...

hopperdave2000

 

Thankkyou...yes, I do mean DVD -R. Where do I access the "data backup" section in Major Geeks?

 

You cannot format a DVD-R once it's been written to. However, you can format a DVD-RW or a DVD+RW.

I suggest that you d/l the free version of Nero.

Have you tried going to www.majorgeeks.com

 

Scroll all the way to the bottom of any forum/thread page and click on 'Backup'. I know CD Burner XP Pro 3 will erase or 'format' discs- only RW discs tho'. CDR or DVDR can be formatted for direct access by programs like Roxio (there are other but I'm drawing a blank). Once written to, CDR and DVDR discs cannot be erased like CDRW or DVDRW discs can.

 

Puppywunder58....yes I've been going to Major Geeks. No answers yet that I can use. I have a new DVD-R right out of the box & it's never been formatted. Am I correct in assuming that you must format these disks first prior to burn? I'll look for a free d/l of Nero.

 

A free copy of nero, would be a pirated copy nero has no free version.

 

m97vest36...You cannot and should not format DVD-R or DVD+R discs. As I stated in my previous post, you can format DVD-RW's and DVD+RW's once they've been written to and you want to erase the disc.

Did you check out this www.majorgeeks.com/CDBurnerXP_d4242.html

Colemanguy...Sorry, I meant trial version of Nero. But if Nero came bundled with your burner then essentially it's "free".

 

No, you do not format them prior to use. Any formatting will be done when you burn it. There is no "free" Nero, but there is a trial version.

 

Thankyou Coleman...I suspected as much.

 

Before you buy any more DVD-R's, check out these old threads

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=113007
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=105069
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=92952
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=91134

Bazza