Do you have to format every new CD/DVD?
@moonlight_dream (520)
Romania
April 15, 2009 7:38am CST
I've got a problem with my dvds. (I'm using windows vista if it matters)
I bought about 10 dvds a while ago and I just copied my files (pics, videos etc) on them. At first it worked, I checked the dvd right after I copied the files and they were all there. But after a while, a few weeks or so, when I inserted some of those dvds, it looked as if they were blank! Nothing was on them when I opened them!
So I tried to format one, then copied the files again on it... And again I tried to view the files right after I burnt them, and everything seemed ok, they were all there. But after a while the same thing happened.
And the strange thing is that only about 4 dvds still had those files on them when I checked. I can't understand why, I did nothing different with those 4, they were the same type, bought at the same time so I'm clueless as to what happened!
I thought maybe I had to format each one before I copied the files, but I don't think that's the reason...
Can anyone help me with this please? I need to copy some files just in case something happens to my laptop, it would be awful to lose all the pics, videos and everything I've been downloading so far!!
8 responses
@evexky (70)
• Philippines
15 Apr 09
Hi! I Think its the cds. Cheap cds really won't give best quality. Always try to burn cds in less speed so that everything can be read and stored properly. I used to burn cds too and i usually do it in higher speed for fast purposes and what i got was the same experienced as urs. But when i've changed the speed in lower state, it gives me perfect results already. Happy mylotting!
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
18 Apr 09
They weren't exactly cheap... so I don't think that's the problem...
I can choose what speed the files can be burned with? Uhh how exactly? I never really paid attention to that, so I have no idea how to change it...
@owlwings (43915)
• Cambridge, England
15 Apr 09
No, you don't have to format R/W CDs or DVDs unless you want to delete and overwrite files already on them.
Your problem sounds as if it may be associated with the drive. Are you able to read the disks on another drive, for example? Some drives are certainly less good at tracking accurately after some use. It is worth investigating whether your tracking is up to scratch. It may still be adequate for reading commercial CD/DVDs but it may have got out of alignment with disks that you previously recorded.
If I am saving data for archival purposes, I would not stint on the cost of the DVDs/CDs: I would always buy the best, proprietary brand available. I think that I would always use Write Only media rather than Rewritable. This is because the rewritable media is, of necessity, reversible and so the image burned may not be as easy to read. I believe, too, that the laser power is reduced for rewritable media.
It may be worth your while, also, investing in a lens cleaning kit.
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
18 Apr 09
Well it's a bit weird, I tried to check on another computer one of those dvds that still had those files on them even after cheking for the 2nd time, and they didn't show up... it got me even more confused.
The files that appear on my computer don't show up on another one, even if it's a windows xp not and older version. I'll have to check if the dvds that look blank will show the files on another computer, maybe I'll figure out what's wrong then.
I don't really know what kind of dvds are better, I just took some that were a bit more expensive because I thought they should work better... I guess expensive doesn't always mean better.
@emojboy (632)
• Philippines
20 Apr 09
Are you trying to put your files in blank cdr and dvdr. I think you should need a burning tool such as Nero Burning Application. I used it for burning cd and dvd in any format. I do not format my disc before using it to be burn. I think that is what you need for your problem.
@jimmy87 (475)
• India
20 Apr 09
I think the problem is not with your cds or dvds...By me,the actual problem is with the dvd drive as I lens doesn't work sometimes..or if the dvds get scratched the lens fails to read them..
Just check that if the dvds read ion another computers.
Also,while writing there may arise some read errors which may be the cause for not reading..
@abhichat1980 (250)
• India
16 Apr 09
Frankly I think this is so weird. Never in my life I had such a problem. And believe me I have been writing dvds for quite some time. Also DVDs come formatted so you wont need to format them at all. If you face this problem time and again as you are saying I thing you may consider reporting it to the customer service of the company from which you bought those DVDs. I don't think this has anything to do with Windows VISTA.
@simoneric (21)
• South Africa
15 Apr 09
Here's what probably happened:
You put in the dvd, burned the files, all fine, but in the process you might have missed a check-box saying "Close CD after burning."A very common mistake. What it means is that after you're done burning the disc, it 'locks' the disc, so that it cannot be written on again. Just close the disc next time, then it should work perfectly.
Also, a fail-safe way to test if it worked:
Remove burned disc
Restart PC
Insert burned disc
If the files are still there, then it worked.
@tyronie4cash (925)
• Philippines
15 Apr 09
It happened to me too, I burnt my first DVD with my files on it, checked and it was ok, then the second time (which is a week after) I brought a DVD then burn my files, then checked there's nothing in there, my gawd, I thought that it's because of the CD, I bought the cheap one, lol but in you case you bought it at the same time right?
hmmm?? I have no idea too, sorry. 
