CD-RW Discs for Reliablility and High Capacity

CD-RW drives (RW=rewritable)--such as those found in the Fine Arts computer lab at Hanover--offer several advantages over floppy drives.

One possible disadvantage to a CD media: buying just one disc, you will probably pay a dear price. The best way to buy them is by the pack. And when you do, make sure you choose either CD-RW or CD-R based on how you intend to use the discs; a CD-RW disc can be formatted to work like a floppy, writing to it multiple times when inserted in a CD-RW drive; plus CD-RWs are readable in most CD-ROM drives (unlike CD-Rs formatted for writing to more than once). However, CD-R is the choice when burning music CDs.

Formatting a CD-RW Disk for using like a floppy(requires 30+ minutes)

For a CD-RW disc to be accessible like a floppy, you must format it. A special program like Adaptec DirectCD or Roxio Easy CD Creator will take care of this task. The steps?

  1. Place a CD-RW disc in a rewritable CD drive (such as those on the PCs in the Fine Arts computer lab). Doing that, in a few seconds the CD program installed on that computer will display options similar to these shown here for Adaptec DirectCD software:

To use a CD-RW like a floppy, choose the option indicating that, such as: ". . . create a data disc that will be accessible through a drive letter . . ."

Note: If the CD-RW program does not start up within a few seconds of putting a CD in the drive, go to Start, Programs, and look for Adaptec or Easy CD Creator by name.

  1. The next box from Adaptec DirectCD explains what the DirectCD program will do to the CD. This is important information, describing how you will be able to use the disc once the formatting is complete. To continue, click Next button:

4. Next, answer what drive the CD is in. Note that the Media Type section on this box detects when the selected drive has a CD-RW disc inserted:

5. Click Next and another reminder displays regarding imminent action to be done:

 

6. Next step: a chance to name the disk, handy when you have several CD-RWs with different data; the name will display when using My Computer or Windows Explorer to view and manage files:

7. Lastly, a chance to back out if you'll be late for class in 10 minutes!

Formatting complete and ejecting the disc, this displays:

Using a CD-RW disc

Once a CD-RW disc is formatted with DirectCD, you use it similar to using a floppy.

One caution: To save files on a CD-RW disc, you must have the disc in a CD-RW drive. If you insert a CD-RW in a CD-ROM drive (these are non-writable drives) most of these drives will recognize and open existing files. But once a file is open, you will be limited to reading only--editing and trying to save won't work when the file is being read from a CD-RW disc in a CD-ROM drive. Keep this in mind! CD-RW drives--which let you save to, read from, and resave files on CD-RW discs formatted with DirectCD--are found on campus in these locations:

  • all computers in CFA lab
  • two PCs in library lab

Inserting a formatted CD-RW disc into a CD-RW drive this should appear:

Using My Computer or Windows Explorer, you can delete files from such a disc or copy and paste files from it to another drive. In your favorite programs like Word, Excel or Internet Explorer, you can save files as you're accustomed to doing with floppy disks. The following shows saving a file within Word to the CD-RW named EngComp:

Because a CD-RW can hold so much (over 400 times what a floppy will hold) you might want to create folders for finding files faster. Information about file management starts here: http://training.hanover.edu/tips/Windows/TakingControlwWindowsExplorer1.htm

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