Difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW?

  • Thread starter Thread starter John McGaw
  • Start date Start date
J

John McGaw

Guest
Don J wrote:
> What is the difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW? How do I write to a CD?
>
> Don J
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>

It would have been far easier for you to simply use Google or some other
search engine to answer the question but:

CD-R = Compact Disk Recordable, can be recorded one time
CD-RW = Compact Disc Rewritable, can be recorded multiple times

so the difference is that the second can be re-used. But given that CD-R
discs are almost throw-away cheap and are faster and are more reliable,
rather few CD-RW discs are used any more.

As for how you write to a CD, you insert a disc capable of being written
to, i.e. a CD-R or CD-RW, into a drive capable of writing to it and then
you run an application which will then cause the drive to perform the
required task. Windows XP has a rudimentary writing ability which is
explained rather well in the built-in help. Other more capable programs to
to the writing are available for free or for a negligible cost.

John McGaw
http://johnmcgaw.com
 
Re: Difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW?


"Don J" <dej4401@comcast.net> wrote in message news:LbOdnWladZKVd3LVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@comcast.com...
| What is the difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW? How do I write to a CD?
|
| Don J
|
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
Think of a CD-R as a blank sheet of paper that you write on with ink.
You can keep writing on the paper as long as there is room to add words.
You can even blot out something you have already written, but you can not use the same space to
rewrite.

A CD-RW, with the correct software, can be written on and then you can erase part of what you have
written and write again in the same spot.

The same program will write to either a CD-R or CD-RW, but you have to have "packet writing"
capability in the program to be able to erase on a CD-RW.

Both CD-R and CD-RW disk hold a lot of data and the need to erase a section is seldom required.
Since CD-R disks are much cheaper than CD-RW disks, most users prefer to just use another CD-R if
there is a problem and throw the old one away.

On a CD-R, a chemical film layer is "burned" with a laser to write digital data. On a CD-RW, the
chemical film is "blistered" with a laser to write digital data. Then to erase, another laser is
used to heat the blister and smooth it out. In either case, the burned spot, or blistered spot, do
not reflect the reading laser and the computer interprets that as a Zero in the digital world of
Ones and Zeros.
 
Re: Difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW?

CD-R = Compact Disc Recordable... you can record the full CD capacity in a
single sesion (Disc at Once) or burn it part by part in multi-sesions
(Sesion
at Once) but the recorded space on a CD-R can not be erased or used again.

CD-RW = Compact Disc Rewritable... you can record it the same way as CD-R
but you can Record-and-Erase a CD-RW time and time again for hundreds of
times.

To Record a CD:
1.- You can write to a CD either by using the integraded WXP Recorder; Right
click on the files you wish to record and from the context menu select
"Send-To" and click on the CD-RW Recorder, and when you have "sent-to" all
the files you want to record, go to X:\CD-RW Drive and from the Common Tasks
(left) Panel click on "Record these files on a CD". If you insert a
Rewritable CD Windows should detect it and include the optional command to
erase a CD-RW (Eraseable CD).

2.- There are many Freeware CD Burning Applications and many are very easy
to use, and have more options than the Windows Recorder.

Here are a few of such CD Burning Applications:

Top CD Burnuing Applications
http://cd-burning-software-review.toptenreviews.com/

Best CD Burning Freeware Alternatives
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/the-best-free-alternatives-to-nero-cddvd-burner/



------------------------------
"Don J" <dej4401@comcast.net> escribió en el mensaje
news:LbOdnWladZKVd3LVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@comcast.com...
> What is the difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW? How do I write to a
> CD?
>
> Don J
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
 
Re: Difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW?

On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 02:49:15 -0400, "Don J" <dej4401@comcast.net>
wrote:

>What is the difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW? How do I write to a CD?
>
> Don J
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
1. The first question has nothing to do with XP. Ask elsewhere.

2. You can't write to a CD. You can to a CDR or a CDRW. For more
info on how, refer to the instructions for your burning program.
 
Re: Difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW?

read through the info here http://aumha.org/win5/a/xpcd.htm

--

Xandros


"Don J" <dej4401@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:LbOdnWladZKVd3LVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@comcast.com...
> What is the difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW? How do I write to a
> CD?
>
> Don J
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
 
Difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW?

What is the difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW? How do I write to a CD?

Don J

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Re: Difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW?


"Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message
news:uCXlDlzKJHA.1160@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>
> "Don J" <dej4401@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:LbOdnWladZKVd3LVnZ2dnUVZ_v_inZ2d@comcast.com...
> | What is the difference between a CD-R and a CD-RW? How do I write to a
> CD?
> |
> | Don J
> |
> | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> |
> Think of a CD-R as a blank sheet of paper that you write on with ink.
> You can keep writing on the paper as long as there is room to add words.
> You can even blot out something you have already written, but you can not
> use the same space to
> rewrite.
>
> A CD-RW, with the correct software, can be written on and then you can
> erase part of what you have
> written and write again in the same spot.
>

Not generally correct. Generally you have to erase the whole of the CD-RW
before you can reuse it. There are writing utilities (packet writing) which
write in a format which permits erasure of individual files but the nature
of the method and the media makes such use unreliable and it should never be
used as the sole method of storing valuable data.

> The same program will write to either a CD-R or CD-RW, but you have to
> have "packet writing"
> capability in the program to be able to erase on a CD-RW.
>

No you don't. Any CD writing utility will erase a CD-RW. Indeed Windows XP
offers this service built in.

> Both CD-R and CD-RW disk hold a lot of data and the need to erase a
> section is seldom required.
> Since CD-R disks are much cheaper than CD-RW disks, most users prefer to
> just use another CD-R if
> there is a problem and throw the old one away.
>

Correct.

> On a CD-R, a chemical film layer is "burned" with a laser to write digital
> data. On a CD-RW, the
> chemical film is "blistered" with a laser to write digital data. Then to
> erase, another laser is
> used to heat the blister and smooth it out. In either case, the burned
> spot, or blistered spot, do
> not reflect the reading laser and the computer interprets that as a Zero
> in the digital world of
> Ones and Zeros.
>

A completely incorrect description of how a CD-RW is written. The same
laser (as there is only one CD laser) writes both the zeros and the ones.
 
Back
Top