I have an LG CD/DVD writer in a system running Windows XP Home, fully updated with the SP3 service pack installed. When I use the facility that is built into Windows XP to burn (save) data to CD-RW discs, the recorded files are read-only and therefore cannot be edited. I want to know if there's a way of saving data files so that they can be edited and then saved back to disc.

Answer

Windows XP does not support writing/burning to recordable DVD discs (DVD-R/DVD+R and DVD-RW/DVD+RW discs). Unfortunately, the CD-writing software that is part of Windows XP Home edition only supports the creation of read-only files. You have to edit the data file or image on the hard drive with a word-processing/photo-editing application and then save the changed copy to the disc. Very probably Microsoft did not want to muscle in on too many areas of software development in order to give third-party developers a chance.

You can write data to CD-RW and DVD-RW/DVD+RW discs without having to format them. You just burn the files to them using your disc-burning software as you would to a CD-R or DVD-R/DVD+R disc. If you edit a file that has previously been saved to a CD-RW disc and then reburn it to the disc, the software will ask you if you want the original file replaced. If you do, it renders the previous copy inaccessible and saves the new copy. The previous copy is still on the disc taking up space, but only the new version can be acccessed. However, with re-recordable (RW) CD and DVD discs, you can erase the all of the files and thereby create a blank disc that can be reused up to 1,000 times.

If you want to use a CD-RW (or DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-RAM disc) in the same way as you would use a floppy disk, you have to format it by using a program like ImgBurn from http://www.imgburn.com/, which is free. Just as a floppy disk has to be formatted (like a hard drive) before it can be used to save edited files, re-recordable optical discs have to be formatted. The disc has to have a file system in order to be used like a floppy disk. The file system is added during the formatting. All of the latest paid-for disc-burning programs, such as Nero (even Nero Express) will allow you to format CD-RW and DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-RAM discs.

How do you format a CD-RW? -

http://www.ehow.com/how_4885160_format-cd-rw.html

The third-party disc-burning software that you install that allows you to use CD-RW (and DVD-RW/DVD+RW/DVD-RAM) discs as if they were floppy disks will probably do the following itself, but just in case it does not, you should disable the built-in Windows CD-burning software. Doing this avoids any conflicts that may arise between the two programs. The service is called the imapi CD-writing service, and it's disabled in the Control Panel under Administrative Tools => Computer Management => Services.

Note that you should use the same burning program (e.g. ImgBurn) to burn data to a particular recordable CD/DVD disc. If you change programs, you can run into problems, such as not being able to do anything but read the files. You should also not change the name originally given to the disc, because the files burned to the original name will not be accessible when the disc is renamed.

Note also that packet-writing to CD or DVD discs, which is the process involved, is dependent on the life of the disc (the number of times data can be expected to be written to it).

Usually the quoted estimates of average writing to a CD-RW and DVD-RW/DVD+RW disc are 1,000 times. However, note that the table of contents (TOC) on the disc may get written to more than once per session. Twice per day gives you 500 days of use, which is less than two years. After that the ability to write to the disc starts to fail and problems arise.

That is why DVD rewriteable discs, whether -RW or +RW, are not favoured for long-term reliable storage. DVD-RAM is a much more reliable disc format for long term use in the same way as a floppy disk, because a disc can be rewritten over 100,000 times . Moreover, the discs have built-in error control and a defect management system. In order to use it, a DVD writer must support the DVD-RAM format. The discs are more expensive than DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs.

Computer diagnostics: How to solve or fix common desktop and laptop PC problems

To diagnose and troubleshoot specific and general problems with Microsoft's software (Windows 95, 98, Me, XP, Vista, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express) using the MS Knowledge Base, visit the Diagnostics page on this site.

Click a relevant link below to visit the information it describes on this website:

1. - Recovering and repairing Windows XP when a computer crashes or fails to boot

2. - Recovering and repairing Windows Vista when a computer crashes or fails to boot

3. - Windows Vista problems: How to fix problems with Windows Vista

4. - Recover, restore and repair Windows 7 (Win7) when a computer crashes or fails to boot

5. - Windows 7 problems: How to diagnose and fix problems with Windows 7

6. - Windows XP: How to troubleshoot and fix shutdown, restart (reboot), and startup problems

7. - Typical DLL (Dynamic Link Library) device driver problems

8. - Software problems: How to fix problems with Windows, programs, and utilities

Also visit the Software pages on this site for more information on specific software-related information and problems.

9. - Motherboard and power supply problems: How to fix common problems with faulty motherboards (mainboards) and power supplies (PSUs)

10. - RAM memory problems: How to fix problems with the Random Access Memory

11. - Hard disk drive problems: How to fix computer hard disk drive (HDD) problems

12. - CD/DVD drive problems: How to fix problems with CD and DVD drives and discs

13. - Processor problems: How fix common processor (CPU) problems

14. - Video/graphics card problems: How fix common computer video and graphics problems

15. - USB and FireWire problems: - How to fix common USB and FireWire problems

16. - Network problems: How to fix common wired and wireless networking and internet problems

17. - Laptop/notebook problems: How to address or fix the most common laptop/notebook problems

How to fix problems with device drivers in Windows XP and Windows Vista and Windows 7

Although the information on the following page is specific to Windows XP, much of the advice is relevant to the earlier versions of Windows. Click here! to read Troubleshoot Device Driver Problems. Click h ere! to go to Tips for fixing common driver problems in Windows Vista. Those tips should also be applicable to Windows 7.

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Visit the Build a PC page for information on how to build a desktop PC and solve self-build problems, and visit the other pages, such as the Video/Graphics, Sound, Motherboards, and Monitors pages for more problem-solving information, all of which can be accessed via the menu items and jump menu on the orange navigation bar, or via the site search engine at the top of each of the main pages.

The Tips & Tricks pages of this site contain additional useful tips, tricks, and problem-solving advice.

The safest way to upgrade RAM memory: Use the UK and US Crucial Memory Advisors

Paul Mullen, who was the highly-respected computer guru of the Helpfile at ComputerShopper.co.uk - "I have recently been buying my memory only from Crucial Technology. I would rather pay the extra cost than waste time trying to track down the obscure program faults that bad memory can cause."

The best way to choose RAM memory for a brand-name desktop or laptop computer, or memory for a particular make/model of PC motherboard is to make use of the Crucial Memory Advisors (provided under the brief guideline on the minimum memory requirements for Windws XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7). If the Crucial memory you receive does not work, you are guaranteed a refund and standard shipping is free.

The memory requirements of the versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7

Most of the versions of Windows Vista require more RAM memory to run optimally on a computer that doesn't use memory-hungry applications than Windows XP. A video-editing application is an example of memory-intensive software. Only Windows Vista Home Basic has a recommended minimum amount of memory of 512MB, which is the same amount recommended for Windows XP. Windows Vista Home Premium, the most popular version, and Windows Vista Ultimate require a recommended minimum of 1GB (1024MB) of memory, which is twice the amount of minimum memory recommended to run Windows XP. Note that if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, up to 4.0GB, it requires twice the amount of memory as a 32-bit version, which can only use a maximum of about 3.5GB. For more information on computer memory, read the RAM pages of this site, which includes information on the lower memory requirements of Windows 7.

UK - Crucial Memory Advisor - UK

USA - Crucial Memory Advisor - USA

How to Use the Crucial Memory Advisor

For example, if your computer has an Asus motherboard, open the menu, scroll down to ASUS, and click GO. If, say, you have a Dell computer, scroll down to DELL, and do likewise. You will be taken to the relevant information on Crucial's website.

If you don't know the make and model of the motherboard installed in your computer, here is a good free utility - Belarc Advisor - that creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Another utility that also provides detailed information on the memory itself is CPU-Z.

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