Help with writing to DVD-RAM

ianonline

I posted this query recently by tagging it on to another thread, but I'm now posting it as a separate thread in the hope that someone will be able to help:

I've got an LG GSA-4165B DVD Multi-burner and I've just bought some Panasonic RAM discs to try out the RAM feature. As I understand it, RAM allows you to save directly to the disc by dragging and dropping files, but it won't work for me - I just get an error message saying "Windows does not support this CD-RW format".

It burns fine to DVD-RW and I used Nero tools to check compatibility and it recognises all the different disc formats (including RAM).

When I check the RAM disc properties it says "file system: UDF" - do I need to do something to format the disc before I can use it ?

Any help would be appreciated

(BTW, I'm using Windows XP Pro with SP2 and NTFS file system)

Woby_Tide

what files are you trying to drag and drop? if you are attempting to copy DVD format files to RAM it probably won't work, whereas on a DVD-R/RW the files are .vob on RAM it's .vro and is like an MPEG file. If you are just dragging normal data files and trying to create a data disc I'm not sure

ianonline

Yeah, I'm just talking about folders containing data files - not DVD video files. I can't figure out what the problem might be :wall:

Woby_Tide

ok, did you say you were using windows to do the drag and drop and record onto DVD-RAM? I think that may the problem that windows doesn't like to do it. Try creating a data DVD using Nero and add the folder you want and let Nero do the recording. Just tried at lunch on a similar LG burner with a Panny DVD-RAM disc and it worked

squirrelz

I think you have to format the disks as FAT32 to write directly from windows XP without loading special drivers.

If you install the DVD-RAM drivers, them you can write to UDF formatted disks as well.

Whitefiver

I have InCD loaded (which is part of the Nero Suite, I believe). Allows me to drag and drop and so on.

If you bought a retail drive, then the software should be included.

Regards,

White.

ianonline

Thanks for your input folks.

Just to clarify, I can burn to the RAM disc using Nero just like a DVD-RW, and I have used InCD in the past to drag and drop to CDRWs - but I thought the whole point of RAM discs was that you can use them like an additional hard drive or a floppy disc and just drag and drop without having to use some other program to burn or to format the disc to use packet writing (like InCD). If this is the case, then what is the advantage over using a DVD-RW disc?

squirrelz

With DVD-RAM you can delete files and reuse the space. With DVD+-RW and things like InCD you have to format the disk to get the space back.

You can format the RAM disks as fat32 and use them like removable hard disks. Windows XP can't write to UDF formatted disks without an additional driver.

ianonline

squirrelz wrote:

With DVD-RAM you can delete files and reuse the space. With DVD+-RW and things like InCD you have to format the disk to get the space back.

You can format the RAM disks as fat32 and use them like removable hard disks. Windows XP can't write to UDF formatted disks without an additional driver.

If I format the disc as FAT32, will Windows still be able to read it if it is running under NTFS?

Think I'll look down the route of updating / installing a new driver as that would appear to be the easiest route.

squirrelz

Yep, Windows XP handles FAT,FAT32 and NTFS partitions, no matter what the drive it's installed on is formatted as.

ianonline

Hmmm, I've just checked the LG website and there is a firmware upgrade (DL04) for my model but it states "This firmware update is for drives with original firmware versions below DL03" and mine is currently DL03.

Also, the instructions look to be a bit of a "kerfuffel" involving disconnecting another drive and changing the jumper settings so I don't think I'll bother. I'll have a go formatting the disc to FAT32 and see if that works.