Rewritable CD, can't delete.

derrick

I have a rewritable CD that I wish to remove some files before sending the disc to someone, however when I try to delete the files I get the message;-
"Cannot delete, files on this CD are read only. You can still copy new files to this writable CD which will replace files already on the disc".

Now I have noticed this on other rewritable CD's, but is there a way to delete individual files? Seems a bit daft if you can't.


Thanks

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KillerWatt

If you want the ability to delete individual files from CD-RW media, you have to use packet writing software to create the disc in the first place.

Note that you do not get any space back on the disc if you do delete data afterwards, and that all data on that disc will be at risk until it is finalised.
The reason for that is if the packet writing process fails at any point, ALL data on that disc will become inaccessible.

derrick

KillerWatt wrote: »

If you want the ability to delete individual files from CD-RW media, you have to use packet writing software to create the disc in the first place.

Note that you do not get any space back on the disc if you do delete data afterwards, and that all data on that disc will be at risk until it is finalised.
The reason for that is if the packet writing process fails at any point, ALL data on that disc will become inaccessible.

Why would the space be lost? They are rewritable?
Is it possible to delete all of the disc, i.e format, (although I do not seem to have that facility for this CD) ?

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DatabaseError

yeah, the disk should be formattable, recovering all space.
The point killerwatt was making was that deleting individual files doesn't actually remov them from the disk, it only removed the entry from the fat, essentially removing the index entry to the file.
If you're unable to format the disk - perhaps it's not a R/W disk or drive?

In my limited experience with RW disks, they're not worth the bother. With slower write speeds than single use, more expensive and, more importantly, more prone to failure/incomapatibily (though things may have improved).

derrick

DatabaseError wrote: »

yeah, the disk should be formattable, recovering all space.
The point killerwatt was making was that deleting individual files doesn't actually remov them from the disk, it only removed the entry from the fat, essentially removing the index entry to the file.
If you're unable to format the disk - perhaps it's not a R/W disk or drive?

In my limited experience with RW disks, they're not worth the bother. With slower write speeds than single use, more expensive and, more importantly, more prone to failure/incomapatibily (though things may have improved).

Well they re definitely rewritable and I do have a writable drive, but I do know from other times when I have tried to wipe a disc the same message as in my OP appears, there is no facility for format, unless I am missing something!

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birkee

If in doubt, you can erase the disc and re-create it with the files you want. You can't delete individual files.

I know you can, and posts above tell you so, but my advice is to keep it simple. (KISS .. keep it simple stupid)
If you've files on the disc that are not on your PC, copy them to your desktop, erase the disc, and rewrite from your desktop to the disc.

Personally, I find R/W discs a pain in the b*m..... What's a CD cost these days? 10p if you buy a hundred?.... Bin the R/W discs.

derrick

birkee wrote: »

If in doubt, you can erase the disc and re-create it with the files you want. You can't delete individual files.

I know you can, and posts above tell you so, but my advice is to keep it simple. (KISS .. keep it simple stupid)
If you've files on the disc that are not on your PC, copy them to your desktop, erase the disc, and rewrite from your desktop to the disc.

Personally, I find R/W discs a pain in the b*m..... What's a CD cost these days? 10p if you buy a hundred?.... Bin the R/W discs.

Yep I see what you mean about CD's, but I was thinking when I bought them that I would not have to keep buying them and they could be used similar to a usb stick.

I have just tried selecting all on the disc then cutting, it won't allow.

When selecting all > untick read-only > apply, it won't allow stating " access denied".


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birkee

'Cutting', is not the same as 'erasing'. What software do you use for writing /erasings discs?
Could try disc properties and 'format' it.

birkee

derrick wrote: »

Yep I see what you mean about CD's, but I was thinking when I bought them that I would not have to keep buying them and they could be used similar to a usb stick.

I have just tried selecting all on the disc then cutting, it won't allow.

When selecting all > untick read-only > apply, it won't allow stating " access denied".


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Forgot to say, all files on disc are 'read only' by default. Like they're carved in stone. You can't change their properties.

If you want to change the properties, then you have to copy them to your hard drive, where you can change the properties, but as soon as you put them back on disc, they are 'read only' again

KillerWatt

derrick wrote: »

Why would the space be lost? They are rewritable?

The space isn't "lost", it just won't be usable

derrick wrote: »

Is it possible to delete all of the disc, i.e format, (although I do not seem to have that facility for this CD) ?

Right click on the drive containing the CD-RW, select "Open" from the context menu, then click on "Erase this CD-RW" that is in the writing tasks pane.

Dave_C_2

A re-writable cd is not the same as another drive. You can read from a CD with windows, but you must use CD burning software (Nero, Imgburn Roxio etc) to write files to the CD.

With the burning software, your options are:
Erase the whole CD
Copy files to the CD (write-only)
Or with some burning software you can delete files in the CD but to do this the CD must not be finalised and it's not secure. The original data is still there, all that happens is the CD structure is changed to ignore the data. This data is recoverable by programs like isobuster.

As others have said, your best option is just to burn a new CD-R as they are much cheaper than CD-RW

HTH, Dave