This article shows you how to format a CD-RW or DVD-RW that has problems playing or loading the information it contains. It should be noted that it is not possible to format a CD-R or DVD-R that has already been burned or to which data has already been written. The procedure for formatting rewritable optical media deletes all data contained on it.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Windows systems
Step 1. Insert the CD-RW or DVD-RW into the computer drive
Remember that the part where you can label or write notes must face up.
If your computer does not have an optical drive, you will need to purchase an external burner
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located at the bottom left of the desktop.
Step 3. Choose the "File Explorer" option characterized by the icon
It is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Click the entry This PC
It has a computer icon and is located inside the left sidebar of the "File Explorer" window.
Step 5. Select your computer's optical drive
Click the CD player icon located within the "Devices and drives" section and characterized by a gray hard drive on which an optical disc is placed.
Step 6. Go to the Manage tab
It is located in the upper left of the "File Explorer" window. This will bring up a new toolbar
Step 7. Press the Format button
It is located within the "Media" group of the "Manage" tab of the ribbon and has a gray optical drive icon and a red circular arrow. A new dialog will appear.
Step 8. Select the file system format to use for formatting
Access the "File system" drop-down menu and select the format you prefer. The acronym UDF derives from the English "Universal Disk Format", which identifies all file system formats that can be used to store multimedia files (audio and video) or other data on an optical disk:
- UDF 1.50 - to be used on Windows XP systems or systems that use previous versions of the Microsoft operating system;
- UDF 2.00 - to be used on Windows XP systems or systems that use previous versions of the Microsoft operating system;
- UDF 2.01 (default) - is compatible with most modern operating systems;
- UDF 2.50 - it is compatible with most modern operating systems and can also be used with Blu-ray discs;
- UDF 2.60 (recommended) - is compatible with most modern operating systems and can also be used with Blu-ray discs.
Step 9. Press the Start buttons successively And OK.
This will start the disk formatting procedure using the indicated file system format.
Step 10. When prompted, press the OK button
The formatting process will be complete.
Method 2 of 2: Mac
Step 1. Insert the CD-RW or DVD-RW into the computer drive
Remember that the part where you can label or write notes must face up.
- Most modern Macs don't come with an optical drive, so you'll need to purchase a dedicated external burner.
- Using a Mac it is not possible to format optical media in the same way as on Windows systems, but you can still erase data stored on a rewritable CD or DVD and format it to resolve any errors.
Step 2. Enter the Go menu
It is located in the upper left of the Mac screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
If the "Go" menu is not visible, go to the desktop or open a Finder window to make it appear on the screen
Step 3. Choose the Utility option
It is located at the bottom of the menu Go appeared. This will bring up a new window.
Step 4. Double-click the mouse to select the Disk Utility icon
It features a gray hard drive and is located inside the "Utilities" folder.
Step 5. Select the name of the CD / DVD player
It is listed within the "External" section of the left sidebar of the "Disk Utility" window.
Step 6. Go to the Initialize tab
It is located at the top of the "Disk Utility" window. Information about the disc in the optical drive will be displayed.
Step 7. Select the Completely option
This function allows you to completely erase the contents of the CD.
Alternatively you can choose the option Quickly, which can erase the contents of the optical media in less time than the function Completely, but in this case the previously encountered read / write errors may not be resolved.
Step 8. Press the Initialize button
The disk erasing and formatting process will begin. Once completed, you can use optical media to burn audio or video files.
Advice
- Using a third-party program such as Roxio CD Creator or Nero can greatly simplify the process of formatting a CD.
- You can format a CD-RW (or a DVD-RW) as many times as you want since it is a rewritable medium, a characteristic indicated by the abbreviation RW (from the English re-writable).
