VARIOUS KINDS OF CD AND DVD DISCS

Formatting a disk or drive?

Usually, only when adding additional storage to your computer. If you install a new hard disk on your computer, it must be formatted with a file system, such as NTFS, before Windows can store files on it.

 

Formatting a hard disk?

Before formatting a hard disk, you must first create one or more partitions on it. After you've partitioned the hard disk, you can format each partition. (The terms volume and partition are often used interchangeably.) You can partition the hard disk so it contains a single volume or several volumes. Each volume is assigned its own drive letter. For more information,

File system

For this version of Windows, the best choice for hard disks is NTFS. Some previous versions of Windows required FAT32, so there are a few circumstances, such as a multiboot computer, where FAT32 might be required.

 

Quick format?

Quick format is a formatting option that creates a new file table on a hard disk but does not fully overwrite or erase the disk. A quick format is much faster than a normal format, which fully erases any existing data on the hard disk.

The differences between the various kinds of CD and DVD discs?

 

The following table describes the different kinds of CDs and DVDs and provides information about their appropriate use.

Disc	General information	Capacity	Compatibility
CD-ROM	Known as a read-only disc, usually used to store commercial programs and data. You can't add or delete information on a CD-ROM.	650 MB	Highly compatible with most computers and devices.
CD-R	You can burn files to a CD-R more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from a Mastered disc. Each burn is permanent.	650 MB 700 MB	You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Highly compatible with most computers and devices.
CD-RW	You can burn files to a CD-RW more than once. You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A CD-RW can be burned and erased many times.	650 MB	Compatible with many computers and devices.
DVD-ROM	Known as a read-only disc, usually used to store commercial programs and data. You can't add or delete information on a DVD-ROM.	4.7 GB	Highly compatible with most computers and devices.
DVD-R	You can burn files to a DVD-R more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.	4.7 GB	You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Highly compatible with most computers and devices.
DVD+R	You can burn files to a DVD+R more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.	4.7 GB	You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with   many computers and devices.
DVD-RW	You can burn files to a DVD-RW more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A DVD-RW can be burned and erased many times.	4.7 GB	You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with many computers and devices.
DVD+RW	You can burn files to a DVD+RW more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A DVD+RW can be burned and erased many times.	4.7 GB	You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with many computers and devices.
DVD-RAM	You can burn files to a DVD-RAM more than once. You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A DVD-RAM can be burned and erased many times.	2.6 GB 4.7 GB 5.2 GB 9.4 GB	DVD-RAM discs can generally be used only in DVD-RAM drives and might not be readable by DVD players and other devices.
DVD-R DL	You can burn files to a DVD-R DL more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from a Mastered disc. Each burn is permanent.	8.5 GB	You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with   some computers and many newer DVD players.
DVD+R DL	You can burn files to a DVD+R DL more than once (each time is referred to as a session), but you can't delete files from a Mastered disc. Each burn is permanent.	8.5 GB	You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with   some computers and many newer DVD players.
BD-R	You can burn files to a BD-R once (in one session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.	25 GB	You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with   computers running Windows 7.
BD-R DL	You can burn files to a BD-R DL once (in one session), but you can't delete files from the disc. Each burn is permanent.	50 GB	You must close the session to read this disc in a different computer. Compatible with   computers running Windows 7.
BD-RE	You can burn files to a BD-RE more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A BD-RE can be burned and erased many times.	25 GB	You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with computers running Windows 7.
BD-RE DL	You can burn files to a BD-RE DL more than once (each time is referred to as a session). You can also delete unwanted files from the disc to reclaim space and add additional files. A BD-RE DL can be burned and erased many times.	50 GB	You don't need to close the session to read this disc in another computer. Compatible with computers running Windows 7.

Note

·         For another computer to be able to read a Blu-ray Disc, that computer must have a Blu-ray Disc burner. For another computer to be able to read a DVD disc, that computer must have a DVD or Blu-ray drive. CDs can be used in both CD and DVD drives, and in most (but not all) Blu-ray drives.

Warning

·         Formatting erases any existing files on a hard disk. If you format a hard disk that has files on it, the files will be deleted.

Here are answers to some common questions about formatting disks and drives.