Burning CDs

[Rocker]

I am curious about how CDs get burned. If I burn new files onto a disk that previously had files burnt onto it, the original files apparently disappear from the disk. What I am interested to know is: are the original files overwritten, so that the CD could potentially be used for ever? Or are the original files simply hidden and the new ones burnt onto a new part of the disk, so that the disk will eventually run out of space, when all the unused part is used up?

Rocker

[jow104]

Hi Rocker
You need to read the help section very carefully on cd burning. There are two systems.
One system ruins any previous entry to a disk.
The other system allows you to return and write more information everytime you need and leaves original burnings intact.
With regard to the first system mentioned I have never been able to retrieve original info, but some geek might know what to do.

Of course there are rewrite cds.
DVD is now the in thing of course 4gb of storage?

[simon c]

Rocker,

The answer to your question is that your are right in both cases but it depends on the CD. Normal writeable CDs can be re-used, but you don't regain the space from the original files, they are just removed from the file list and the CD will eventually run out of space. Re-writable cds can be re-used, potentially for ever but in practise it is much less than that.

Note that even on a hard-disk, when you delete a file a computer doesn't actually remove the file from the hard-drive it just deletes it from the list of files and then flags the space where the file was to be as "empty" so it can be re-used in the future.

Simon

[Rocker]

Thanks Jow and Simon. You have confirmed what I surmised.

Rocker

[Honest Gaza]

When you want to save files to a standard CD ( not Re-Writeable ), you have an option in your CD Burning Software to make the CD a multi-session. While this is enabled, you can continue writing to the CD during different sessions.

However, disable this feature, and you won't be able to write to it again.

[jow104]

And if you have the multi session option set, each time you remove the cd from the PC you will be presented with a request to either finalise or leave open.
If you know you need to record more info in the future you must not finalise.
In addition if you are going to give the CD to a third party you normally need to finalise because often another computer refuses to read unless the CD has been finalised.