CD-R and CD-RW Why Can't I ................???

[Bluenexx]

Question... Why can't you use a CD-RW for a Boot CD Rom ? Or to create a Music CD to play in a home or car player ? I can burn a Boot CD and a Music CD just fine, But when I try to use it my computer it won't boot from it. The same with a music CD, It will play on my computer but not my home system. How is a CD-R made different from a CD-RW ? It is because you can erase a CD-RW , The structure of it ?
Thanks for all input and help !!

 

[PrincessGuard]

I'm not sure why you can't boot from a CD-RW. Can you boot from a CD-R?

CD-RWs use different materials from CD-Rs that allow them to be erased. This gives them different reflective properties, which some CD players may not be sensitive to.

 

[helpmeout]

If those CD's played in your stereo, they wouldn't be able to sell the big soundcards and speaker systems they're making for your computer. Don't pay any attention to me, I can't answer your question.

 

[jvang125]

most cd burning programs use packet writing when using cd-rw's that requires the cd-rw to be formatted first before anything can be writting to it. this formatting of a cd-rw is why it cannot be bootable. a regular CD-R doesnt require prior formatting and thus can be burned with files to create a bootable cd-r. and the reason why some home/car stereos cannot read cd-rw's is because of the lower reflectance in the chemicals cd-rw's use. the laser pickup in the cd player just can't pick up the low amount of laser being reflected back to it. most newer home/car stereos can support cd-rw's but you should check to see if it specifies that it can read cd-rws.

the only reason you want to use cd-rw's is for backing up data, which you will be adding or changing the contents from time to time. this beats burning a cd-r every time you want to change something. they are also a lot more expensive so that makes them inpractical for every day burning.

 

[Bluenexx]

Thanks jvang125 for taking the time for that very informative answer. I was'nt to pressed to use a CD-RW for a boot disc . More curious than anything else.
That's mostly what I use them for anyway, Backing up updates and files that change now and then . I bought up a lot of them when a local chain store went out of business.
More than I'll ever use , But it's nice to have them around. :moon:

 

[WarCon]

Actually PrincessGuard is correct as to why a burned CDRW (not using a packet writing software) doesn't work in some (most) home audio or car audio players. Just the wrong color for the read lasers on most non-computer readers.

 

[Zepper]

Yup, it was just recently that they started making car, home and portable CD players that could read CD-RWs and play MP3s as well as CD audio. Previously, they were just for computers. I'm not sure they're still very reliable even for computer backups. I was on the Adaptec (prior to them breaking out that div. into Roxio) CD recording mailing list for a while and it seems like all there was was complaints about losing data from packet-written CD-RWs...
.bh.
:moon: