what happens if you "close the disc" when burning to CDRW ?

[rh71]

Closing session is different from closing the disc... session means you can still write to it later on. If you close the disc in addition, does the CDRW become un-eraseable?

 

[prosaic]

No, closing the disc does NOT cause you to lose the ability to erase the CD-RW media. This is the way I use CD-RWs all the time -- for backup purposes. I don't like using multi-session CDs when it comes time for data recovery. I have a set of CD-RWs I've been using on a weekly rotation of daily backups on a notebook system this way for almost two years without having any media failures.

- prosaic

 

[rh71]

Are you saying there's a greater potential for loss of data (and how?) if I don't close the disc ?

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: rh71
Are you saying there's a greater potential for loss of data (and how?) if I don't close the disc ?

If you don't close the disk, some cd-roms have trouble reading multisession disks. So if your cd-writer dies then you have a hard drive failure, and your backup cd-rom drive can't read multisession cds then you will have to wait until you get a new cd-rom to restore your system.

EDIT: I also NEVER leave a session open.....

 

[prosaic]

Yes, exactly so. I prefer going just as close to the most standard and easily readable CD format as can be managed when doing data backups, even the temporary rotating ones I place on CD-RW (and DVD-RW) media.

- prosaic

 

[Mark R]

Some CD-RW drives/software allow you to 'unclose' a CD-RW disc or session - which can be quite a useful feature.

 

[movinslow]

What about, like in Nero, you 'Finalize' the cd? Does that affect it?

 

[prosaic]

Nero is what I use. No, finalizing the disc does not prevent a CD-RW from being erased and used again and again and again and...

- prosaic