Windows 10x64 Home Not Recognizing a DVD+RW Disc

VinceB · 05 Sep 2022

Hi:

I have several important files (mostly documents, spreadsheets, etc.) that I want to store on a rewritable DVD.

When a DVD+RW disc is inserted in my DVD RW Drive (D:) and click on it with FileManager, windows is telling me that it can not read the disc in drive D:/ and prompts me to make sure that the disc uses a format that windows recognizes and that the disc must be formatted.

So, my first question is: how to determine if my RW disc is already formatted noting the above situation?
Second questions is: How should the DVD+RW disc be formatted, if that is required, what file format structure, NTFS?

I am attempting to make use of some TDK DVD+RW discs (e.g., as if they are USB thumb drives). I want to be able to revise the file content and then write-over the existing stored file that is on the DVD+RW disc. IOW, use the DVD+RW disc as a RAM.

I've read elsewhere that I should open AutoPlay: So, in FMgr, I right-clicked on DVD RW Drive (D:) and then clicked Open AutoPlay; but nothing happens.

Please help. And, any suggestion to continue this in some other sub-forum of tenforums.com would be appreciated.

TNX.

Edited:
I noticed that "Format" is not shown as an available choice after right-clicking on the DVD+RW icon; whereas each of my other drive devices do offer a "Format" choice.

I found several DVD+RW discs here that were previously written to, a long while ago. Each of these discs give me the same error message as an unused disc. It appears that formatting of the disc is not the real issue here.

I am now thinking there may be something in OS or driver that is the root cause of my problem. The DVD+RW device hardware is TSSTcorp&Prod_DVD+-RW_SH-216DB, and is using a Microsoft Driver Dated 6-21-2013. Device Properties > Device shows "This device is working properly.".

So, I ask for suggestions on troubleshooting.

dalchina · 05 Sep 2022

Hi, here's a guide:
How to Format (RW) CD/Disc with CD Formatter in Windows 10/11 [Erase Available] - EaseUS
(Ignore material below 'Bonus Tip').

Autoplay is just a convenience, not a necessity.

If you get yourself a good free burning program things should get easier. E.g.
Free CD and DVD burner. Burn CD for free. StarBurn: best free burner.

Ghot · 05 Sep 2022

I use the free program AnyBurn. It does... everything.
The Official AnyBurn Website

Best of all, it's a very lightweight and simple program.

Windows 10x64 Home Not Recognizing a DVD+RW Disc-image1.png

VinceB · 05 Sep 2022

dalchina said:

Hi, here's a guide:
How to Format (RW) CD/Disc with CD Formatter in Windows 10/11 [Erase Available] - EaseUS
(Ignore material below 'Bonus Tip').

Autoplay is just a convenience, not a necessity.

If you get yourself a good free burning program things should get easier. E.g.
Free CD and DVD burner. Burn CD for free. StarBurn: best free burner.

I'll take a look at StarBurn software.

Try3 · 05 Sep 2022

VinceB said:

I have several important files (mostly documents, spreadsheets, etc.) that I want to store on a rewritable DVD.

Vince,

I urge you to change your mind.
DVD+/-RW are notoriously unreliable.
I suggest you use external HDDs instead.

After many problems recovering backups from DVD+/-RW, I finally ditched them a decade ago when external HDDs became cheaper [GB for GB].
I have continued the practice I had originally learnt in my floppy disk & then DVD+/-RW days, everything is backed up to two disks. So I can cope with a backup disk failing just when I need it most.

Best of luck,
Denis

MisterEd · 05 Sep 2022

Try3 said:

Vince,

I urge you to change your mind.
DVD+/-RW are notoriously unreliable.
I suggest you use external HDDs instead.

After many problems recovering backups from DVD+/-RW, I finally ditched them a decade ago when external HDDs became cheaper [GB for GB].
I have continued the practice I had originally learnt in my floppy disk & then DVD+/-RW days, everything is backed up to two disks. So I can cope with a backup disk failing just when I need it most.

Best of luck,
Denis

I agree that external hard drives are the best option. I have had problems with CD/RW and DVD/RW discs becoming corrupt myself.

If a person is determined to use a DVD drive then he might consider a regular DVD disc using the option to create a Multisession disc. That way the user can add data multiple times. When the user no longer wants to add data to the disc he finalizes it. I have used Multisession discs a few times and have never had a problem with them,

. The create the disc as multisession. That way the same disc can be used multiple times with new data added each time. When the user is finished all the data they want to add to this disc they then close

VinceB · 06 Sep 2022

@MrEd Thanks for reminding me about "multiple sessions".

If I recall correctly, that method would, incrementally, fill up the DVD with files that have the same name as those already on the disc. How would I be able to distinguish which file is the most up-to-date file? Would it be by the date-created notation? Or, would I be told that the file already existed and prompted to overwrite it?

- - - Updated - - -

Try3 said:

Vince,

I urge you to change your mind.
DVD+/-RW are notoriously unreliable.
I suggest you use external HDDs instead.

Best of luck,
Denis

I have one 2TB, USB connected, external HDD. It is disconnected at present because I suspect it has some issues itself.

MisterEd · 06 Sep 2022

VinceB said:

@MrEd Thanks for reminding me about "multiple sessions".

If I recall correctly, that method would, incrementally, fill up the DVD with files that have the same name as those already on the disc. How would I be able to distinguish which file is the most up-to-date file? Would it be by the date-created notation? Or, would I be told that the file already existed and prompted to overwrite it?

- - - Updated - - -

I have one 2TB, USB connected, external HDD. It is disconnected at present because I suspect it has some issues itself.

When using multi-sesson the previous data is not overwritten. When you add data it is added after the old data in the free space. I don't know what happens if their is duplicate file names. You could avoid that potential problem by having all files added in a session in a new unique named folder.

It is better not to just suspect there is a problem with an external drive but to find out for sure what its status is. The first thing to do is run chkdsk on the HDD's partitions to see if their are any problems. You can then use a program like CrystalDiskInfo or Hard Disk Sentinel to see if their are any problems with the disk. Once you find that you can decide what to do next.

Try3 · 06 Sep 2022

VinceB said:

... external HDD ... is disconnected at present because I suspect it has some issues itself.

Vince,

What are the symptoms?

All the best,
Denis

PS Your posts are in a very small typeface as if you had deliberately made them size=2 using the size control in the Editing toolbar.

Windows 10x64 Home Not Recognizing a DVD+RW Disc-editing-toolbar-size-control.png

The default is size=3 and is what you can see in other people's posts here.

PiKo · 06 Sep 2022

It seems that there was a firmware update in 2020. Maybe such an update is needed. But be careful with a firmware update. A flaw during update may destroy your drive.