Problems after burning data to DVD-R - still allow format/delete?

This may be a very simple answer to a general problem. Using Windows 10 64bit Home version. Copying photos to DVD as a data file, I have used File Explorer with the drag & drop/copy paste method of selecting files & pasting them to DVD. I then burn the files to DVD & it completes process what seems ok. I was just checking an old disc recently discovered to my horror (!) that a load of photos I had backed up on DVD-R discs over the past few years in addition to keeping them on external drive as backup, can be accessed by Windows File Explorer with the option of still FORMATING DVD Disc or even DELETING individual files on the disc. I know that I finalized them all after disc was burned. I have even tried the same problem again on my PC & also on another PC today using Windows 10 & also 7 & come back with the same problem. So I don't think it is a Hardware issue, unless the Laser lens all need a clean. My DVD Writer Drive is a year old: Samsung Model SH-224FB. Am I doing something wrong or have Microsoft in the background been doing something with the updates? I have even tried other Software like Nero & also free software infraRecorder & CDBurnerXp with the same problem. Or should I avoid using Window's own system & copy files to an image file & burn to iso? All I want to do is make sure my data is Permanently/securely eched/burned on the DVD Disc so that no one can delete files in error. Can anyone help/point me in right direction? All help will be gratefully appreciated.

Are you sure it is a DVD-R and not a DVD-RW? DVD-RWs cannot be write protected, they always retain the ability to be erased and reused.

If you right click on the drive in file explorer do you get an option to Close Session?

You can also try IMGBURN:
The Official ImgBurn Website

In ImgBurn, click Tools -> Drive -> Close Track / Session / Disc

and close the disc.

Hi there. Yes it is DVD-R . I don't use the DVD-RW discs. Not sure if it actually says: close session. When the files have been burned I close the box that mentions do you want to use another disc to burn again etc, then I take the disc out & it is when I have checked that I have found the problem, sometimes not always straight away (!). In some instances the format option & delete is not shown & then later using the same disc I find it has appeared? Maybe faulty DVD discs? Mind you I have used different brands this with similar results.

You can also try IMGBURN:
The Official ImgBurn Website

In ImgBurn, click Tools -> Drive -> Close Track / Session / Disc

and close the disc.

Thank you for your help. I have used Imgburn & this seems to work ok. I then reused File Explorer, checked close sesson was selected afterwards. When a few minutes later I put disc back in I found all the options inc. format disc/close seession. Selected format disc to make sure all was ok . . . format went ahead & formated the disc/wiped all the photos off the dvd-r disc! So problem is still there & also tried on another PC. Still none the wiser. I've burned dvds/cds for many years with no problems. Only seems to have happened in recent time. Hopefully Imgburn is more reliable?

burnon17 said:

. . . format went ahead & formated the disc/wiped all the photos off the dvd-r disc! So problem is still there & also tried on another PC. Still none the wiser. I've burned dvds/cds for many years with no problems. Only seems to have happened in recent time. Hopefully Imgburn is more reliable?

Are you saying you tried to wipe the photos from the DVD Disc???? If that is what you are trying to do it will not happen.......sorry if I am not understanding what you are saying....

burnon17 said:

Only seems to have happened in recent time. Hopefully Imgburn is more reliable?

IMGBURN might allow you to actually close the disk. When the disk is properly closed, the free space shown on the disk should go to 0.

Hi Kipper,

Been busy past few days. I thought I had explained quite clearly. Yes, I tried to erase files & it DID ERASE them! I tried this test to see if there was a problem & it looks like there is. I expect there are many users that don't even check to see what is going on with their pcs/discs etc. I came across this & thought I would ask. What should happen is that when you use a DVD-R disc files are burned to disc permenantly & can't be erased & anything else added once Windows formats/finalises Disc, which I assumed had happened. I got a message to say done & how I came to to query things was when I noticed menu showing FORMAT, an Option to DELETE files. I simply checked this & to my dismay found disc was not burned fully for some reason, that I am still trying to solve. Hopefully will get to the bottom of puzzle very soon . . .