How to Format DVD-RAM discs in XP ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Trimble
  • Start date Start date
T

Trimble

I want to format to FAT32 some DVD-RAM discs...they are supplied UDF format.
I'm finding how to do this surprisingly difficult .
Nero 6 writes Data to them but seems to use UDF .
Partition Manager 8 (very similar to PQ Magic or Disc Director) ignores the
drive
with DVD-RAM completely like its not there.
WINDOWS XP claims to offer FAT 32 format but gives an error MSG when trying.
I believe XP will use the disc as a random access read / write once the disc
has
a FAT 32 Format ..But looks like I need some utility to do this ?
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") mouse
 
Trimble said:
I want to format to FAT32 some DVD-RAM discs...they are supplied UDF
format.
I'm finding how to do this surprisingly difficult .
Nero 6 writes Data to them but seems to use UDF .
Partition Manager 8 (very similar to PQ Magic or Disc Director) ignores
the drive
with DVD-RAM completely like its not there.
WINDOWS XP claims to offer FAT 32 format but gives an error MSG when
trying.
I believe XP will use the disc as a random access read / write once the
disc has
a FAT 32 Format ..But looks like I need some utility to do this ?
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") mouse
Click to expand...

Nero InCD
 
Trimble said:
http://www.bhacorp.com/download/utilities/dvdram.html
The driver / utility here might work...its supposed to update BHA's Burn
software.
& the setup prog will complain that you do not have it..
BUT if you use WINRAR to unarchive the files to some Folder they should
(maybe) work.
Click to expand...

I have the same utils in an archive originally from Panasonic, and
DVDForm.exe works just fine. I can send that if you can't get the BHA
one to work.
 
Thanks Trev ..
I have seen mention of InCd & after your post I've just dug around the
Ahead Nero site & found updates of this & other for Nero Version 6 which I
have .
so I'm downloading it now.
It looks like InCD will only work as an NERO installed routine ?
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") Mouse
 
Thanks for help...If I get really lucky perhaps might find something that
will Boot Able Format
a USB Flash drive as well ;)
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") mouse
 
I've got it working with InCd add on for Nero..
Seems, however you do it, you need (in XP) to turn off "use CD recording"
on the DVD's drive
properties so as to stop Windows trying & not being able to Burn to the
DVD-RAM thing with its
built in routine..

So its working but with a 3x speed RAM disc... my Got n Strummel ! its slow
!
when copy & paste files
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") mouse
 
Trimble said:
I've got it working with InCd add on for Nero..
Seems, however you do it, you need (in XP) to turn off "use CD recording"
on the DVD's drive
properties so as to stop Windows trying & not being able to Burn to the
DVD-RAM thing with its
built in routine..

So its working but with a 3x speed RAM disc... my Got n Strummel ! its slow
!
when copy & paste files
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") mouse
Click to expand...

--
If you want to post a followup via groups.google.com, ensure
you quote enough for the article to make sense. Google is only
an interface to Usenet; it's not Usenet itself. Don't assume
your readers can, or ever will, see any previous articles.
More details at: <http://cfaj.freeshell.org/google/>
 
Trimble said:
I want to format to FAT32 some DVD-RAM discs...they are supplied UDF format.
Click to expand...

You need to disable XP's built-in CD/DVD writing support, and then FAT32
will appear in the list of filesystem types when you right-click on the
drive and select FORMAT.

Stupid, counter-intuitive, but it works.
 
@@@"disable XP's built-in CD/DVD writing support, and then FAT32
will appear ....when you right-click the drive and select FORMAT."@@

Yes & no ...XP starts the Format (it ONLY offers FAT32) it looks as though
its going OK..
but right at the end it does an error msg. about not being able to complete.
It like this AFAIK on all XP systems...not hardware dependent.
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
 
I want to format to FAT32 some DVD-RAM discs...they are supplied UDF format.
I'm finding how to do this surprisingly difficult .
Nero 6 writes Data to them but seems to use UDF .
Partition Manager 8 (very similar to PQ Magic or Disc Director) ignores the
drive
with DVD-RAM completely like its not there.
WINDOWS XP claims to offer FAT 32 format but gives an error MSG when trying.
I believe XP will use the disc as a random access read / write once the disc
has
a FAT 32 Format ..But looks like I need some utility to do this ?
(\__/)
(='.'=)
(")_(") mouse
Click to expand...

I don't usually mess with DVDs, but in looking for the advantage of
Fat32, I was pleasantly suprised. Incase any lurkers aren't aware

googled dvd udf fat32

"Windows XP can only write directly to FAT32-formatted DVD-RAM discs.
For UDF-formatted discs, which are considered faster....."

It'd make things alot easier .
I did hear of some addon by roxio to let windows write to DVDs or CDs,
that may have been win98 days. I've had friends that tell me they've
written to CDs by dragging in windows. I never tried it, opting for
nero.
But this formatting as fat32 seems quite natural. (unless it were
unnecessary wand win xp supports it anyway!)
How is it that a friend claimed to be dragging and dropping
successfully in win xp? is it only onto CDRs and not DVDs ? or is ti
only 'cos he has roxio?

I guess I ran away from these issues.. I got a DVD off ebay that can
write and supports about 3 of those formats (I think ther are only 3
anyway) and is cross region and unlocked or whatever. And I used nero.
I'm guessing that I managed to avoid alot of problems.. Though if I
wanted to run into problems to know how to solve them, then maybe I
should've tested things in less wise , more naiive ways!!!

I had enough trouble just with CDRWs in Nero.. One didn't burn
sometimes, turned out it didn't support 800MB/90min CDs. Another
didn't work when I bought it, it needed a firmware update and only
then was it recognised by nero.

I put 2 CDRWs in each comp 'cos of these issues. Then, in one computer
with 2 CDRW drives, I got CRC errors when copying files from them.
Crashes when installing windows , where I could only continue the
installation by taking the win setup cd out of one and putting it in
the other, only to see it crash on a later file. NEITHER worked!!!
But the CD itself was fine. Turned out that the IDE cable was bad!!
(not suprising, I should've figured, they [had to] share a cable).
Maybe there's alot to be said for having 2 CDRW drives. Or in this day
and age.. maybe a DVD writer/CDRW and a CDRW. Saves reopening the comp
sometimes.
 
Back
Top