No disc formatting option in my new Windows XP?

[glee]

Please tell us what model Acer laptop it is, and when it was purchased. My Acer
Aspire 3004, bought in June 2006, has both the hidden partition and the recovery
discs, as did all Acer models at that time.

I am wondering if the person you spoke to at Acer support was giving you a line,
rather than supply the discs that were supposed to be with the system.

 

[Guest]

Acer Aspire 1640 purchased in May, 2006. I distinctly remember thinking at
the time, no windows or discs - does that mean you don't actually own the
version of windows? I can't keep saying the same thing - there were no
recovery discs whatsoever.

 

[Gordon]

Acer Aspire 1640 purchased in May, 2006. I distinctly remember thinking at
the time, no windows or discs - does that mean you don't actually own the
version of windows? I can't keep saying the same thing - there were no
recovery discs whatsoever.

I bought an Acer F1 desktop about three years ago - there were no disks with
that either. Apparently, when I rang up Acer to get some, I should have been
given the opportunity to create a restore disk at first startup. I wasn't.
After about three months they sent me some out....I used them once, then the
second time (about two years later) they failed. Had a big barney with a
stupid Acer "teccie" who assured me quite seriously that he re-installed
Windows once a MONTH. got nowhere so found someone with an OEM copy of XP
and just copied it.....works fine. Drivers I downloaded from the Acer
website and put onto a CD....
And no you DON'T own Windows - you own a licence to use it.....

 

[glee]

OK, I believe you. The Acers I have seen and worked on, and the Aspire I own,
all had recovery discs included. Interesting, especially since I got my Aspire 3004
in June and you got your 1640 in May of the same year. My Aspire I think is older
stock however. Your 1640 appears to be a newer configuration.
Dunno what Acer is thinking with these now you have 'em now you don't discs, as I
see Gordon got no discs with an Acer desktop three years ago. There seems to be no
consistency in their policy.

Back to your issue....have you gotten anywhere with burning CDs, since last we heard
here in this thread?
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/

Acer Aspire 1640 purchased in May, 2006. I distinctly remember thinking at
the time, no windows or discs - does that mean you don't actually own the
version of windows? I can't keep saying the same thing - there were no
recovery discs whatsoever.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Little wonder your computer can't read a blank disc. Blank discs are
unformatted and need to be formatted before they can be used just a with a
floppy, hard drive or usb drive.

There are basically 2 types of formatting. One is called UDF which packet
writing uses and the other is ISO 9660/Joliet . When you burn data to a disc
using packet writing software you typically format the disc first much like
formatting a floppy, hard drive or USB drive after which you drag and drop
or save files directly to the disc. With the ISO 9660 /Joliet format the
formatting takes place during the CD Writing software's writing process. So
the disc does get formatted either way before data is written. In packet
writing this is a 2 step process whereas with other software like Nero or
Roxio the formatting is done as part of the writing process.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

Apologies for the delay in replying. Thank you for this valuable
information
- I'm still confused though. The computer won't "read" my unformatted
dvd/cds, but will read formatted ones, so in order to write photographs,
etc
(i.e. backing-up) to a CD, or copying movies, how can I do so unless I
format
first?
Thanks again!

When you talk about "formatting" a CD you are likely referring to packet
writing software that uses the UDF format. Popular packet writing
software
includes products like InCD from Ahead (Nero), or Roxio's Drag To Disc.
As
far as I know there is no free packet writing software.

While packet writing software is handy in terms of being able to "format"
a
disc and then save directly to that disc like it was a giant floppy there
are problems with it. The biggest problem has to do with the reality that
rewriting continuously to the same disc causes the media to, in a sense,
crystallize. One day you attempt to access the disc and it reports as
being
unreadable. Your data will be inaccessible without third party recovery
tools. ISOBuster sometimes works to extract data from a damaged packet
formatted disc. Another problem has to do with the way people handle
these
discs. One should always eject the disc after writing to it and not leave
the disc in the drive. Not doing so can cause the disc to become
inaccessible if the VFAT is not written to the disc before the system
shuts
down.

--


Harry Ohrn MS MVP [Shell\User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp


message

Thanks so much for this - will go and search for it now - so far, I've
had
no
luck finding free software that burns and formats!



:

in message

Thanks very much, I am searching tucows now for some shareware to
replace
the Acer extras that are not included when my repair shop rang Acer
for the
XP download.
I can't afford a non-free package.


CDburnerXP Pro is freeware. Shareware lets you try but expects you to
actually PAY for their product. Some rely on your honesty. Others
know
that users will steal whenever they have a chance and will expire or
cripple their product after the trial period. If you want something
that continues to work after the trial period then get freeware.