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General discussion

"Windows unable to complete format"

Jul 22, 2007 6:47AM PDT

Few weeks ago this happened on CD-RW. Last week OK - huh?, another problem solved in Vista. Bought new CD-RW today and back to square one. The drive backups OK, burns OK. What's up? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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This can be a lesson about ...
Jul 22, 2007 7:08AM PDT

Using CDRW as a disk drive has proven to be finicky over the years. While it does work most of the time I've seen too much loss to call it ready for production.

Try a new disk of another make.

Bob

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I should have been clearer
Jul 22, 2007 7:43AM PDT

It's a DVD drive and I'm trying to format new CD-RW discs I bought today. 3 Weeks ago "unable to complete format". Last week no problem. Today "unable to complete format". The error message comes up within 10 seconds.

I've been using CD-RW for years. Never lost a file.

Thanks for the response.
david

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You're lucky
Jul 22, 2007 8:10AM PDT

Formatted CDs/DVDs require the program used to create them to be installed to read them. Many have posted they lost their files when a new operating system is incompatible with the version of Roxio or Nero used to make their disks.

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That's not the issue here
Jul 22, 2007 9:30PM PDT

I'm not trying to read discs formatted on another machine or with another program. I'm trying to format new CD-RW discs with Windows. This should be a no-brainer. Three weeks ago I kept getting error messages. Last week, it worked; I didn't know why but thought another Vista problem solved. Now, again it won't format discs. Huh? The discs I formatted last week work fine - add files, delete files etc., no problem. How does MS expect us to work if this basic operation is defunct?

What do you use to backup Quicken or documents or spread sheets?

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Just think about it.
Jul 22, 2007 9:59PM PDT

People bring me the things that don't work. This is an area I see a lot of failures.

Your choices are few here but let me spell them out:

a) Try another make of media.
b) Try an older CDRW that used to work.
c) Depending on the results of a or b call the maker of the machine to have it repaired.

Bob