Roxio Easy CD & DVD - Disc Creator Classic creates read-only dvd-rw disks

When I create a dvd+rw data disk using Disc Creator Classic found on Roxio
Easy CD and DVD version 6, it saves my MP3 files on the DVD-RW disk as read
only. The files cannot be deleted or rewritten. I get an error message that
the disk is read-only. The read-only attribute is checked on all the file
properties. I cannot take off this check mark either before or after
creating the data disk and it results in an error message when I try.

However, if I format a dvd+rw first, then use the Drag-to-Disc function in
the program, my files can be deleted and rewritten. The read-only attributes
on my files are not checked.

Has anyone else come across this problem with the program? Is it working the
way it should? It seems pretty crazy that using the Create Data Project
function results in read only files on a rewriteable DVD.

Thanks for your feedback.

Renee

 

When you burn do not close the session. if you close the session the disk
will become read only.

 

It is multisession disk and as you suggest, each session had been closed.
But Easy CD & DVD Creator 6 (Data Project in Classic function) automatically
closes each session after writing to the DVD+RW. The option is greyed out so
it can't be changed.

Now I'm thinking that Roxio intended to make DVD+RWs read only when using
the Data Project option since it's closing each session.

Any other ideas?

Renee

 

Dear Renee

First go to the help function in CD Creator and see if it explains the
difference between the 'R' and 'RW' formats.

Your comment in the second paragraph "if I format a dvd+rw first"
indicates to me that you may not have yet fully grasped the difference
between the two types of disk and the different software used to write data
to them.

Do you see 'Direct CD' appear as well as CD Creator ?? (I'm not familiar
with the latest versions so it may be called something else)

CD Creator is the software designed to write a disk all in one go after you
have assembled all the 'files' into a list ready to go. This software is
designed to write to a 'R' disk which is a write once format as the dye's in
the disk permanently change their 'reflectivity when they are written to.
Because of this the 'Read Only' attribute IS set to reflect the fact that
the file/date is 'unchangeable'.

Direct CD however is designed to write 'packets' (or chunks if you like) of
data to a 'Formatted' disk. This recording format requires a dye that can be
reversed back to it's original reflectivity so you can copy / paste / delete
as needed, hence the 'RW' label. Once the disk is 'formatted' you usually
just drag and drop in Windows Explorer with Direct CD handling all the
'packet' stuff in the background. Formatting in this sense is somewhat
similar in concept to 'formatting' a magnetic disk i.e. it 'prepares' the
disk with all the little markers as to where the data is to be saved on the
disk. In this case because the files/data can be changed the 'Read Only'
attribute is NOT set.

Having said that it is possible to use the 'other' type of disk, i.e. a
blank 'RW' disk can be written as if it was a 'R' disk even though you know
it is a 'RW' disk.
This can be a good thing as the 'R' format disk is usually compatible across
a wider range of 'players' and is an ideal way of testing if a (for
example) autostart program works as expected etc. When you've sorted
everything out you can then burn a permanent copy to an 'R' disk and recover
your 'RW' disk by popping it back into the drive and use the 'Erase Re
Writeable' (or similar) tool to reset the 'RW' back to 'Blank' status.

Though I haven't done it personally I have also seen some of my 'clients'
format a CDR using the CDRW packet writing software, then find they can't
make any backups. In this case because it is a 'R' disk the formatting is
the one and only action they get to do. When they tried drag and dropping
data in Window's Explorer they got 'Errors' because the dye on the disk
being non reversible wouldn't change as directed by the packet writing
software.

From the above you can see that you may be putting a 'blank' RW in your
drive and using CD Creator to write to it as if it was a blank 'R'. Doing
this by definition creates a 'Read Only' file/data format as the 'Read Only'
attribute is set automatically.
CD Creator just simply doesn't know anything about 'RW' and because Direct
CD see's a 'R' disk in the drive not a 'RW' disk, it doesn't load and
perform it's 'rewriting' magic in the background.

So you can not delete or rewrite because the the way the disk is recorded
tells all the software on your system 'Hands Off' it's read only.

As always O&OE

Cheers
Paul

 

Thanks for the very useful information, Paul. I'm replying to some of your
comments, and adding my own experiences with the program, with the hope that
it may help someone else.

I don't see an explicit explanation of the difference between R and RW
formats on any of the help pages.

Here's what happened originally. I have two DVD drives: one's an internal
CD/DVD combo; the other's a brand new external CD/DVD+/-RW burner I'm still
testing. First I took a blank, 'unformatted' DVD+RW and tried dragging
Explorer MP3 files to the Drag-To-Disc toolbar (version 6's counterpart to
previous version's Direct CD). Drag-To-Disc only looked for the CD/DVD combo
and didn't find the burner. So I assumed I couldn't use Drag-To-Disc. I was
wrong as I later explain.

Then I created a multisession Data Project DVD using Disc Creator Classic
(version 6's counterpart to the previous version's CD Creator) with MP3
files. When I realized I couldn't delete any MP3 files, I tried unchecking
the Read-Only attributes. After unsuccessfully trying to do this, the DVD
disc was no longer readable in either of my DVD drives! I can only assume
that trying to change the read-only attributes was the cause of this.

Being the thrifty soul that I am, I didn't want to lose my $2 DVD, so I
decided to reformat the unusable DVD. I went to Explorer, right-clicked on
the burner drive, and chose Format. Then I tried dragging Explorer files to
the Drag-To-Disc toolbar again, and this time it worked. The difference
this time was that the DVD had been 'formatted' first, although that is not
supposed to necessary when using Drag-To-Disc. And I found that my files
were now 'Rewritable'.

Version 6 doesn't have Direct CD anymore. There's something called
Drag-To-Disc instead.

I especially appreciate your explanation on differences between the 'old'
version's two programs, CD Creator vs Direct CD. That explains why my DVD's
wound up as 'Read-Only' after using Disc Creator Classic.

Thanks and Regards,

Renee

 

Howdy!

Well, yah - it creates DVDs that look just like DVD ROMs.

Probably because it uses packet writing instead.

Yes, it's working the way it should.

Disk Creator Classic is designed for -Rs. You can use -RWs the same
way (matter of fact, I do ... I DETEST Packet Writing!), but you then erase
the -RW blank (+RW for those with DVD+ drives) and recycle them.

But to use as if it were a 4.5GB floppy disk - you have to use the
packet writing software.

RwP

 

I'm certainly glad I found this forum! I have wasted 2 days reading through the tutorial trying to figure out why all my files were marked as “Read Only” when I got a message that my disc was full. I was going to delete some of the files that were no longer important or needed but I guess I’m just stuck with them.

Of course MyDVD came installed on my computer so there were no manuals to refer to, only the tutorial.

After I had twice tried unsuccessfully to set up a new disc so it would be left open at the end of the burn I was really getting irritated. I finally broke down and emailed NEC with my drive model info and ask them if they could provide any help although I knew it was not a drive problem. They were very polite and helpful. They are the ones that provided me a link to this forum.

After reading your posts I tried formatting the disc from MS Explorer, as was indicated above, then I drug a couple of files to my DVD drive and the read only attributes were gone. I’m not sure what the purpose of make the process seem so complicated serves. Evidently it has something to do with saving photos to insure you don’t accidentally over write them or for making audio files so they will play in just about any CD player.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and knowledge.
Jerry