CD & DVD Using Tips

General frequently asked questions about Storage & Media.

1. Can CD-R writers create DVDs?　　　
No. DVD uses a smaller wavelength of laser to make smaller pits in tracks that are closer together. The DVD laser must also focus more tightly and at a different leve


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2. Can I just copy files onto a CD-R like I would to a floppy?　
Not really. The process is usually a bit more involved than that, and requires special software that (usually) comes bundled with the drive. Some software does allow you to drag-and-drop, but it generally isn't used.
You don't need to write everything all at once, but when you're doing the writing you can't interrupt the drive, and you can't reclaim the space you've used


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3. Can I use CD-R to copy my CDs?　
Yes, both audio and data CDs can be duplicated.
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4. DVD Sizes.　
The DVD sizes can be a bit confusing. There are basicly 4 different DVD Sizes,
DVD-5, holds around 4 700 000 000 bytes (4.7 GB) and that is 4.37 computer GB* where 1 kbyte is 1024 bytes* . DVD+R/DVD+RW and DVD-R/DVD-RW supports this format. Also called Single Sided Single Layered. This is the most common DVD Media, often called 4.7 GB Media.

DVD-10, holds around 9 400 000 000 bytes (9.4 GB) and that is 8.75 computer GB*. DVD+R/DVD+RW and DVD-R/DVD-RW supports this format. Also called Double Sided Single Layered.

DVD-9, holds around 8 540 000 000 bytes (8.54 GB) and that is 7.95 computer GB*. DVD+R supports this format. Also called Single Sided Dual Layered. This media is called DVD+R9, DVD+R DL (dual layer) or 8.5 GB Media.

DVD-18, holds around 17 080 000 000 bytes (17.08 GB) and that is 15.9 computer GB*. DVD+R supports this format. Also called Double Sided Dual Layered.

* In the computer world is 1 KB data = 1024 bytes so,
4 700 000 000 bytes / 1024
= 4 589 843KB / 1024
= 4482MB / 1024
= 4.37GB


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5. How come my 4.7 GB DVD isn't really 4.7 GB?　
Like hard drives, 1 GB on a DVD recordable disc equals 1 000 000 000 (109) bytes. In contrast, a computer considers 1 GB to be 1 073 741 824 (230) bytes. Thus, a 4.7 GB disc is seen by a computer as having approximately 4.37 GB.
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6. How long does it take to burn a CD-R?　
It depends on how much data you're going to burn, and how fast your drive is. Burning 650MB of data takes about 74 minutes at 1x, 37 minutes at 2x, and 19 minutes at 4x, but you have to add a minute or two for "finalizing" (sometimes known as "fixating") the disc. So, burning 700MB of data takes about 3 to 4 minutes at 52x with "finalizing" the disc.
If you have half the data, it will finish in (about) half the time.

Remember that single speed is 150KB/sec, double speed is 300KB/sec, and so on

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