Minor thing: I just started burning CDs. The CDRs work fine when popped into
my computer, home stereo or car stereo. But, CD-RW discs will only play in
my computer. When I insert them in the home CD player (about 5 years old),
nothing happens at all. When inserted in the car unit (3 years old), it
hunts around for tracks and then spits out the disc. Is this a fairly common
occurrence?

"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:FEARf.2749$kg.2509@news02.roc.ny...
If you use them as `ordinary` CDs the will work.
The advantage being that you can erase\ re-use them.
Ordinary CD players cannot read the UDF format, but your
computer can.

Doug Kanter wrote:
Is it fairly common? I'm not sure, but it has certainly happened to me too.
CDRs work in all appliances, but CDRW will only work in PCs, some CD
players, and my DVD player; they will not work in the car CD player.

"someone" <Binary@Fog.com> wrote in message
news:68BRf.1375$qH2.1100@newsfe4-win.ntli.net...
This is the first I've heard of the UDF format. I checked Nero's glossary,
but haven't delved much into its preferences yet.

On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 14:58:42 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
<ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote:


Yes it is fairly common, CDRW discs use a different,
phase-change layer that is harder for a typical CD drive to
read unless it was specifically designed to do so. Often
the devices having such drives make specific mention of that
compatibility.

"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5mBRf.2753$kg.43@news02.roc.ny...
with re-writeable disks.
In effect it creates very large `floppies` that can be used more than
once.
You put your files on one, you can add files, then if you want to
you can erase them, and use the disk again.
When you use a CD-R disk the session is closed, and you can`t
use the disk again

--
bw..OJ

"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:FEARf.2749$kg.2509@news02.roc.ny...

So just how EXACTLY did you get the files onto the CD-RWs? Did you simply
drag over the files into the CD drive in Explorer? That means the CD-RW
will use UDF (universal data format) which requires a reader and writer to
handle that format. Your CD players won't have that driver and won't
support that format.

When you were in Nero, what format did you specify when burning the files
onto the CD-RW? Did you close the session or leave it open (so you could
copy more files on the disc later)? Did you use Nero Express, and did you
select to cut a *music* CD (so you use the right format)? If you used Nero
(non-Express version), did you select to cut a *music* CD under the
scroll-list of formats in the New Compilation dialog?

--
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Post replies to the newsgroup. Share with others.
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"someone" <Binary@Fog.com> wrote in message
news:q4CRf.7266$GN1.5957@newsfe2-gui.ntli.net...
That's my intention for data backups. For music, which I'd rather listen to
on the home or car stereos, it sounds like I'm out of luck.

"Vanguard" <vanguard.news@yahooNIX.com> wrote in message
news:dv6r1i$9oa$1@emma.aioe.org...

So far, I've only used the Nero SmartStart thing. Pointed to the music icon,
then the "Make Audio CD" option, which claims to "Create a regular audio CD
that plays in all CD players and on your PC". This is day #2 - it's as far
as I've gotten with the details of what's going on behind the "wizard"
screens (which I really hate).

CD-RW are notoriously fussy about where they can be replayed. Frequently
they will only work in the recorder machine that wrote them. Common
problem.

--
DaveW

----------------
"Doug Kanter" <ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:FEARf.2749$kg.2509@news02.roc.ny...

On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 18:25:09 GMT, "Doug Kanter"
<ancientangler@hotmail.com> wrote:



So you aren't using UDF, it is only a matter of it being a
CDRW (Or rarely a specific brand of discs) preventing use in
some players.

"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
newse2f121r9pel3dg81epcqq9a70dq1r2lnp@4ax.com...
Oh well. My only purpose in using them for music was in occasional
situations where I'm not sure I'm going to like certain music after
listening to it on a real stereo. I hate wasting the regular CDRs.

Doug Kanter wrote:
The answer lies in something called the 'reflectivity index'.

Pressed CDs reflect the light from the laser reading mechanism in a stereo
or car CD palyer quite well, they are very reflective, around 90%.

CD-Rs are nearly as good, typically having a reflectivity index of up to
80%.

However, CD-RWs, because of the nature of the dye layer and how they work,
have a comparitively low refectivity index, typically 60%.

That means that only 60% of the light emmited from the read laser is
reflected back to the sensor. Modern computer drives are designed to read
CD-RWs and some consumer electronics CD players are too. They simply have a
more powerful laser and a laser power calibration system built in that
test-reads from the CD on insertion and makes the laser as 'bright' as it
needs to be for relaible reading.

Unless a home or car stereo states that it reads CD-RWs then don't rely on
it. You may get lucky but often you won't.

HTH
--
~Shaun~

"~misfit~" <misfit61nz@yahooo.co.nz> wrote in message
news:4427bfae$1@news2.actrix.gen.nz...
Thanks, Shaun. Good explanation. Fortunately, my need to play CD-RWs in some
machines is minimal. I've reduced the question to the low-medium curiosity
level.

Doug Kanter wrote:
Well, I'm pleased to have been able to satisfy your curiosity. I don't check
this group that often (So many groups, so little time. <g>) so, knowing it
was a relatively old post, didn't know of you'd see my reply. I'm pleased
you did and that I didn't write it in vain.

Cheers,
--
~Shaun~