what happens to a disk when you format a disk

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This wikiHow teaches you how to format a CD-RW or DVD-RW that is having problems playing or loading data. You cannot format a CD-R or a DVD-R that has already been burned or otherwise written to. Formatting a CD volition erase all files on it.

1. 1

   Insert the CD-RW or DVD-RW into your figurer. The CD goes into your computer'south CD tray with the label facing up.

   • If your computer doesn't accept a CD drive, you'll accept to buy an external one.

2. 2

   Open Kickoff . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.

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3. 3

   Open File Explorer . Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Beginning window.

4. 4

   Click This PC . It's a computer-shaped tab on the left side of the File Explorer window.

5. v

   Click your disk bulldoze's icon. You'll find this gray drive icon below the "Devices and drives" heading that'south in the middle of the folio.

6. half dozen

   Click Manage . It'due south a tab in the upper-left side of the File Explorer window. Clicking it prompts a toolbar to appear beneath the Manage tab.

7. 7

   Click Format . This icon is on the far-left side of the toolbar. It resembles a grayness drive with a red, circling arrow on top of it. The Format window will open.

8. 8

   Select a file arrangement. Click the "File system" drop-down box, and so click one of the following file systems. UDF stands for "Universal Disk Format", which ways whatsoever of the following file systems can be used for media (such as music or movies) or for files:

   • UDF ane.fifty - For use on XP and older.
   • UDF 2.00 - For use on XP and older.
   • UDF 2.01 (default) - Usable with about electric current operating systems.
   • UDF 2.fifty - Usable with nigh current operating systems. Supports Blu-ray.
   • UDF 2.60 (Recommended) - Usable with most current operating systems. Supports Blu-ray.

9. 9

   Click Kickoff , then click OK . Doing so will begin formatting your CD for your selected file system.

10. 10

    Click OK when prompted. This volition complete the formatting process.

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1. 1

   Insert the CD-RW or DVD-RW into your computer. The CD goes into your estimator'due south CD tray with the label facing up.

   • Most modern Macs don't come with CD drives attached, meaning yous'll need to buy an external CD drive for your Mac.
   • Yous tin can't format your disc on a Mac the same way y'all would on a Windows computer, but you can erase and re-format it to resolve errors.

2. two

   Click Go . This carte du jour particular is on the left side of the menu bar, which is at the top of your Mac's screen. A drib-downwards menu will appear.

   • If you lot don't see this menu item, click the desktop or open up Finder to forcefulness it to appear.

3. 3

   Click Utilities . It's at the bottom of the Go drib-down menu.

4. 4

   Double-click Disk Utility . You'll find this app, which resembles a drive with a stethoscope on it, in the Utilities folder.

5. 5

   Select the disc. Click the disc'due south name in the "External" section that'due south on the left side of the Disk Utility window.

6. half-dozen

   Click the Erase tab. It'south at the top of the Disk Utility window. Doing and so will open the disc'southward properties window.

7. 7

   Click Completely . This pick will allow you to completely erase and re-format the disc.

   • You lot tin also click Quickly hither to erase the disc faster than the Completely option, though any errors you lot're encountering may not be resolved.

8. eight

   Click Erase . Doing and then volition brainstorm erasing and reformatting your disc. One time the process is complete, you'll exist able to burn music or video to your disc.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How exercise y'all articulate a CD?

  

  This answer was written past one of our trained squad of researchers who validated it for accurateness and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Respond

• Question

  How practise I format a DVD RW?

  

  This reply was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

  

  wikiHow Staff Editor

  Staff Respond

• Question

  How do I format a disc to use on a DVD player?

  

  Here's how to format a DVD disc: 1. Insert the DVD-RW disc into a DVD burner drive. 2. Erase the existing data. 3. Admission the "Burn files to disc" window. 4. Give your disc a name. 5. Select the format you desire to apply. vi. Cease the formatting procedure. 7. Add your files to the disc.

• Question

  How exercise I format a disc with a video on it?

  

  Erase all the data off of a CD-RW: 1. Open up Windows Explorer. two. Right-click on the CD-RW on your bulldoze list. 3. Select Format. 4. Leave all the options at their defaults. 5. Enter in a new name for the disc if yous wish. 6.Click Start. All of the data on the CD-RW will be deleted.

• Question

  Why does it proceed telling me Windows can't format the disc?

  

  Aditya Telang

  Customs Answer

  You can only format a CD/DVD-RW. If Windows shows a "cannot format the disc" fault, brand certain that your CD/DVD is an RW (re-writable) disc. It will be most likely exist written on the label of the disc. If it is non, just put the disc in the DVD/CD drive, right click on it, and click "Backdrop." There it volition evidence what kind of disc it is.

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Video

• Using a third-political party program, such as Roxio CD Creator or Nero, can simplify the CD formatting process.

• Y'all can reformat a CD-RW as many times as you need, because the RW means re-writable.

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• CD-Rs can merely be formatted once. Files volition stay on the CD or DVD and cannot be removed.

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About This Article

Article Summary X

i. Insert the CD.
ii. Open File Explorer.
iii. Click This PC.
4. Click your optical disc drive.
5. Click Manage.
six. Press Format on the VCR.
seven. Select a file system.
8. Click Beginning.

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