I've been doing a lot of research but am getting really frustrated with the lack of plain language and practical uses for all the different file systems. Basically I'm wanting to back up files (mainly live music shows) to DVD. But I'm finding that discs burned on one computer sometimes can't be read on another and vise versa. My goal is to make these discs able to be read by at least all XP machines. If someone could please help me with any of my following questions, or at least point me to a good guide explaining PRACTICAL uses for FAT16/32, NTFS, UDF, CDFS and any others I'm bound to come across as options to use when burning. 1) For instance, I just burned some music files (some very large ones) onto a Verbatim DVD-DL thru Nero, only to insert it into my other XP machine and not have it able to read it "Drive is not accessible". I put it back into the computer that burned it and it could read it fine. "My Computer" labled the file system as CDFS. Is that what is best when burning data to DVD's?? Why can one computer read it but not the other? Both computers have combo drives able to read and write everything. 2)I just found a DVD-RAM 4.7 disc that had been burned by a Win98se system, that I wanted to use. I put the disc into my laptop (same computer that was able to read the CDFS DVD9 above) and noticed that it was labeled as full, yet only showed one folder of music that was no more than 600mb's!! Where are the other files taking up the remaining 4gigs???? File system for this disc was labeled as UDF. Then when I put the RAM disk into the desktop (same computer above that couldn't read the CDFS DVD9) I get the message "Drive is not accessible". So I'm thinking there is some conflict of methods that these disk are being burned. I understand that the different filesytems have different ways of storing data, I just can't figure out which is best for my needs, or what programs use what system. Obviously reliability and compatibility is the most important. At least being able to be read by ALL XP machines. Maybe there is a better program (like IMGBURN) that I should be using for data, where I have control over what filesystem it uses? Also speaking of image's, as far as I can tell, they are just a more secure way of making sure that the burn completes properly? But if I'm not having any burning issues (all my computers have plenty of memory and processing power) then an image isn't really necessary? Or do images play a part in compatibility?? If people could help me out, add what they know, maybe I'll make a little FAQ from this, so other people who aren't as technical can get practical information of these obviously important options. Thanks!
welcome to afterdawn if you look at the top of this page you will see a tab that reads guides, if you click on that tab you will see all the information you will need to do what you are wanting to do, good luck
maybe one problem is drive firmware some drives read dvdr copies of a certain disc some not, usually a firmware update to the drive from the manufacturers website helps in most instances... i know "dvd-ram" is drive dependant and not usually a standard for all drives(or is that writing only?) sorry not to sure never used dvdram. in nero did you finalize the dvd-DL as you may of multissesioned it (left open? add more files) harder to read it. ------------- so from what you say you do not wish to encode anything, just throw these files on dvdr for safe keeping? or do you want some sort of dvd/play feature for stand alone dvd players in the home/office? also to note dvd-DL are not as compatible as a dvd+DL burned to dvd-rom (like an original dvd format) AKA Booktyping a + to DVD-ROM ------------- edit all my drives dont read or write dvd-ram. ------------- edit this is the standard dvd iso format in nero (data) [notice the boxes at the bottom are UNTICKED for Windows 9x systems. to allow older NON xp/media/vista os to read it]
Ok thanks for the replies! I checked the drive features, and found the drive that can not read the DVD-ram doesn't support it, but my other drive that was only able to read some of the data does support it. I dont understand how it could only read one folder? As for your screenshot of Nero, thats exactly what I'd like to see, but I dont have it. Maybe its because I have NeroExpress 6.6.1?? Now does ISO9660 mean the same as CDFS?
I apreciate your suggestion as I know those guides will be usefull soon, although I couldn't find a guide for my problem. All those guides were based on putting video to DVD, where I'm concerned only with data. Maybe you could point me further? Thanks
it does have that! you need nero BURNING ROM, not express... (dont use any wizard got to start menu/programs/nero/nero burning rom - then open it up - chanage cd to DVD in left menu) and the picture is for data only storage...
