Even if CD-ROMs and DVDs are no longer as popular, in certain circumstances, these little cakes are very practical. Being physical media, there may be reading or burning issues, and one solution is to erase everything, install a clean file system, and finally burn. This is only possible on CD-ROMs and DVDs marked RW.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: In Windows
Step 1. Insert the CD-ROM or DVD into the drive
It will be placed on the reader tray, label side up. It must be stamped RW (rewritable).
If your computer is not equipped with a CD-ROM drive, you will need an external one on a USB port
Step 2. Open the Start menu (
).
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner.
Step 3. Open File Explorer (
).
Click on the folder icon in the lower left corner of the window.
Step 4. Click This PC
This tab (a computer screen) is clearly visible in the left column of Explorer.
Step 5. Click on the CD-ROM drive icon
On the right, in the main window and under Peripherals and drives, you should find the drive icon (D: or E:).
Step 6. Click Manage
This tab is in the upper left corner of the File Explorer window. By clicking on it, you will bring up a number of groups below.
Step 7. Click Format
In the group Management, on the right, there is a gray reader surmounted by a circular arrow. Clicking on it brings up a formatting window.
Step 8. Select a file system
Click on the drop-down list File system in order to choose a system. The UDF system (for Universal Disk Format), revised several times, allows data (text files, videos, music, etc.) to be stored on a CD-ROM or DVD. Some versions of UDF:
- UDF 1.50, for any version of Windows prior to XP;
- UDF 2.00, for any version of Windows prior to XP;
- UDF 2.01 (default), accepted by most operating systems;
- UDF 2.50, accepted by most operating systems, some Blu-rays use this format;
- UDF 2.60 (Recommended), accepted by most operating systems, some Blu-rays use this format.
Step 9. Click Start, then on OK.
Here is ! The media inserted in the drive is then formatted according to your criteria.
Step 10. Click OK
This button appears at the very end of the operation and concludes it.
Method 2 of 2: In macOS
Step 1. Insert the CD-ROM or DVD into the drive
It will be placed on the reader tray, label side up. It must be stamped RW (rewritable).
- For a long time now, there are no more CD-ROM drives on Macs, you will need an external drive on a USB port.
- The procedure for formatting a disc on a Mac differs from that on a PC, which does not prevent you from reformatting the disc (due to a format or burning problem) and then burning something to it..
Step 2. Click Go
This menu is in the general menu bar, it is the fifth from the left. A drop-down menu will then appear.
If you do not see this menu, it means that you are not on the Desktop, then all you have to do is click on an area of this Desktop
Step 3. Click Utilities
This option is practically at the bottom of the menu Go.
Step 4. Double-click Disk Utility
This utility has for icon a hard disk surmounted by a stethoscope and you will find it at the bottom of the folder Utilities.
Step 5. Select the drive to format
In the left column, under the heading External, click on the name of the disk.
Step 6. Click the Erase tab
At the top of the window, it's the third tab from the left. The disk properties window appears.
Step 7. Click Security Options
By clicking on this button, you will be able to choose the disk erase mode. For a clean job, move the cursor to The most secure.
- In this same window, you can also choose the option The fastest, erasure which will therefore be faster, but security is not fully guaranteed in the event of an attempt to recover the data.
Step 8. Click Clear
Here is ! The erase of the contents of the disc and its reformatting is started. Once the operation is finished, you will be able to burn whatever you want, music or videos.
Advice
- To make your life easier, there are third-party applications like Roxio Easy Media Creator or Nero Burning ROM.
- A CD-ROM referred to as CD-RW can be erased and burned as many times as you want, RW means rewritable.
