How to delete stuff off of DVDs

MrCool0760 · 03-11-2007, 03:31 AM

If i want to delete files off of a DVD+RW, how do i do that. It wont let me just go into My Computer and empty it so is there something else i must do?

**The_Other_One** · 03-11-2007, 03:32 AM

Go into your CD/DVD burning software and format the disk.

Ben · 03-11-2007, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

Go into your CD/DVD burning software and format the disk.

Assuming he has CD/DVD burning software, if not, use something like Nero or PowerDVD.

MrCool0760 · 03-11-2007, 10:09 AM

I have the Nero OEM version i got from when i bought my DVD burner. I see the option erase DVD, and when i click it it, it says "the disc will appear to be empty but is not pysically erased".

Does this mean that if i have a disc with 4gb of space taken up, that i will still only have a little bit of space after i erase everything on it? Or does it mean i will still be able to fill it with 4.7gb of new stuff even if i do erase it all?

_simon_ · 03-11-2007, 10:40 AM

From what I understand you cannot really erase a DVD, you can however overwrite it.

**The_Other_One** · 03-11-2007, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrCool0760

"the disc will appear to be empty but is not pysically erased".

Are you sure this is an RW? If so, is there a FORMAT option? I know with standard R disks, you can delete stuff from them, but it really just makes it "invisible" but it's still there... You don't get the space back. I'm pretty sure RW's work the same way until you format them...

A good free program to try is DeepBurner. It's a very nice little program that offers format utilities for RW disks

Simon@Linux - I guess that's a way to look at it... When I format my RW's, you can still see the original "lines" on the disk, but I have the full space. I'm not 100% sure how they work

elitehacker · 03-11-2007, 01:09 PM

You can't delete files one by one on a DVD RW, if you want to rewrite it, you MUST format the whole disc.

MrCool0760 · 03-11-2007, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

When I format my RW's, you can still see the original "lines" on the disk, but I have the full space. I'm not 100% sure how they work

Thats why i was wondering...because after i erased stuff the line would still be there. Oh well i guess ill just format my disc.

Styrak · 03-12-2007, 09:58 AM

If you "erase" a disc, there is usually two options: quick erase and full erase. Quick erase will just overwrite the file table so that it "looks empty" like you said and can be burned to fine. Full erase overwrites all the data on the drive. (and also takes longer, obviously)

03-11-2007, 03:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
MrCool0760 Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 30	How to delete stuff off of DVDs If i want to delete files off of a DVD+RW, how do i do that. It wont let me just go into My Computer and empty it so is there something else i must do?

03-11-2007, 03:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 24 Posts: 12,368	Go into your CD/DVD burning software and format the disk. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

03-12-2007, 09:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
Styrak Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 517	If you "erase" a disc, there is usually two options: quick erase and full erase. Quick erase will just overwrite the file table so that it "looks empty" like you said and can be burned to fine. Full erase overwrites all the data on the drive. (and also takes longer, obviously) __________________ Athlon X2 4200+ S939 1GB RAM Radeon X1950 XT 256MB 1x160GB HD 1x320GB HD Antec TPII 550W PSU 20" WS BenQ LCD WinXP

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03-11-2007, 10:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
MrCool0760 Bronze Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 30	I have the Nero OEM version i got from when i bought my DVD burner. I see the option erase DVD, and when i click it it, it says "the disc will appear to be empty but is not pysically erased". Does this mean that if i have a disc with 4gb of space taken up, that i will still only have a little bit of space after i erase everything on it? Or does it mean i will still be able to fill it with 4.7gb of new stuff even if i do erase it all?

03-11-2007, 10:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
_simon_ Platinum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 969	From what I understand you cannot really erase a DVD, you can however overwrite it.

03-11-2007, 01:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
elitehacker Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 19 Posts: 2,413	You can't delete files one by one on a DVD RW, if you want to rewrite it, you MUST format the whole disc.