This wikiHow teaches you how to format a DVD-RW or CD-RW that has problems playing or won't load information. DVD-R or CD-R that have been burned or written will not be formatted. When you format a CD, all the files on it will be deleted.
Step
Method 1 of 2: On Windows Computer
Step 1. Insert the DVD-RW or CD-RW into the computer
Insert the CD into the computer's CD tray with the label facing up.
If your computer does not come with a CD drive (CD drive), purchase an external drive
Step 2. Go to Start
Click the Windows logo in the lower left corner.
Step 3. Run File Explorer
Click the folder-shaped icon in the lower-left side of the Start window.
Step 4. Click This PC
This computer-shaped tab is on the left side of the File Explorer window.
Step 5. Click the disk drive icon (disk drive)
It's a gray drive icon under the " Devices and drives " heading in the middle of the page.
Step 6. Click Manage
This tab is in the upper-left side of the File Explorer window. A toolbar will be displayed under the tab Manage.
Step 7. Click Format
The icon is located on the left side of the toolbar. This icon is a gray drive with a red circular arrow above it. The Format window will open.
Step 8. Select the desired file system
Click the " File system " drop-down box, then select a file system below. UDF stands for "Universal Disk Format". This means that all of the following file systems can be used for media (such as videos or music) or for files:
- UDF 1.50 - Used for Windows XP and earlier.
- UDF 2.00 - Used for Windows XP and earlier.
- UDF 2.01 (default) - Can be used on almost all the latest operating systems.
- UDF 2.50 - Can be used on almost all the latest operating systems. Supports Blu-ray.
- UDF 2.60 (Recommended) - Can be used on almost all the latest operating systems. Supports Blu-ray.
Step 9. Click the Start button, then OK.
Your CD will begin to be formatted into the file system you selected.
Step 10. Click OK when prompted
The CD formatting process has been completed.
Method 2 of 2: On Mac Computer
Step 1. Insert the DVD-RW or CD-RW into the computer
Insert the CD into the computer's CD tray with the label facing up.
- Most modern Mac computers do not have a CD drive. This means you will have to purchase an external CD drive for your Mac computer.
- Formatting a disc on a Mac is not the same as on a Windows computer, but you can erase and reformat the CD to fix the error (error).
Step 2. Click Go
This menu item is on the left side of the menu bar, at the top of the screen. A drop-down menu will be displayed.
If the menu item is not present, click on the desktop or launch the Finder for the item to appear
Step 3. Click Utilities
You can find it at the bottom of the drop-down menu Go.
Step 4. Double-click Disk Utility
The app, which has a drive-shaped icon with a stethoscope on it, is in the Utilities folder.
Step 5. Select the disc you want to format
Click the name of the disc in the " External " section on the left side of the Disk Utility window.
Step 6. Click Erase
This tab is located at the top of the Disk Utility window. The properties window for the disc will open.
Step 7. Click Completely
You can use this option to completely erase and reformat the disc.
You can also choose Quickly if you want to erase the contents of the disc faster than the option Completely. However, this option may not be able to resolve some of the errors that occur.
Step 8. Click Erase
Your CD will begin to be erased and reformatted. Once the process is complete, you can burn videos or music on the disc.
Tips
- Use a third-party application (such as Nero or Roxio CD Creator) to make it easier for you to format the CD.
- CD-RW can be reformatted as many times as needed because the letter RW stands for re-writable (can be rewritten).
