CD-R vs. CD-RW

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I understand that the data recorded on a CD-R cannot be erased. But can it be added to? For example, if I write a song to a CD-R and then later want to add another one, assuming there is space, will I be able to? Or once I record on it the first time, no matter how much free space there is, there is no rewriting to it again (i.e., on a CD-RW, data can neither be erased nor added)?

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Hi jmt,

Check out this link for information on the CD-R and CD-RW.

You can do a search and find much more about the subject.

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I can’t figure out how to keep my cd-r “open” in Windows Media Player so I can later add more files. This is way more complicated than it needs to be. I give up.

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I can’t figure out how to keep my cd-r “open” in Windows Media Player so I can later add more files. This is way more complicated than it needs to be. I give up.

Normally you have to answer a question like “Do you wish to close this CD” or something along this line when you burn a CD. Using your burning app, try dragging more songs to the CD to see if if will allow you to add more songs.

Anything worth learning how to do is worth putting the effort in to learn it. If this app, Windows Media Player seems too difficult to master, try one of the numerous 3rd party apps. Although getting much better at burning removable optical media, Media Player is still a basic app.

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Why not use CD-RW discs, once formatted as like a hard disc you can drag and drop your music files onto it just like a hard drive. You can also delete files you no longer want.
Only condition is some times they have finite times you can write erase with them but for your use should be OK. Also if you want a permanent copy of your music, once the CD-RW disc is full then you can copy everything to a CD-R disc, fully using its capacity and then letting the disc be closed.

Hope this helps

Clive

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For the cost of a CD-R, you may be better off just burning a new disk with everything on it you want. I personally have had issues trying to use disks that are not finalized. Not all CD drives and players can read them properly until they are closed.

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IIRC earlier versions of Media Player did not offer the option to leave disks open. Makes sense, as non-closed CDs won’t play in some CD players, such as many common auto decks. Allowing MP to make disks that won’t play isn’t a good move for MS, IMO.

I can’t speak for later versions on Media Player, but seeing as how MS reduced the entire thing to a couple buttons, more or less, I can’t imagine the multisession option is there.

jmt, it is complicated, unfortunately.

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