Windows 10: Can't format or write to new CD-RWs

I cannot format most of my latest pack of CD-RWs in the usual way: opening up My PC, then Format... in the drop-down menu. The process starts, runs for a few minutes and then stops with a message "Formatting cannot be completed".Have also had problems in creating a system repair disc with recently purchased CD-RWs: again, the process starts, runs for a while and then sends a message "Unspecified error 0x8004005". I can add/delete docs on earlier batches of CD-RWs and create system repair discs on them don't know if these work and hope I never need to find out!. Both the old and new discs

:)

 

CD-RW

In theory at least, a CD-RW disc as you describe it should be readable on an computer that has an optical drive capable of reading writing CD-RW discs, which is most optical drives these days. I say "in theory" because formatting/writing on CD-RWs is
a very dodgy thing in general. You're much better off in using a USB flash drive.

 

Window 10 will not let me burn my pictures on CD-RW

Hi Judy,

CD-RW needs a more sensitive optical lens to read or write on it. There is a possibility that your CD burner can't write on a CD-RW. To isolate the issue, kindly answer the following questions:

• What app are you using to burn on the CD-RW?
• Have you tried using a CD-R or another CD-RW?
• Were you able to burn on a CD-RW using the same CD burner prior to this issue?
• Were there any changes made to your computer before this?
• What troubleshooting steps have you done so far?

We're looking forward to your response.

 

clean possibly infected flash drives and CD-RWs

Your steps in post #1 should work for 99% of viruses that may be on a usb flash drive. However, there are a very few viruses that can infect the MBR of a drive. I would use Diskpart from a command prompt (Admin) to clean them. In the command prompt type DISKPART then, at the Diskpart prompt use the commands:

LIST DISKnote the disk number of the usb and use it in place of # in the command:SELECT DISK #
CLEAN
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY

After this you will have cleaned the partition table from the usb and created a partition using the whole of the the available space. You can then format this partition in File Explorer.


For a CD-RW, if you right-click on it in File Explorer there is an Erase option.