Windows 10: CD-RW won't format

Problem:On the latest build of Windows 10 Professional, when I try to format a CD-RW CD Rewritable it just gives an error message saying that it was unable to format. I am using an external DVD/CD-RW drive because the internal one only accepts DVD's. The external DVD/CD-RW is an Optiarc CDRWDVD CRX890A PH03 USB. I've tried built-in and 3rd party burners, but I can't get it to work.System info:CPU: AMD Athlontm X4 950 Quad Core processorGPU: Radeon RX550/550 SeriesCPU Speed: 3.70 GHzMemory: 16.0 GB 10.2 Committed Available: 8.4 GBGPU Memory: 9.7 GBOS: Windows 10 Professional Version 22

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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.

 

CD-RW on Windows 10

How can I store data files on CD-RW discs? Brand new TDK discs refuse to format or burn.

T

 

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.