Is my CD/DVD blank?

[learninmypc]

I just came across a few disks,I don't know if they're CD's or DVD's, but I'd like to know if they're blank or not, how do I do this?
They're mine & auto play is tuned off. TIA

 

[learninmypc]

I've partially solved my question.
I found this on one of them,


Any idea what it is ???

 

[mailpup]

When you put a disk into the DVD drive, find it in Computer, right click it and click Properties. The pie chart should tell you how much is used if any.

 

[St1ckM4n]

Mailpup has it.
;
That disc looks like Windows XP install disk to me.

 

[learninmypc]

Thank you mailpup. I tend to ask questions first & then try to answer it after.
St1ckM4n , if it is, I have no idea where I got it at or anything. I wish I had a pc to test it on.

 

[LookinAround]

Looks like you already have answer... but also check out Nero Infotool to get a display of
> The characteristics of your DVD drive and
> Info about the media inserted and whether or not it is blank

p.s. I find it best to start the tool with the drive empty. Insert the disk after tool starts (otherwise, it sometimes takes a loooong time to load)

 

[learninmypc]

Ok, my bad. I just looked at that cd-r 52x 700 MB/80min disk & discovered its one that a computer friend of mine gave me back in 2002 I think it was.
It has XP-SP2 LITE on it. He also gave me the disk I used on this pc.
Is there any possibility I can format it for future use?

 

[St1ckM4n]

CD-R is recordable only. RW means you can re-write it.

 

[learninmypc]

Ok, I just relocated 3 DVD-RW 4.7 gb 2 HRS SP mode
that currently have movies on them a friend recorded for me but I don't need them.
Can they be re-used?

 

[mailpup]

That's what the RW means. You can rewrite on them. Why wouldn't you try it first?

 

[learninmypc]

My ignorance, try what first?
I was considering using hopefully just one of them to make a copy of my Vista harddrive as talked about in this thread

 

[mailpup]

...try what first?

You wanted to know if you could reuse the DVD-RW and I was asking why didn't you just try doing so first? If you had, you should have found that you can reuse them.

 

[learninmypc]

Ok, my brain is in slow mode lately.
I'm not able to upload a picture that shows what I think are format settings so I'll format it & hope it works, thank you..

 

[St1ckM4n]

Don't need to format anything. Just burn the disc as usual, and the data will be re-written automatically.

 

[learninmypc]

Ok, since I have never done this & zero $$$, can I get easy step by step instructions?
Too tired to do it tonight,but will try tomorrow.

 

[misor]

I think imageburn can also burn cd-rw and dvd-rw.
read some info here:
http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?/topic/8050-how-to-formatrewrite-a-finalised-dvd-rw-disc/

 

[learninmypc]

Ok, I've started by using post # 24 here
I evidently didn't have enough room on my USB drive so I'm deleting/relocating files to my W7.

"EDIT" I have 45gb of used space on my Vista, is that how much space I need on my USB?
2nd edit" I'm following this link http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/backup-your-computer-with-driveimage-xml/

 

[learninmypc]

Well, I've tried 3 times to create an image following the bleepingcomputer link but no joy. For unknown reasons I'm unable to post images of the error messages.