Windows is unable to format disk

djudge33

I'm trying to format some CD-RW disks to make my backup disks and only once
out of about 10 tries have I been successful. I keep getting a message that
says "windows is unable to format disk" Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

Hiren

Physically bad/damaged media is the most frequent cause behind this.

"djudge33" <> wrote in message
news:...
I'm trying to format some CD-RW disks to make my backup disks and only once
out of about 10 tries have I been successful. I keep getting a message that
says "windows is unable to format disk" Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

djudge33

These are brand new Memorex disks so that probably isn't the case here.
Right? I don't know.

"Hiren" wrote:

> Physically bad/damaged media is the most frequent cause behind this.
>
> "djudge33" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> I'm trying to format some CD-RW disks to make my backup disks and only once
> out of about 10 tries have I been successful. I keep getting a message that
> says "windows is unable to format disk" Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
>

Hiren

Make sure you are not running too many applications while the discs are
being formatted.Do you face problems reading CD-RWs too?A lesser speed too
generally helps.

"djudge33" <> wrote in message
news:...
These are brand new Memorex disks so that probably isn't the case here.
Right? I don't know.

"Hiren" wrote:

> Physically bad/damaged media is the most frequent cause behind this.
>
> "djudge33" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> I'm trying to format some CD-RW disks to make my backup disks and only
> once
> out of about 10 tries have I been successful. I keep getting a message
> that
> says "windows is unable to format disk" Any suggestions? Thanks in advance
>

Malke

djudge33 wrote:

> These are brand new Memorex disks so that probably isn't the case here.
> Right? I don't know.
>
> "Hiren" wrote:
>
>> Physically bad/damaged media is the most frequent cause behind this.
>>
>> "djudge33" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>> I'm trying to format some CD-RW disks to make my backup disks and only
>> once out of about 10 tries have I been successful. I keep getting a
>> message that says "windows is unable to format disk" Any suggestions?
>> Thanks in advance
>>

If you can format the disks in another computer, you know they are OK. In
that case, your optical drive may be going.

As a side note, I would never use CD-RW disks for anything. You want your
disks to be readable on any system and unless that system has the same
packet writing software installed (or a UDF reader), your disks with the
carefully backed-up data on them will appear blank.

Better to just use straight CD/DVD-R disks instead. If you have problems
writing to those, then you know there's something wrong with the optical
drive.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers

Don't Panic!

mikeyhsd

make sure you are using media type that is recommended for your drive.
check the specs that came with the drive or look them up on the internet.

not all brands/type will work with all drives.

second.

you probably should terminate all not needed programs while writing to the discs.

I usually use MSCONFIG and disable all, reboot and then write to discs.








"djudge33" <> wrote in message news:...
I'm trying to format some CD-RW disks to make my backup disks and only once
out of about 10 tries have I been successful. I keep getting a message that
says "windows is unable to format disk" Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

Colin Barnhorst

The drive may need cleaning. There are separate read and write lens and the
write lens may need cleaning.

"djudge33" <> wrote in message
news:...
> These are brand new Memorex disks so that probably isn't the case here.
> Right? I don't know.
>
> "Hiren" wrote:
>
>> Physically bad/damaged media is the most frequent cause behind this.
>>
>> "djudge33" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>> I'm trying to format some CD-RW disks to make my backup disks and only
>> once
>> out of about 10 tries have I been successful. I keep getting a message
>> that
>> says "windows is unable to format disk" Any suggestions? Thanks in
>> advance
>>