Unable to Create System Image on DVD's

On 2009-11-03, Dave-UK <Here@home> wrote:
>

> You don't format blank DVD R's. They are a write-once medium.
> DVD-RW need to be formatted as they can be written to multiple times.

Not totally correct. A RW disk will take the burning over and over when
treated like a R disk.


>
> Have a look in Help and Support and enter 'dvd burning' into the
> search to get some info about different DVD formats.
>
>

Jack Gillis wrote on 11/03/2009 16:56 :
> I have Win 7 64 bit installed on my laptop as well as my desktop. System
> images for both are on external HD's.
>
> On the laptop, I have created a system image on blank DVD's using DVD-R's.
> No problems -- I can restore from the DVD's.
>
> However, when I try to create a system image on blank DVD-R's on my desktop,
> I get a message saying something like, "format was unsuccessful." If
> I use a
> DVD+RW the process runs to completion and I can restore from it. I had to
> use RW's because I don't have any +R's.
>
> I get the same unsuccessful message if I try to format a blank DVD-R with
> Win 7.
>
> My DVD burner on the desktop says it is a +R. Does that mean I can't
> use -R's.
>
> I've no idea whether this is a Win 7 problem, burner problem or a problem on
> my part.
>
> Would someone please try to straighten out the dense old mind?
>
> Thank you very much.
FYI did some searching and found the ans. One person said to use DVD-RW discs
Be sure to format them first by right clicking on the drive and then format.

Have not tried this yet myself, good luck.

whiskey

If it does not say +- (only the + or the -) then you cannot burn the type
that is not listed. I didn't think any new drives were not +-, older drives
were sometimes one or the other but not both. It is possible that the drive
could have its firmware updated but that is a long shot. Worth a try to
check the drive maker's web site for possible firmware update.

Michael


"herman" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Jack Gillis wrote on 11/03/2009 16:56 :
>> I have Win 7 64 bit installed on my laptop as well as my desktop. System
>> images for both are on external HD's.
>>
>> On the laptop, I have created a system image on blank DVD's using
>> DVD-R's.
>> No problems -- I can restore from the DVD's.
>>
>> However, when I try to create a system image on blank DVD-R's on my
>> desktop,
>> I get a message saying something like, "format was unsuccessful." If
>> I use a
>> DVD+RW the process runs to completion and I can restore from it. I had to
>> use RW's because I don't have any +R's.
>>
>> I get the same unsuccessful message if I try to format a blank DVD-R with
>> Win 7.
>>
>> My DVD burner on the desktop says it is a +R. Does that mean I can't
>> use -R's.
>>
>> I've no idea whether this is a Win 7 problem, burner problem or a problem
>> on
>> my part.
>>
>> Would someone please try to straighten out the dense old mind?
>>
>> Thank you very much.
> FYI did some searching and found the ans. One person said to use DVD-RW
> discs.
> Be sure to format them first by right clicking on the drive and then
> format.
>
> Have not tried this yet myself, good luck.
>
> whiskey

On Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:56:00 -0500, "Jack Gillis"
<> wrote:

>
>I have Win 7 64 bit installed on my laptop as well as my desktop. System
>images for both are on external HD's.
>
>On the laptop, I have created a system image on blank DVD's using DVD-R's.
>No problems -- I can restore from the DVD's.
>
>However, when I try to create a system image on blank DVD-R's on my desktop,
>I get a message saying something like, "format was unsuccessful." If I use a
>DVD+RW the process runs to completion and I can restore from it. I had to
>use RW's because I don't have any +R's.
>
>I get the same unsuccessful message if I try to format a blank DVD-R with
>Win 7.
>
>My DVD burner on the desktop says it is a +R. Does that mean I can't
>use -R's.
>
>I've no idea whether this is a Win 7 problem, burner problem or a problem on
>my part.
>
>Would someone please try to straighten out the dense old mind?
>
>Thank you very much.

It's a problem on your part. You're trying to format a "write once"
media and you can't do that. Just skip the formatting step when you're
using a DVD-R or DVD+R since those media types are ready to burn right
out of the box. Formatting only applies to RW media, DVD-RW in your
case.