How do I finalize a disk (CD-R and DVD+/-R) using Windows ?

Hi:

I , too, have not been able to finalize a dicc using Microsoft's Software, nor do they have and documentation on it, explaining how to do it.  In the beginning of the disc process, they give you the option of making a Master disc, though I have never been able to make this work, nor is their documentation of any help.  They just refer you to other possible sources of the problem.

HonedstTech's   VHS -> DVD 5.0 Deluxe   is a program that converts VHS tapes to DVD format and allows you to finalize the disk as an option to the burn process.  See p. 66 of the User Guide.  This is a simple program for coverting VHS tapes to DVDs and allows finalizing as an option to the burn process. See inormation below.  This is p. 66 of ther user guide.  I have the section on finalizing in italics.  They do have trial versions for you to download.

The User Guide is a free download from their web page http://honestech.com/main/UserGuides.asp

They have several products including Fireman CD/DVD Burner 3.0.

I have no experience with any of their products other than  VHS -> DVD Deluxe, and am chasing a couple of issues with that.  Don't yet know if it is a problem with their product , the settings, or something else that may be interferring.  Here is the info from p.66 of the User Guide.

Burn Options: Drive– use this option to select the disc drive that will burn your disc.

Add/Remove File(s)– use this option to add or remove digital audio files to/from the Burn List.

Burn List– displays each audio file to be burned, in list form with size (megabytes) and duration information. *Use the Total Size listed at the bottom of the Burn List to avoid adding more than your disc will allow. **Tip:**The Audio CD burn window will automatically convert the size of your digital audio files and display them in Audio CD format (approx. 10 MB per minute).

Finalize Disc (Close Session) – use this option to finalize or close a data disc after burning. This will prevent further writing to the disc in the event that there is space left over.

*This option is only available for the WMA CD and WMA DVD options.

Burn Process: Burn– click the Burn button to begin the burning process. The Burning Status bar will display the burn progress and a finish message will appear when the burning is complete. *Warning: Manually ejecting your disc before completion can cause the disc to malfunction. DaleB

I've read four pages of answers and still don't have a resolution to my problem.  I've tried everything that has been suggested and nothing has worked.  When I go to the Start menu and click on Computer and then select the CD drive.  The toolbar does not offer the option Finalize the disk.  If I right click on the CD drive, the pop-up does not offer the option to finalize the disk.  I can still add files to the CD.  I cannot, however, delete or rename files on the CD.  When I click on Properties it shows that there is free space remaining which would indicate the disk has NOT been finalized. 

So does anyone have any other suggestions?  Preferably ones that work as I've spent about four hours chasing my tail on this issue and getting nowhere fast.  I need to create these disks for a pending lawsuit and definitely don't want anyone to be able to change or add files.  And they have to be able to be read on various other computers. 

morlaine

Hi:

Be careful !

As I mentioned in my previous replies to folks on April 28th, 2013,

Roxio seems to have some nice User Friendly  utilities.  The version that I have is "old"

so I can't tell you the prons/cons of their latest software...but...if you finalize a disk

or burn a rewriteable disk that is not finalized (you want ot be able to add files at a later date/time)...you cannot access the files on those disks...unless... you use Roxio's program ! 

You are stuck !   The disk is unreadble by other programs.   I do not like this !!!

-DaleB

We are having the same problem. I think M$ is misunderstanding, or not making it clear, that "finalizing" a disc and "closing" a disc are not the same thing. We are using Win 7 Enterprise, and have to xfer files from different networks and the IA policies require that discs not be able to be modified (over-written or modified) once the disc is burned (in other words finalized). Everyone keeps pointing to the article at this link, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Close-or-finalize-a-CD-or-DVD, but it is mis-leading in that they only mention, in the Notes, that burning using Windows Explorer does not finalize the disc.

It looks like we are going to have to resort to a 3rd party application to meet our IA requirement. That is unless there is some undocumented way to actually finalize a disc using Windows Explorer.