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

Hi:

By now, my guess is that you have had ample time to play with Ashampoo.

1. Once you get past the 10-day trial period, you are supposed to be able to download a full version of Ashampoo Burning Studio 6 FREE  for free, ...`once you provide them with your email address.
2. Are they using your email address for things other than registering their software ?

Why do they need it in the first place, if the program is "free" ?

3)  What is your opinion of the software ?

4)  Any problems with the software ?  If so, what ?

5)  Are you flooded with ads, or an other annoying items ?

6)  Anything else that you can tell me ?

Thanks

DaleB

Hi:

Thanks for the information.

I always try to be a bit cautious when using these (3rd hand) products that may screw-up your saved data, whether it be on a disk or internal to your computer.  Google to see reviews by others, and

whether or not they experienced problems.

Before diving-in and using it heavily, I would create a few "Test Disks" and try repeating the processes over-and-over to see if there are any quirks.  You won't find them all by doing a limited amount of testing, but it may give you a heads-up if any problems exist.  So, keep a log.

I would try using all of the following:

CD  +/-  R/RW ,    DVD  +/-  R/RW,   and   DVD  +/-  R/RW  DL

Yes...you will "waste" (have to toss-out) a few disks - those that are not  RW;

but, I would rather throw out a few disks up-front, than lose critical information

later, due to a quirk in the software.  I have had this hapen to me with software

from Microsoft, Roxio, etc.  Typically, the program would write a "bad" disk:

it would "hang" during the write process leaving the disk unreadable/unusable.,

and/or unfinalized.

This didn't matter if I was using the  "+"  or  "-"  version of the disks. 

If your computer is made to handle all formats listed above (and doesn't have a problem)

then, it is most likely the burn software that you are using causing a problem.

You may want to check for updates to the version of the software that you are using.

The update my fix "bugs" that may be in the 3rd party software.

DaleB

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

Hi:

From what I can gather,

Closing a DVD burns the information to a DVD, but then allows you the capability of

burning information to the same disk at a later time.  That is why they call it "closed".

You close the DVD (like a drawer) but can open it a later time to burn more files to it.

Finalizing a DVD allows you to burn to the DVD "one time", then the disk gets "finalized":

it has zero bytes available to be written to.  You can see this if you click on the disk icon,

the select Properties from the drop-down menu.

One major probelm:

Many, many times, I have tried just Closing the disk, then ejecting it ... but Windows will display

a message in the System Tray that it is preparing the disk to eject.  When this occurs,

I usually have not been able to burn more files to the disk at a later time.

Some times, I have been able to circumvent this problem, by ejecting the disk via the Eject button

on the laptop, or by clicking on the C: drive icon that appears when you select Computer from the Start menu, then, selecting Eject from the Properties pop-up menu.  I have had success this way,

but I have also have failure.  I may get the same message (listed above) pop-up in the System Tray.

-DaleB