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

Anonymous
2011-03-09T19:35:44+00:00

Hi:

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

I want to finalize the disk...not just close the session/disk.

From what I have read in Windows Help, "closing" allows me to write to the disk later.

Is this true, if the disk is just R, not RW ?

I have burned JPEG images (.jpg files) to CD-R and DVD+R disks.

When I try to play them in my Sony CD/DVD player, it won't recognize the disks.

Sony's user manual says that the disks must be "finalized", not just "closed".

How do I do that with Windows ?

I treid finalizing these disks with Roxio Creator Basic, but it doesn't do anything, except eject the disks.

Windows still says that the disks have free space, and the DVD player can't recognize them.

From what I understand, if the disk is finalized, the will show no free space available.  Is this correct ?

Note:  The disks work correctly on my HP laptop which uses Vista 32-bit Home Premium.  I can view the JPEG images.

Thank you...

DaleB

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Music, photos, and video

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Anonymous
2011-03-09T19:50:13+00:00

Hi,

See the link in BOLD below :

Burning a CD

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/videos/burn-a-cd

Disc burning: frequently asked questions

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Disc-burning-frequently-asked-questions

Which CD or DVD format should I use?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Which-CD-or-DVD-format-should-I-use

Format a CD or DVD

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Format-a-CD-or-DVD

Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Explorer

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Burn-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Explorer

Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Burn-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Media-Player

Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player: frequently asked questions

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Burn-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Media-Player-frequently-asked-questions

Change settings for burning a CD or DVD in Windows Media Player

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Change-settings-for-burning-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Media-Player

Burn a CD or DVD in Windows Media Center

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Burn-a-CD-or-DVD-in-Windows-Media-Center

Burn a DVD-Video disc with Windows DVD Maker

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Burn-a-DVD-Video-disc-with-Windows-DVD-Maker

How to Burn DVD's with Windows DVD Maker

http://www.7tutorials.com/how-burn-dvds-windows-dvd-maker

Close or finalize a CD or DVDhttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Close-or-finalize-a-CD-or-DVD


Excellent Forum for getting help with CD/DVD issues and programs

http://club.myce.com/

Hope this helps.

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-07-12T00:23:53+00:00

    How do I finalize a DVD in Windows 10 after burning data to it?

    Given the history of Microsoft holding on to misconceptions

    that they themselves create; and the snails pace at which

    they correct their misconceptions; you will need to use a

    third party program to finalize a CD or DVD in Windows 10,

    the same way you do in Windows 7, 8 and 8.1.

    Try the programs at the following url:

    https://sourceforge.net/directory/os:windows/?q=burn%20dvd

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-19T17:23:14+00:00

    Hi:

    I am using Windows 32-bit Home Premium, SP2, and the burner doesn't work.

    If this worked, then the burned DVD should be playable on my Sony DVD player, since it accepts the types of DVDs that I try to burn.  The player says that the disk is not finalized.  Microsoft's DVD burning software hangs if I select to do a Master-burn.

    DaleB

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-06-19T12:48:17+00:00

    "Finalize" is the same as the term for "Write-Protecting" a floppy disk (old school) or any file/folder on a hard drive ("Read only" or "Archive"). There's nothing complicated about it. When you "right click" on the Drive icon (the burner), Vista Ultimate gives you the option to "Close Session" (but not "Finalize"/ "Write-Protect").  We want to "Write protect" a Live system disk "AFTER" we are through adding files to it. This will prevent some "dumb"

    antivirus/ antimalware protection program from mistaking harmless files for "malicious" content that needs to be deleted. When you delete a file on a CD-R/DVD-R that space (and file(s)) become unrecoverable, thus rendering the disk useless. We can't be any clearer than that. How do you "WRITE-PROTECT" a CD-R/DVD-R in Live-File system Mode once you've completed adding files. Sometimes, you can't burn files to disk in one sitting as you do when you "Master-Burn" a disk. I have a burner that overheats during a Master-burn occasionally

    if the number of files (file volume) is too high.

    Files, in this case, must be added a little at a time to keep the laser cool. We want to "Write Protect" a Live System disk using any version of Windows Vista that has burning capability.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-05-28T01:53:50+00:00

    Hi Jeff:

    No...I tried burning a Mastered disk many times, years ago.

    It did not work.

    Microsoft's program would hang.

    Thanks for trying.

    DaleB

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