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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

40+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

89 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-05-28T01:29:02+00:00

    So give it a shot and let me know your player now recognizes it as "finalized" or not. 

    Sorry, mate.  That's not finalized.  Finalized means you can't write any more files to it, and it will show up as zero remaining space no matter how much you've written.

    The reason you finalize CDs is because of IA requirements.  Once your security staff has allowed a burned CD in, they want to make sure you can't burn anything to it and take it back out.  It also has ramifications when you have different networks with different security policies.  In some places, they apply different restrictions to the various networks.  Putting a CD-R in a drive that has the potential to be written to will take on the more restrictive policies.  That may mean that CD just became useless because you may have needed what's on it in another, less restricted, network.

    The obvious example is Defense classifications, but banks are often nearly as strict, and some companies use similar systems to protect against corporate espionage.  It's not an uncommon practice, which is why it was so frustrating to so many people when individuals trying to play it off like it doesn't matter.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-04-24T21:46:21+00:00

    Hi,

    From the notes section of the Link I posted above :

    "Some programs might finalize your disc instead of closing the current session. You can't add any additional files to a disc that has been finalized. When you burn a CD or DVD using Windows Explorer, the disc is not finalized."

    Rob - SpiritX

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-03-21T16:26:12+00:00

    Hi Dale,

    See the original reply I made in this thread as just about every issue

    in buring a disk is covered in those links. It seems like a lot of information

    however if you check the links they all will start to make sense.

    Hope this helps.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-03-17T22:12:29+00:00

    Try asking in the Windows Live Forums:

    Windows Live Solution Center

    http://windowslivehelp.com/

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments