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How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 12th 14, 08:55 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
W[_2_]
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Posts: 94
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?

--
W


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  #2  
Old February 12th 14, 02:25 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Ed Cryer
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Posts: 2,621
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


I'd trust Win7 itself. Load a CD in the drive, see what it says about it.

Ed

  #3  
Old February 12th 14, 03:13 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Paul
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Posts: 18,275
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

Ed Cryer wrote:
W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps
failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that doesn't
rely
on having some third party software installed?


I'd trust Win7 itself. Load a CD in the drive, see what it says about it.

Ed


You could use a Device Manager or Explorer approach, do Properties,
and see if there is a tab for the thing. Then, look for a "Populate"
button, to scan the current media and tell you stuff about it.

It might record three sizes in KB. If all three were zero,
perhaps that means the media is blank. Not sure. The other possibility,
is the disc could be burned multi-session and not be closed, in
which case you could add another session to it. I didn't see anything
in that interface, that indicates whether the session is open or
closed (finalized).

The disadvantage of the system-provided info, is not printing
in "plain English", whether the thing is blank as such. A visual
check (hold it up to your eye), usually tells you whether the laser
has done anything to it. That's not very scientific though. A third
party utility might use language more suited to humans, whereas the
system provided info might leave you guessing whether it is
blank, heuristically_blank, or whatever.

The contrast ratio on CD-RW might not be as useful as that on CD-R.
I can usually tell by looking with the ole eyeball, whether the CD-R
on the top of my spindle, is used or not (thrown back by accident).

Paul
  #4  
Old February 12th 14, 03:40 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Ed Cryer
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,621
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

Paul wrote:
Ed Cryer wrote:
W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps
failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that
doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


I'd trust Win7 itself. Load a CD in the drive, see what it says about it.

Ed


You could use a Device Manager or Explorer approach, do Properties,
and see if there is a tab for the thing. Then, look for a "Populate"
button, to scan the current media and tell you stuff about it.

It might record three sizes in KB. If all three were zero,
perhaps that means the media is blank. Not sure. The other possibility,
is the disc could be burned multi-session and not be closed, in
which case you could add another session to it. I didn't see anything
in that interface, that indicates whether the session is open or
closed (finalized).

The disadvantage of the system-provided info, is not printing
in "plain English", whether the thing is blank as such. A visual
check (hold it up to your eye), usually tells you whether the laser
has done anything to it. That's not very scientific though. A third
party utility might use language more suited to humans, whereas the
system provided info might leave you guessing whether it is
blank, heuristically_blank, or whatever.

The contrast ratio on CD-RW might not be as useful as that on CD-R.
I can usually tell by looking with the ole eyeball, whether the CD-R
on the top of my spindle, is used or not (thrown back by accident).

Paul


Yes, and they burn from the inside to the outside. I can always see if a
disk is used, even without glasses. :-)

I've had cases where I've put a CD-R in for burning, started it,
suddenly changed my mind, and stopped the burner. And then I'm left with
the question as to whether or not the thing is empty. Well, for me it
works to simply remove it, put it back in the tray and leave it up to
either Windows or some program to see what it says. Win7 AutoPlay will
show you what it makes of it.

Ed


  #5  
Old February 12th 14, 04:45 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 18,275
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

Ed Cryer wrote:
Paul wrote:
Ed Cryer wrote:
W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps
failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that
doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


I'd trust Win7 itself. Load a CD in the drive, see what it says about
it.

Ed


You could use a Device Manager or Explorer approach, do Properties,
and see if there is a tab for the thing. Then, look for a "Populate"
button, to scan the current media and tell you stuff about it.

It might record three sizes in KB. If all three were zero,
perhaps that means the media is blank. Not sure. The other possibility,
is the disc could be burned multi-session and not be closed, in
which case you could add another session to it. I didn't see anything
in that interface, that indicates whether the session is open or
closed (finalized).

The disadvantage of the system-provided info, is not printing
in "plain English", whether the thing is blank as such. A visual
check (hold it up to your eye), usually tells you whether the laser
has done anything to it. That's not very scientific though. A third
party utility might use language more suited to humans, whereas the
system provided info might leave you guessing whether it is
blank, heuristically_blank, or whatever.

The contrast ratio on CD-RW might not be as useful as that on CD-R.
I can usually tell by looking with the ole eyeball, whether the CD-R
on the top of my spindle, is used or not (thrown back by accident).

Paul


Yes, and they burn from the inside to the outside. I can always see if a
disk is used, even without glasses. :-)

I've had cases where I've put a CD-R in for burning, started it,
suddenly changed my mind, and stopped the burner. And then I'm left with
the question as to whether or not the thing is empty. Well, for me it
works to simply remove it, put it back in the tray and leave it up to
either Windows or some program to see what it says. Win7 AutoPlay will
show you what it makes of it.

Ed


The limitations of the OPs question ("no third party software"),
prevent me from touting the benefits of third party tools for this purpose.

Paul
  #6  
Old February 12th 14, 07:00 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Silver Slimer[_4_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 340
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

On 12/02/2014 2:55 AM, W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


Use CDBurnerXP. I consider it to be excellent. To determine if a CD is
blank, simple try to write to it. If it fails, it'll let you know why.

--
Silver Slimer
'Linux ****' on google.ca = About 5,460,000 results (0.30 seconds)
  #7  
Old February 12th 14, 07:33 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

On Wed, 12 Feb 2014 10:45:23 -0500, Paul wrote:

W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps
failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that
doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


The limitations of the OPs question ("no third party software"),
prevent me from touting the benefits of third party tools for this purpose.

+1

Same here. I was going to say "imgburn portable mode". But I
decided keep quiet and sink back into the shadows.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
  #8  
Old February 12th 14, 09:01 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Gene E. Bloch[_5_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,720
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

On 2/12/2014, Shadow posted:
On Wed, 12 Feb 2014 10:45:23 -0500, Paul wrote:


W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps
failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that
doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


The limitations of the OPs question ("no third party software"),
prevent me from touting the benefits of third party tools for this
purpose.

+1


Same here. I was going to say "imgburn portable mode". But I
decided keep quiet and sink back into the shadows.
[]'s


My attitude is similar to yours & Paul's.

irony
It's a compromise: avoid third-party software, and you can easily avoid
the capabilities of third-party software.
/irony

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)
  #9  
Old February 12th 14, 09:39 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
W[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 94
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

"Paul" wrote in message
...
Yes, and they burn from the inside to the outside. I can always see if a
disk is used, even without glasses. :-)

I've had cases where I've put a CD-R in for burning, started it,
suddenly changed my mind, and stopped the burner. And then I'm left with
the question as to whether or not the thing is empty. Well, for me it
works to simply remove it, put it back in the tray and leave it up to
either Windows or some program to see what it says. Win7 AutoPlay will
show you what it makes of it.

Ed


The limitations of the OPs question ("no third party software"),
prevent me from touting the benefits of third party tools for this

purpose.

Go ahead and recommend some third party software.

--
W


  #10  
Old February 12th 14, 09:55 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Gene E. Bloch[_5_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,720
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

On 2/12/2014, W posted:
"Paul" wrote in message
...
Yes, and they burn from the inside to the outside. I can always see
if a disk is used, even without glasses. :-)

I've had cases where I've put a CD-R in for burning, started it,
suddenly changed my mind, and stopped the burner. And then I'm left
with the question as to whether or not the thing is empty. Well,
for me it works to simply remove it, put it back in the tray and
leave it up to either Windows or some program to see what it says.
Win7 AutoPlay will show you what it makes of it.

Ed


The limitations of the OPs question ("no third party software"),
prevent me from touting the benefits of third party tools for this

purpose.


Go ahead and recommend some third party software.


You mean like Shadow already did?

Under the Verify mode, the program he suggested reports "Disc is
empty". In two different places.

--
Gene E. Bloch (Stumbling Bloch)
  #11  
Old February 12th 14, 10:03 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
W[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 94
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

"Gene E. Bloch" wrote in message
...
On 2/12/2014, W posted:
"Paul" wrote in message
...
Yes, and they burn from the inside to the outside. I can always see
if a disk is used, even without glasses. :-)

I've had cases where I've put a CD-R in for burning, started it,
suddenly changed my mind, and stopped the burner. And then I'm left
with the question as to whether or not the thing is empty. Well,
for me it works to simply remove it, put it back in the tray and
leave it up to either Windows or some program to see what it says.
Win7 AutoPlay will show you what it makes of it.

Ed

The limitations of the OPs question ("no third party software"),
prevent me from touting the benefits of third party tools for this

purpose.


Go ahead and recommend some third party software.


You mean like Shadow already did?

Under the Verify mode, the program he suggested reports "Disc is
empty". In two different places.


Thanks, note made.

I wanted to get a few alternatives in hand before taking the time to
download and install. This one looks decent.

--
W


  #12  
Old February 12th 14, 10:04 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
Shadow
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,638
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

On Wed, 12 Feb 2014 12:39:43 -0800, "W"
wrote:

"Paul" wrote in message
...
Yes, and they burn from the inside to the outside. I can always see if a
disk is used, even without glasses. :-)

I've had cases where I've put a CD-R in for burning, started it,
suddenly changed my mind, and stopped the burner. And then I'm left with
the question as to whether or not the thing is empty. Well, for me it
works to simply remove it, put it back in the tray and leave it up to
either Windows or some program to see what it says. Win7 AutoPlay will
show you what it makes of it.

Ed


The limitations of the OPs question ("no third party software"),
prevent me from touting the benefits of third party tools for this

purpose.

Go ahead and recommend some third party software.


I did. So did Silver Slimer. You do the googling.
[]'s
--
Don't be evil - Google 2004
We have a new policy - Google 2012
  #13  
Old February 14th 14, 06:15 PM posted to alt.windows7.general
J. P. Gilliver (John)
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 5,291
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

In message , Silver Slimer
writes:
On 12/02/2014 2:55 AM, W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


Use CDBurnerXP. I consider it to be excellent. To determine if a CD is
blank, simple try to write to it. If it fails, it'll let you know why.

(I like CDBXP [fine on 7 despite the name!] for its simple copying
ability.)

But if it succeeds, the CD will no longer be blank )-:!

I don't think the OP wanted to know if there was _any_ space left, only
whether the CD was _completely_ unused or not.

There are lots of reasons not to want to use 3rd party software - the
commonest being that one is using a work PC where you're not allowed
(possibly even prevented) from installing anything, followed by the
desire to have a solution one can use on any friend's PC; thus knowing
how to determine the answer to this question using the basic OS can be
quite useful. (Like you, I'd install 3PSW on my own PC.)
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Electricians do it 'till it Hz.
  #14  
Old February 18th 14, 06:52 AM posted to alt.windows7.general
Steve Hayes[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,089
Default How to Tell If CD-R is Blank?

On Fri, 14 Feb 2014 17:15:55 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
wrote:

In message , Silver Slimer
writes:
On 12/02/2014 2:55 AM, W wrote:
I have an application trying to write to blank CD-Rs that keeps failing. Is
there a good way to determine if the CD-R is still blank, that doesn't rely
on having some third party software installed?


Use CDBurnerXP. I consider it to be excellent. To determine if a CD is
blank, simple try to write to it. If it fails, it'll let you know why.

(I like CDBXP [fine on 7 despite the name!] for its simple copying
ability.)

But if it succeeds, the CD will no longer be blank )-:!

I don't think the OP wanted to know if there was _any_ space left, only
whether the CD was _completely_ unused or not.

There are lots of reasons not to want to use 3rd party software - the
commonest being that one is using a work PC where you're not allowed
(possibly even prevented) from installing anything, followed by the
desire to have a solution one can use on any friend's PC; thus knowing
how to determine the answer to this question using the basic OS can be
quite useful. (Like you, I'd install 3PSW on my own PC.)


One of the main ones is that when you install the 3rd party ones (like Nero,
which comes with many optical drives), it disables the native Windows version,
and then you are stuck with the reduced functionality of the 3rd-party one.

Windows 7, for example allows you to format a DVD-R disc so you can write to
it with a batch file. Nero (like several others) only allows you to format RW
discs, which is a nuisance restriction.




--
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Web: http://www.khanya.org.za/stevesig.htm
Blog: http://khanya.wordpress.com
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk
 




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