Anyone know how to burn a continous data cd/dvd

deadfulscream · Sep 14th, 2008, 03:10 AM

Hi there,
I'm trying to backup my iTunes songs onto a data dvd, and I'm having trouble making the dvd continuos, (I think that means burn to more than once), I bought DVD+R and my dvd burner is DVD-R, not sure if this is the problem or not. Thanks in advance to those that are kind enough to take the time to respond.
Thanks again,
Dave

monokitty · Sep 14th, 2008, 04:24 AM

You're trying to write to the same disc more than once? In that case, you need a DVD-RW disc.

Also, you cannot re-write to a disc a second or third time (or however many times) without first fully erasing it and starting over. You cannot "add" files to an already burned disc like you can a hard drive, flash drive, and so on and so forth.

Crunch · Sep 14th, 2008, 08:03 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Lars
	You're trying to write to the same disc more than once? In that case, you need a DVD-RW disc. Also, you cannot re-write to a disc a second or third time (or however many times) without first fully erasing it and starting over. You cannot "add" files to an already burned disc like you can a hard drive, flash drive, and so on and so forth.

I think what deadfulscream is looking for is being able to write a "multisession" dvd. Multisession dvds and cds are indeed possible but can be problematic but you will have a better chance writing a multisession cd.

Deadfulscream, I would change your approach to your backups. Get a hard drive and use a backup program that suits your needs. For me, Time Machine is great!

...Or just suck up the relatively cheap cost and burn a full DVD each time.

chas_m · Sep 14th, 2008, 04:43 PM

I fully agree with Crunch on the issue of backing up your stuff -- hard drives are a much better way to go.

As for DVD-RWs, as Lars says you CAN reuse them, but they don't do "multisession." You erase them fully and re-use them. Erasing happens in either Toast (if you use that program) or Disk Utility. It's kind of a pain IMHO.

The only program I know of that allows for real multisession burning on DVDs on a Mac is BurnAgain FS, which uses DVD-FW (or CD-RWs) but can do real multisession. Works in Tiger or Leopard.

Gerbill · Sep 14th, 2008, 06:33 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by chas_m
	.....................As for DVD-RWs, as Lars says you CAN reuse them, but they don't do "multisession." You erase them fully and re-use them. Erasing happens in either Toast (if you use that program) or Disk Utility. It's kind of a pain IMHO.................

I agree about the pain of using DVD/RW or CD/RW, but the idea that you can't use them for multiple sessions isn't absolute, if you look outside the Mac world (or indeed the computer world). I have a Toshiba living room DVD burner which can add successive recording sessions to a DVD/RW until it's full. The DVD/RW won't work (can't be read) outside the burner that created it until the disk is "finalized" by the burner, at which time it becomes readable by any DVD player or, with some effort, by my iMac.