CD/insufficient memory

[Freds]

I saw that there were a lot of knowledgable pc people here and I wanted to know if someone has an idea why I am having a hard time backing up my work database to a CD Rom lately. More and more I am getting a popup telling me that there isn't enough memory on the cd when I hit record, but I am only recording about 8 megs and overwriting the previous db, so I am nowhere close to using the 700 mb capacity of my rewriteable cds. If I put a new one in it works fine, but only for several months and then needs replaced. Each CD is recorded on once/week.
Do they have this short of a life, is it possible to keep the file I am overwriting and record the new one (same name, different date) so I am recording iin a different spot...???

Thanks for any help. I know if I stop backing up daily, I'll get caught without a correct db to reinstall if needed.

 

[Gatorboy]

When you put the CD in the drive, how much space is already used? Have you looked at the contents of the CD? I would bet you have alot more data on it than you think.

 

[bczoom]

Fred,

I'm assuming you're using a re-writable CD.
I don't have mine open but in the settings for the record, is any of the "Close CD" or something like that checked? If so, I believe it then allows no other recording to the CD.

 

[Freds]

When I click on properties it says that 12 MB out of 12 MB is used, but the CD packaging says that it has a 700 MB capacity. I can only think that somehow I am changing the memory capacity of the CD, but I have no idea how I could be doing this.
I open my recording program, choose the folder I want to record, hit record, say YES to overwrite the existing folder of the same name but different date, hit start recording and it records the folder. Then a few months later I get this problem and the message saying that all available memory is used up. When I open up the CD just the one program folder is in there...

Yes, it is an RW. I spelled it wrong in my first post /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

I only use CD-R's, for with the low price of CD's, I'd rather just write something once and be done with it. Re-writing with RW's can't be good over the long haul.

On the surface, it sounds like what happens when you continually write to a CD-R (without closing the disk). The written area is marked as used, and the capacity of the disk decreases. I use Roxio for my CD/DVD burning, and I think there is an option if you have a CD-RW to ERASE before copying. You may want to see if that option is there for your use as well.

I'm sure other's will have a better and more accurate answer for you -- I am going mostly on speculation.

 

[bczoom]

Which product are you using to record the CD?

If Sonic, check in the tools for a data CD and verify the "Write only Once Compatibility" is properly set (multi-records or single record)

On my other PC, it's a different product (can't recall the name EDIT - I believe it is Roxio - Thanks Dave for mentioning the name) but if I recall correctly, you have to make sure that the settings for "Close CD" and "Close Session" need to be off. If the "Close CD" in particular is on, regardless of what was put on the CD before, it stops any subsequent writes to that CD even if there is more space.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Both previous replies are correct.
Closing the "CD" will disallow further writing (untill erased).
Closing the "session" is all that is needed (making it possible to use the contents outside of the burning software).
Simply "overwriting" existing data only changes the CD "table of contents". It does not physically erase the prior contents. You must "erase" the disk to actually destroy the old data. "Quick erase" is all that is needed.
Hope that helps

 

[Freds]

Thank you very much, all.
I couldn't find anything that said close cd or close session, but I did find "erase cd". I erased the cd and got back the entire capacity, 703 mb actually. I recorded my db to that cd and 12 megs was recorded and the capacity of that cd went back down to 12 megs, but at least I was able to make a copy of my database. When I ran into this problem I got very negligent of doing this and I don't keep extra cds in my business, so I was flirting with disaster and letting it go.
My program is Roxio, but it is the light version that came with my Dell and may not have all the features. At least I can erase and that gets the job done.

Thanks again! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[HomeBrew2]

Glad it worked out.
CD's are kinda different than floppys, hard drives, flash drives in that you can only see the actual capacity and/or remaining space in the burning software. Windoze Explorer or My Computer will only show you the space that the CD's [current] "table of contents" accounts for.
I only have ver 5 of Roxio ... don't know about the lite ver ... when you press the record button the resulting window, ver5, will have an "options" button on the right side. Pressing it will enlarge the recording window downwards revieling options at the lower right that allow closing session or cd.
Cheers!

 

[Gatorboy]

Let me recommend 2 CD's in your process -- alternating between each everytime. This way, if one of the CD's gets corrupted, scratched, etc., you will at least have another backup.