Unable to format a DVD.

bobbyscot · Mar 25, 2015

Inserting a DVD-RW in drive, caption shows that
DVD requires to be formatted before it can be
written too. Clicking the E drive not longer displays
"Fomatt" or "Delete" only "Eject". What is required
to be done to be able to use format again?
Thank you.

richc46 · Mar 25, 2015

Try another DVD sounds like it might be defective
Make sure DVD is CD/RW

bobbyscot · Mar 25, 2015

Thanks for your suggestion, appreciated. I have tried dozens
of brand new DVD RW. Problem is to reinstate the "Format"
facility which was available when Vista 64-bit OS was initially
installed in my HP Presario CQ5115 uk computer. Thanks.

richc46 · Mar 25, 2015

You can try an SFC scan
If that does not work and you have an Vista install DVD you can make a repair install and you will not lose your stuff.
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66978-system-files-sfc-command.html
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html?filter[11]=Performance Maintenance

If you need a Vista install DVd, post your edition and bit 64 or 32 and you will get one emailed for free.
Be sure to remove your email when done. Also put email in another format such m y emai l at yahoo dot c o m

bobbyscot · Mar 25, 2015

I only have 4 DVDs supplied by HP, in cases were it is required to put
computer back to factory settings. I have only the one E-mail address.
Your suggestions most appreciated. Bobby.

wither 3 · Mar 28, 2015

Are you trying to burn from a particular program?

bobbyscot · Mar 28, 2015

It is to format DVD to completely erase entire contents saved to the DVD.
From time to time a caption is shown on screen "Format before use of disc".
or "Disc must be formatted before it can be used". However the "Delete" is
no longer applicable on pop up window. I need to open the disc in question,
high light the files already displayed and then delete as normal.

wither 3 · Mar 28, 2015

If you right click on the disc in Windows Explorer, there should be an option in the Context menu to Erase the disc.

bobbyscot · Mar 29, 2015

Checked, no "Format" shown. No format facility available at all.
This may have no significance to Post in question, "Backup" is
also not abled as caption "Catastrophic error 0x800FFFF". I am
not familiar with this term as to what it means or what causes it.

wither 3 · Mar 29, 2015

This is what I was talking about.

bobbyscot · Mar 29, 2015

I am afraid that is not in my case. Tried Microsoft Help Chat, little help as usual
as after a time they state that it require a special software to make repair but
requires a fee to be paid before doing so.

bobbyscot · Mar 29, 2015

When I right click Windows Explorer, it certain does not show any "Erase"
or does right click "E" drive (DVD player) icon. I must be doing the wrong
steps to obtain results you mention.

wither 3 · Mar 29, 2015

If you have a disc in the drive when you select and right click on it in Windows Explorer, you should have the erase option. I was going to give you a link to a program to erase your discs but, if Windows is messed up, I thought that would be a higher priority.

bobbyscot · Mar 30, 2015

Thank you for reply, inserting DVD in drive and clicking drive icon will show content or if empty. Other than that, nothing else is shown on the screen, except "Eject" that refer to DVDs.

wither 3 · Mar 30, 2015

Do you have a system restore point to before this started happening?

bobbyscot · Mar 30, 2015

Afraid not as this error relates to weeks ago. My last backup that maybe good, was 3rd Mrch,2015.

wither 3 · Mar 30, 2015

If that was a backup of your operating system, I'd use it. Beats doing a factory reset and reinstalling all your software or doing a Vista repair.

In regards to your DVD problem, go here-

Official Nero Downloads | Free Software Trials and Updates

Find the Nero Free Tools and download/install DiscSpeed. Open it and select Extras. Select Erase Disc. Does it work?

bobbyscot · Mar 30, 2015

At the moment I have no DVDs with installed software to try out "Delete". I have downloaded the Nero softare for future trial. At present, I can open a DVD and from list, right click file and select "Delete", but not with pop up as it fails to show "Delete" as before. I can no longer, copy a file from computer to DVD, by opening the DVD and use of "Copy" from the pop up window. I maybe confused with Windows 7. I had Windows 7 as my OS, but an error erased the entire content of the desktop, this happened three time after doing a fatory setting and therefore retained Windows Vista.

bobbyscot · Mar 30, 2015

I notice now that the "Fomat" facility is shown on all HD pop up window with the exception of the DVD drive "E".

wither 3 · Mar 31, 2015

I've been messing with this.

If I install a blank DVD-RW, there is no option to erase or format the disc. That's understandable if the disc doesn't require formatting or is truly blank. There is also no option to burn to the disc. That leads me to believe that Windows won't write to a DVD-RW.

If I insert a blank DVD+R which doesn't require formatting, then I have the option to burn to disc. However, one has to select the files to be burned before using that option.

If I install a DVD-RW which is not empty, I'm given the option to erase the disc.

Unable to format a DVD.

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