Appleboy45

Q: Can You Format a CD/DVD-RW in OS X 10.11?

So Apple's new Disk Utility is a downgrade from the previous one. Anyway, is there a way I can use Disk Utility to format a CD/DVD-RW, or is that another drawback in OS X 10.11?

Posted on Apr 27, 2016 5:07 PM

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Q: Can You Format a CD/DVD-RW in OS X 10.11?

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  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Apr 27, 2016 8:57 PM in response to Appleboy45
    Level 9 (50,082 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 27, 2016 8:57 PM in response to Appleboy45

    I'm not quite sure what you are asking.

    As far as OS X is concerned, there really isn't any such thing as "formatting" a CD/DVD. You can burn it in the Finder which will create a file system and format structure, but OS X has never supported such a thing as a "live" CD where you format it and use it like a hard drive. Apple pretty much thinks that Optical should just die already. They only support the basic CD/DVD standards.

  • by chroot,

    chroot chroot Apr 28, 2016 12:54 AM in response to Appleboy45
    Level 4 (1,099 points)
    Apr 28, 2016 12:54 AM in response to Appleboy45

    The limitations are based on hardware, not software.  The only difference with Disk Utility in El Capitan is disk permissions was removed because it is not needed. 

     

    To find out what discs your optical drive can read and write to use System Information.  I'm on one of the new skinny iMacs which doesn't have an optical drive but this is where it would be:

     

    Screen Shot 2016-04-28 at 3.53.06 AM.png

     

    OS X: About System Information and System Profiler - Apple Support

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Apr 28, 2016 2:46 AM in response to Appleboy45
    Level 5 (6,197 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 28, 2016 2:46 AM in response to Appleboy45

    Personally I've never heard of formatting a CD/DVD. I've heard of Burning a CD/DVD but you can do that from the Finder as Barney mentioned.

  • by Appleboy45,

    Appleboy45 Appleboy45 Apr 28, 2016 5:36 PM in response to Appleboy45
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 28, 2016 5:36 PM in response to Appleboy45

    Well on the previous one (At least on my iBook G4 Running Leopard), I was able to do it just fine. But I can't erase one now. Plus, I am using a 2010 MacBook that has a built in DVD drive that can write to discs.

  • by Rysz,

    Rysz Rysz Apr 28, 2016 5:41 PM in response to Appleboy45
    Level 7 (20,492 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 28, 2016 5:41 PM in response to Appleboy45

    There are different formats of recordable DVDs, but they come pre-formatted that way when you purchase them. For example DVD-R vs, DVD+R formats.

     

    You have to purchase compatible disk formats. You don't re-format them after the fact.

  • by Appleboy45,Apple recommended

    Appleboy45 Appleboy45 Apr 28, 2016 5:42 PM in response to Appleboy45
    Level 1 (32 points)
    Classic Mac OS
    Apr 28, 2016 5:42 PM in response to Appleboy45

    Ok now I feel dumb, I tried again, and all I had to do is right click the CD.