NEED YOUR OPINION: floppies vs. CD's for backup WORD files.

PC's have this capability (write to CD like a Floppy).

Regards,

Really?! What media is used, and what software? I've never heard of this.

Regular CD-Rs can be used. Roxio mades/made the software in 2000 (and probably still does). The format was called "Direct-CD" but the discs are not compatible with Mac OS. Discs I made this way had to be copied and made as a single-session disc for my Macs to read.

Regards,

Are you talking about Toast? And with "Direct-CD" format you can burn a bunch of files on a CD-R media. Then erase individual files, and reburn individual new files all on that one disc?

That is pretty hard to believe. I'll definately look into this.

Yes, but the program only works on PCs. It is hard to believe that Roxio cannot make a version that works/is supported on PCs and Macs though.

Regards,

Yes, but the program only works on PCs. It is hard
to believe that Roxio cannot make a version that
works/is supported on PCs and Macs though.

Regards,

On Roxio's site I read that Toast 6 or 7 can write to CDs like a PCs Direct CD software. Did I misread/misunderstand what read?

From what I understand about what Toast can do is multi-session discs that will mount as separate volumes for each write. On PCs, this looks like one volume. I've got version 7 (and 5) of Toast, I'll try a disc.

Regards,

Thanks. I am very interested in the outcome of your test. I have not tried it yet because I did not get the software yet because I was not sure it would do what I wanted, that is, basically to write to a CD like you would a floppy.

From what I understand about what Toast can do is
multi-session discs that will mount as separate
volumes for each write. On PCs, this looks like one
volume. I've got version 7 (and 5) of Toast, I'll
try a disc.

Regards,

Here's what I've found -

Toast can make multi-session discs but volumes will be separate when mounted on the desktop. You cannot write to the discs like the Window$ version.



From Toast 7's Help:

• Write Session/Write Disc: Select the session option if you are creating data CDs and wish to leave the disc "open" to add more data at a later time.

• Multi-session CDs: If you are making a data CD and would like to leave the disc "open" so you can record additional data sessions at a later time, click the Advanced tab and choose Write Session. You can now continue to add data to this CD until you have exceeded its capacity or you choose Write Disc to "close" it. Each recording session will appear as a unique disc icon on your Desktop - this is normal Mac OS behavior and is not controlled by Toast. You cannot make multi-session DVDs.

Regards,

Thanks. Then I guess what this means is that in order to use the disk on another computer you would have to write/close/burn/toast it. As long as I can keep adding to it until I am ready to close it, I am happy!

From what I've been able to dig up, yes (ONLY) on a PC using DirectCD from Toast, can you do this.

The disc will need to be closed to use on other systems. And ONLY the originating system that burned the CD, can go back into the CD (after the CD has been closed) to erase or add files.

It's too bad that Roxio decided to make this availble only to PCs. Can really come in handy.

Thanks to all. Looks like I can "write" away now.

Hi

No, there is no program for the Mac OS that will allow packet-writing to a CD the way you can on the PC platform.

On a Mac, you have to erase CD-RW media each time you want to rewrite.

You can burn multiple sessions to a CD, and each session will mount as a separate CD on your desktop. This can be done without buying extra software. Just type "multi-session CD" into Mac-Help for more directions.