CD-RW Okay for burning install CDs and such?

[Johnnya101]

Im wondering if the quality of CD-RW (Brand names, not no name) are good enough for install CDs and other stuff off Mac Garden. Regular CD-R are great and all, but with one use...

Anyone have any experience with them?

 

[LarBob]

I use CD-RWs all the time and they work for me on my Bondi Blue iMac and such.

 

[IPalindromeI]

They work, but have you considered using the Virtual CD stuff (I believe its on the Garden) and using the network to slurp up stuff instead?

 

[Johnnya101]

No I haven't. CD-RW just seem easier. And if I need 2 or 3 to complete a download, would the thing you were mentioning (Virtual CD) work? 

Im going to have to order some soon. All I have is CD-R.

What brands do you think are best? HP on eBay are cheapest, but they seem like they would be cheesy. Philips is the next cheapest, and seem a bit better.

 

[CelGen]

The problem I've found with CD-RW's was that they make awful redbook audio CD's because no matter how clean you keep them they skip and on computers older CD drives cannot read them correctly as opposed to CD-R's.

It wasn't abrand specific issue either. Maxell, Sony, Office Depot brand...they were all pretty bad.

 

[rsolberg]

I use them regularly, but only because I have an external SCSI CD-RW drive that reads them reliably.

 

[Johnnya101]

Hmmm. Think a G3 tower will read them okay? I dont see any reason why it shouldn't. The older Macs, I dont think (The performas and older), but a G3 is sort of recent. Only 16 years about. Or 18. 

 

[4seasonphoto]

I had a few CD-RWs become unreadable after a number of years, was under the impression these weren't designed to be particularly archival. And as mentioned, not all older drives can read them. Buy a couple of CD-RW disks and try it out?

 

[Johnnya101]

No, Id only be using them for things such as an install, then use it fora game install, etc. Im not planning on storing anything.

If I buy some, Ill let you guys all know!

 

[rsolberg]

I like them for their erasability. If I burn a disc image and it won't boot or isn't what I want, I can quick erase it in Toast and burn a new image to it. I make 100% fewer coasters. If it works and I want to archive it on recordable media, I'll write it to CD-R. Otherwise, I'll store it on hard disk and/or write the files to BD-R.

 

[Johnnya101]

Rsolberg, what computer (Or anyone) was able to read RW discs? 

 

[Johnnya101]

Just bought a pack of 5. Will let everyone know how it goes. If they dont work, Ill have to get an external CD RW drive, and hope that works.

 

[LazarusNine]

Good luck with those. I've never had much luck with CD-RWs on classic Macs. Maybe an iMac, but rarely with anything earlier than 1998/9. CD-Rs on the other hand work really well all the time. It's a bit of a shame, as they're not reusable, but I just bought a stack of 100 on Amazon and called it a day. It's impressive that CD-Rs are still available in an era in which recordable CDs have largely died out.

 

[Johnnya101]

Hmmm. My G3 was made in November 98. So it might work. If it doesn't, Im buying a cheap internal drive off eBay thats CD RW, and IDE, and can swap the HD in my external HD out and put the drive in and use that. And maybe if it fits with the bezel, replace the one in the G3.

Thats why. They are reusable. Since Im new, Im probably going to forget to do something to a file, burn it, and waste a few CDs that way.

 

[Elfen]

The problem I've found with CD-RW's was that they make awful redbook audio CD's because no matter how clean you keep them they skip and on computers older CD drives cannot read them correctly as opposed to CD-R's.

It wasn't abrand specific issue either. Maxell, Sony, Office Depot brand...they were all pretty bad.

i agree; older drives including older CD-Burners are not able to read a CD-RW. See below...

Rsolberg, what computer (Or anyone) was able to read RW discs? 

The CD-Burner must say on it "CD RW" on it for it for it to be able to read a burned CD-RW Disc. According to memory, that is late model G3 Towers and most early G4 models and anything after that. But it is best to look at the face of the drive and see if it has "CD-RW" Label etched on its plastic face. Only then can you be sure if it is a working drive.

 

[Johnnya101]

Mine doesn't have that on the visible part, but it might under the bezel. I made an offer on a CD RW drive on eBay so I can swap my IDE FW hard drive with it. Then I will be able to read it for sure, and possibly replace he existing one.

 

[Johnnya101]

Nope, no RW. But as mentioned, it is a somewhat late tower I think, November 98. 

Is there any special special steps for reading an external drive? (I will download toast)

 

[Unknown_K]

An external SCSI 1 to USB flashdrive would be nice.

CDRW has issues with original CDROM drives reading them (even some CDR's can be a pain).

I keep spools of CDR media around for OS install CDs (keeps my original from getting damaged and lost).

 

[Johnnya101]

Im actually in the process of buying an IDE drive off a member here right now, so Ill let everyone know how it turns out! Its CD RW.