RW type disks, whether it be CD or DVD, should only be used for short term storage. Either type disks will let you transfer files to a different computer. If you use the RW type disks you can edit the files on the disks. If you use the R type disks you can copy the files to a computer, then edit the files, and then put them on another disk, R or RW. RW type disks are not a reliable storage media. If you are just moving a file from one computer to another you shouldn't delete the original until until the copy is safely on the other computer. If you are just wanting to back up files on your computer, use the R type disks and make a new copy periodically. If you have a small number of files to back up consider using a web service to store them or get a USB jump drive. (very handy to have). Whatever backup solution you choose remember, it won't work if you don't use it. Pooh Bear

Sounds like maybe the darker color thing mentioned above may also play into it. My 2001 Grand Cherokee ( factory am/fm/cd/casette player) will not recognize burned CDs. i am currently using my laptop with XP and have tried windows player, I-tunes and BurnerXP but haven't noticed any different results from any of that different software. After going thru about 30 cds burning at different speeds and formats, I finally got it to occasionally recognize one I burnt at around 4X using PCM .wav (uncompressed) format but to recognize and play I usually have to fast forward it thru a couple of songs while it is doing the initial read. Once it recognizes and starts playing then will usually play the whole CD but doesn't always work for whatever reason. I may try the label thing or try to find some of the "dark" cds to see if that matters. We have a 98 KIA witn an aftermarket cd player and it will play just about anything burnt to cd no matter format or speed.

I have a really powerful Microwave so I turned it down to 70% , then I put it in a plate of water & watched. I think it took about 30 seconds, I didn't get any fire works :( So of course I had to see what happened when I did more & it crackeled more but never sparked. I'd like to try some of those colored cd's & see what happens. I need to get some copper wire next, I thought it was too expensive at Michaels so I need to hit the hardware store. I hope this helps my little birdies, at a certain time of day they get dangerously close to the windows.

Did you format the discs? It all depends on your software and the CD Drive. Some drives and software will format as they write, but you then may have to manage 'closing' and 'opening' a disc. I keep a few formated discs around so that I can burn a file in a jiffy when I need to. I use re-writable discs and format those as "data" discs. Once formatted, those will operate just like and other data drive. Everything is different when you use a CR write-once disc. Carefully read the CD Drive manual. If you have been sucessful in the past, it may be as you suspect; The drive is dying. Just a thought: Check to see if the blank disks are compatible with your drive. Look at the rating of the write speeds. For example, if your drive is rated for 1X to 4X speed and the disks are 6X to 16X, it is likely that the drive will refuse the disks.