Windows was unable to complete the format

[samalkhaiat]

"windows was unable to complete the format"

Like myself, my PC is getting old! I have just noticed that it is not able to format any CD's and most DVD's. It certainly can not format any disk which has been erased. After 20 minutes of trying, it displays the message "windows was unable to complete the format".
It is interesting to known what exactly had happened to it? can I get an answer before I go to work in 13 hours from now?

Sam

 

[jedishrfu]

maybe you need to clean the drive? it probably has some dust in it or on the lens.

There are some CD cleaners that look like CDs with a brush attached that clean as it revolves. It may come with some cleaning fluid too.

You might be able to clean it with a Q-tip and some lens solution. Not sure if you'll have to remove the drive or not though.

 

[samalkhaiat]

maybe you need to clean the drive? it probably has some dust in it or on the lens.

There are some CD cleaners that look like CDs with a brush attached that clean as it revolves.

That was the first thing I tried! it didn't work.

 

[jedishrfu]

have you tried NERO or ROXIO instead of Windows?

I've heard that Windows doesn't finalize CDs or DVDs as it should when burning is complete.

 

[samalkhaiat]

have you tried NERO instead of Windows?

Sorry, what is NERO?

 

[jedishrfu]

Sorry, what is NERO?

Its commercial software that people use in place of windows default tools to do CD and DVD burning:

http://www.nero.com/enu/

 

[jedishrfu]

another thought is to get an external dvd writer and try that in case your drive just gave out.

 

[samalkhaiat]

Its commercial software that people use in place of windows default tools to do CD and DVD burning:

http://www.nero.com/enu/

Ok thanks, but it is more interesting to know the cause of the problem! burning disks is not a problem, I have another PC which works well.

 

[jedishrfu]

Ok thanks, but it is more interesting to know the cause of the problem! burning disks is not a problem, I have another PC which works well.

The is most likely a hardware issue. Could still be dirt on the lens or the LED no longer lights... or it could be you're using more modern CD/DVD disks and your drive just can't handle them. I've seen that with some older DVD players not being able to play a disk I burned on my PC.

 

[samalkhaiat]

I think it is a software problem because it is still able to read/play and even erase CD's and DVD's.