Why can't I add files to a CD-R

CD-R and CD-RW's can be used to burn audio files, programs, and data. Using these CDs you can transfer this information to other computers and play music in your car. As you create a CD-R, you have the option of leaving it open so you can add additional files in the future, but most people finish the burn so that the files become decompressed so you cannot add any files in the future.

A CD-R disk holds about 650MB of storage, which about 70 minutes of audio files. As you are working on the burning process, you need to decide if you want to leave it open so you can add additional files in the future or if the burn is complete.

Burning a CD depends mostly on the software you have decided to use. Most people use Roxio's Easy CD Creator as it comes installed on most PC's. This software is easy to use and you can easily specify if you would like to create a data disk or an audio disk. However Roxio likes to complete the entire burn at one time versus leaving it open for future files to add. Some people like using the Nero CD creator over Roxio because they have additional options as to how they can burn the CD-R.

When the software runs through the burning process, it will take you through a step-by-step guide where you can pick and choose while files you would like to add to the CD-R along with the specific order you would like the files to appear in. This is of course the most attractive feature of the CD burning process for a person that wants to specify the order of their music files or pictures.

The default procedure is the close the disk so that you can take it with you to play the audio files in your car. If you don't close the disk, the burn is not complete and a standard CD player will be unable to read the files you have burned to the disk. Closing the disk means it is final and you cannot add additional files at any time. Essentially the CD is just like buying an audio CD at the store because you cannot add files to that CD.

Some people choose to leave the disk open for an data CD because they have files they would like to add in the future. When you leave the CD open, you are using less disk space and it is not used as efficiently. The other problem is that some computers wont be able to recognize the disk since it is not closed. It also depends heavily on the CD burning program you are using. If you create the disk in a new version and try to run it on an older computer with the older software, it may not recognize the new updates to that software.

The downside to closing a disk is because you may not use all of the space on it so you are essentially wasting a handful of files. If you are using he CD for standard files and programs, you may want to look into a flash memory device since you can add additional files and re-write files in the future. Standard CD-R's are not too expensive now since flash memory devices are taking over. You can get a spindle of 100 CD-R's for about $15 depending upon which store you purchase them from. Take a look online for cheaper prices on CD-R's since a lot of people will wholesale lots of CD-R's for half the cost of retail locations.