Another thread led me to the Nero CD InfoTool, which shows many of my data CD's as "Open, not finalized". Should I close them? If so, how?
Thanks;
Artie
Full Version: CD reads - "Open, not finalized"
whatever program you used to burn these discs.
Some of these discs are old, and I can't remember which program I used to burn them. I use CD Creator now. I opened the disc in that, but the "Finalize CD" menu option is greyed out. I guess its not all that important. These CD's have always worked fine in any computer I put them into.
I'll have to do some searching on "finalizing CD's" so that I understand this concept better.
I'll have to do some searching on "finalizing CD's" so that I understand this concept better.
With data CDs, then closing the disc isn't needed for drives to read back the data, in contrary to Audio discs where it is mandatory for standalone drives to be able to play them back. Also the added advantage of not closing the disc, is that you have the ability to add further data sessions later if needed.
QUOTE(Martin H @ Nov 27 2006, 13:32) 
With data CDs, then closing the disc isn't needed for drives to read back the data, in contrary to Audio discs where it is mandatory for standalone drives to be able to play them back. Also the added advantage of not closing the disc, is that you have the ability to add further data sessions later if needed.
Thanks for that info. Let me ask you this, if I add a second session, is the first one still readable, or does session 2 take the place of session 1?
QUOTE(Martin H @ Nov 27 2006, 13:32)
...in contrary to Audio discs where it is mandatory for standalone drives to be able to play them back.
FWIW, I rarely finalize my audio CDs and have no problem playing them in any of my CD players.QUOTE(Artie @ Nov 27 2006, 12:59)
Let me ask you this, if I add a second session, is the first one still readable, or does session 2 take the place of session 1?
It depends on whether you tell your burning software to import the previous session.
Here's an interesting article on finalizing cds
http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq02.html#S2-19
Quote:
Hope this shines some light on the subject.
http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq02.html#S2-19
Quote:
QUOTE
If you write data to a disc and leave the session open, the TOC -- which tells the CD player or CD-ROM drive where the tracks are -- is written into a separate area called the Program Memory Area, or PMA. CD recorders are the only devices that know to look at the PMA, which is why you can't see data in an open session on a standard playback device. CD players won't find any audio tracks, and CD-ROM drives won't see a data track. When the session is finalized, the TOC is written in the lead-in area, enabling other devices to recognize the disc.
Hope this shines some light on the subject.
QUOTE(greynol @ Nov 27 2006, 22:09)
QUOTE(Martin H @ Nov 27 2006, 13:32)
...in contrary to Audio discs where it is mandatory for standalone drives to be able to play them back.
FWIW, I rarely finalize my audio CDs and have no problem playing them in any of my CD players.Sorry greynol, you are of course absolutely right. I'm embarresed to admit that i for a momment was confusing the terms "closing the session" and "closing the disc". Of course it's possible to play an audio CD in a standalone player if it has had it's audio session closed(generates the TOC in the lead-in), and the issue about wether it has a pointer for the next session's lBA address in the TOC or not, dosen't matter one bit i.e. if the disc is closed or not...
Sorry about that, and thank's for the correction
Edit: To elaborate alittle further, then e.g. Burrrn's finalise option is for closing the disc, and not the session, as that is always closed, as else the disc wouldn't be playable in standalone players.
QUOTE(arpeggio @ Nov 27 2006, 16:31)
Great link! Great info! Thanks for that.
Artie
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