CDRW Drives and what they do

[lexi]

I've gotten a lot of help on this site about buying a cd burner so I could save
my programs, files, etc., on a CD. Now that it's wrapped and sitting under the Christmas tree I realized that other than installing it I'm not sure what the heck it does!

I originally wanted it to save my files and programs in case I ever had to reinstalled my system from the restore CD. I buy programs from the internet and other than the file I download I don't get an original installation cd, things like PSP, Snood, and Norton.

My question is, once you save a program on a CD with the CDRW drive...can you use it from the drive? In other words if I copy PSP to a cd can I open it up and work in it using the cd or would I still have to have it in my computer. And the same with the game Snood...is the CDRW just something to use to copy and save programs or can you actually operate a program from it?

The reason I would like to be able to use the programs this way is that I'd like to free up some space on my computer...my computer has 3.00 GB capacity with only 860 MB free.

[LawyerRon]

To answer your question in a simple way; the cd burner will copy the original cd and give you exactly what you had before. It will make an identical copy of the original cd. So, if you could run the game from the cd before, you'll be fine. If not, you'll still have to load the game on the hard drive.

[alber]

some programs will run off the cd, but it's a trial and error thing, since most windows programs, 'scater' other dependant files(dll's, ocx's, etc.) on your system. some simpler programs that are just one executable file and the like should run off the cd, same with DOS based stuff, where even the dependant files(if any) are usually located in it's own program directory.

[lexi]

both for replying :) I think I was a bit confused....Just because it's called a CDRW "Drive", it doesn't mean it's a Drive like my "C" Drive that I can actually store things on.
Thanks again :)

[RJ]

Sure you can.

The difference between a CD-RW drive and your hard drive is that
1. you can exchange the media (can insert different CDs, you can't with your hard drive)
2. it uses a different writing method (burning instead of magnetic storage)
3. it is slower
4. there are some different file systems

Well I think I can guess what you want. You can buy a couple CD-RW discs (that are rewritable CDs), format them (the file system is called UDF) and then you can use it like a floppy. You can drag files to it, read from it etc. directly from Windows explorer, you can save data from applications (file -> save as) directly to the CD, it acts like a large fast floppy.

RJ

[alber]

i kind of got the idea the original poster wanted to run the applications from the cd, like INSTALL them to the cd(just like you would a hard drive) and use them from there, without installing anything on their hard drive.

My question is, once you save a program on a CD with the CDRW drive...can you use it from the drive? In other words if I copy PSP to a cd can I open it up and work in it using the cd or would I still have to have it in my computer. And the same with the game Snood...is the CDRW just something to use to copy and save programs or can you actually operate a program from it? My question is, once you save a program on a CD with the CDRW drive...can you use it from the drive?

[lexi]

a confusing post didn't lol? Probably because I'm not quite sure of the correct terms for what I'm trying to say.

You are right...part of my question was can I run programs from the CD in the CDRW DRIVE.

I bought the game Snood from their web site. Instead of a CD in the mail of the game I downloaded the game from their web site and then installed it all using the regular C drive.

Ok ...when I had to use the Compaq restore cd to fix a problem with my computer I of course lost everything that I wasn't able to save to the floppy discs. Snood was one of those programs. SO I bought the CDRW Drive to copy programs/games/large files to a CD so that I'll have them in case this happens again.

Now if I use the CDRW drive to put the Snood.exe on a CD....can I then use that CD and the CDRW drive to actually play the game or is the CD really just a backup of the program itself? I have the same question about the Paint Sho Pro Program that I bought on the net. If I am understanding everyone so far it seems that you would use a CDRW drive really just to copy and save files/programs.

[lexi]

yep, I got ya on being able to save my files and programs and have bought the
CDRW discs (they are wrapped and under the tree too lol.)

I guess its safe to say that when I install the CDRW Drive it will not have a
listed amount of space on it? My "C" Drive has listed 3.00 GB of space and my "D" Drive has 1.00 GB of space (though I have to admit I have no idea why there's a D Drive) .... now just because the CDRW is called a Drive...it doesn't mean there is going to be actual space on it right? The only space will be from the CD's that I put in there right?

I think that's my problem...I thought I was actually installing space along with the ability to copy files.

[alber]

1) i would use the cd to save the 'original' install(KEYWORD) file(s)...like i said in my previous reply, windows proggy's throw misc. files all over the place when the actual install takes place.

2)yes you can use your cd-rw disc as a GIANT floppy, as RJ said in his reply

as far as the game you're talking about, i'm not familiar with it, so i don't know how to comment as far as running it/playing it directly from the cd itself...i guess if Snood.exe is the only file and actually runs/executes/starts the game then yes, but if it is an install file, i doubt it, because once again if it is windows based and it is a compressed installation file, it will want to throw it's dependant files all over the hard drive in different locations, mostly the ..\windows\system directory (couple dll's here, couple ocx's there, a registry key or 2 in your registry etc.)

i've dowloaded and bought software off the net too, and they are the INSTALLATION file(s), so what i do is burn them to cd, that way, i have a copy of the ORIGINAL(installation file) just in case, but i also add to that disc(cd) a .txt file that has the cd-key or serial number etc., cuz that's something that i know i would lose for sure, if i didn't..

hope it's a little clearer now ;)

[LawyerRon]

Quote:
"My "C" Drive has listed 3.00 GB of space and my "D" Drive has 1.00 GB of space (though I have to admit I have no idea why there's a D Drive)"

Sounds like you have one hardrive that is divided into two parts called "partitions". Older computers could not recognize the newest large drives so they had to partition them.

Your system should recognize your cd rom drive (if you have one) as "E" and your cd rw drive as "F".

[Cricket]

Hi lexi,

Have you considered adding another hard drive to your system? You can pick up a 20GB 7200RPM IBM 60GXP hard drive for around $77 now. It would increase the storage capacity of your system.

:) Cricket

[lexi]

Sorry, it took me so long to respond, I have been unable to get online the last few days (happens quite a bit here in good ol' Paw Paw WV) and hope this post isn't too old for you to view.

Lawyer Ron, I checked and my cr-rom is "E" and thank you for explaining why they split my drive up into "C" and "D". My poor computer is only 2 years old yet in computer life it seems to be 100 huh? lol

Cricket, thank you for your suggestion as I have been wanting to add more room on my computer but I had no idea what to look for to do it!

Thank you both for the info and help :)
Have a happy and safe christmas.

[Cricket]

Hi lexi,

What or where is "Paw Paw WV"?

You can add another hard drive or replace the existing 3GB one with a larger one. You can even transfer everything one your current drive to the new one with the software that comes with the new drive (if you purchase a retail hard drive). The newer drives are not only bigger in size, but will probably be faster than your present one.

Post back if you need more information.

:) Cricket

[lexi]

I live on a mountain in a very rural part of Paw Paw West VA. It takes over an hour to get to the town I shop in. I've been here 3 years, left Balto. MD and move here to get away from it all...it's beautiful, but not a lot of options for the internet here.

I am doing some searching on the net to see if I have to get a certain brand of hard drive for my computer and really appreciate your help :)