B
Beth Melton
[The following is an email exchange posted the newsgroup so all may
benefit]
[DA asked]
[Response]
Primarily this depends on the application used to write the file. If
it is direct-access then the read-only attribute should not be set. If
you aren't then the files will be attributed as read-only. This is the
way it *should* be but in some instances the files are still
attributed as read-only.
If a file is attributed as read-only on the CD then this attribute can
not be changed on the media itself. You need to change the file
attribute *after* it has been copied to your local or network drive.
(Right-click the file, select Properties and clear the Read-only check
box.)
Also since you are using CDs for your files, here's a little
background on CDs for you which may help you select the appropriate
storage device for those important files:
The difference between a CD-R and CD-RW is the medium. CD-R is "write
once". CR-RW is write/read. The main difference between them is they
use a different type of method to store the data and the medium is
different as well. A CD-R uses a laser-sensitive dye which is actually
"burned" by the laser. A CD-RW uses a thin layer of alloy. Examine
the data surface of both a CD-R and CD-RW sometime and you'll see a
visual difference.
You can delete files off of both types of CDs, however if it is a CD-R
the file space used by the file can not be recovered. Basically, when
you delete a file from a CD-R a pointer is written to the file system
which merely suppresses the file from your view. (IOW, a savvy
computer geek can retrieve those files you *thought* were deleted). A
CD-RW, otoh, file space can be reclaimed. Again a pointer is added to
the file system to suppress the view of file but the space can be used
later if needed. (And if the space hasn't been reclaimed the file can
be undeleted.)
Additionally, even though a CD-RW can be utilized directly for write
and reading files it isn't a practice that is encouraged - especially
for Office documents. This is due to the various temp files that are
created in the same location as the source data. For a CD-R, once the
temp file is deleted the file space can never be reclaimed since once
a file is written it is permanently written.
Personally I only use CD-Rs for saving data permanently. (I don't use
CD-RWs since the media isn't as stable as a CD-R and files can become
corrupt.) For files I need to store externally and modify, so I can
carry them with me, I use a USB drive. It isn't read only memory and
you can read/write to it as though it is another drive.
Although, again, working directly off of removable media is
discouraged. Files should be copied from the media and placed on your
local drive. Then after they have been saved and closed copy them back
to the drive.
--
Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/
benefit]
[DA asked]
[Response]
Primarily this depends on the application used to write the file. If
it is direct-access then the read-only attribute should not be set. If
you aren't then the files will be attributed as read-only. This is the
way it *should* be but in some instances the files are still
attributed as read-only.
If a file is attributed as read-only on the CD then this attribute can
not be changed on the media itself. You need to change the file
attribute *after* it has been copied to your local or network drive.
(Right-click the file, select Properties and clear the Read-only check
box.)
Also since you are using CDs for your files, here's a little
background on CDs for you which may help you select the appropriate
storage device for those important files:
The difference between a CD-R and CD-RW is the medium. CD-R is "write
once". CR-RW is write/read. The main difference between them is they
use a different type of method to store the data and the medium is
different as well. A CD-R uses a laser-sensitive dye which is actually
"burned" by the laser. A CD-RW uses a thin layer of alloy. Examine
the data surface of both a CD-R and CD-RW sometime and you'll see a
visual difference.
You can delete files off of both types of CDs, however if it is a CD-R
the file space used by the file can not be recovered. Basically, when
you delete a file from a CD-R a pointer is written to the file system
which merely suppresses the file from your view. (IOW, a savvy
computer geek can retrieve those files you *thought* were deleted). A
CD-RW, otoh, file space can be reclaimed. Again a pointer is added to
the file system to suppress the view of file but the space can be used
later if needed. (And if the space hasn't been reclaimed the file can
be undeleted.)
Additionally, even though a CD-RW can be utilized directly for write
and reading files it isn't a practice that is encouraged - especially
for Office documents. This is due to the various temp files that are
created in the same location as the source data. For a CD-R, once the
temp file is deleted the file space can never be reclaimed since once
a file is written it is permanently written.
Personally I only use CD-Rs for saving data permanently. (I don't use
CD-RWs since the media isn't as stable as a CD-R and files can become
corrupt.) For files I need to store externally and modify, so I can
carry them with me, I use a USB drive. It isn't read only memory and
you can read/write to it as though it is another drive.
Although, again, working directly off of removable media is
discouraged. Files should be copied from the media and placed on your
local drive. Then after they have been saved and closed copy them back
to the drive.
--
Please post all follow-up questions to the newsgroup. Requests for
assistance by email can not be acknowledged.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Beth Melton
Microsoft Office MVP
Word FAQ: http://mvps.org/word
TechTrax eZine: http://mousetrax.com/techtrax/
MVP FAQ site: http://mvps.org/