Note for you all on the new, larger 700Mb format CD's.

Posted : 27 Feb 2002

Most of you have probably started to use the slightly larger capacity 700Mb/80 minute CD's that are now generally available. Just be aware that these larger CD's cannot be read by all systems. The newer the system/CD/DVD, the more likely that a 700Mb CD can be seen by the system. I haven't explored all the possible combinations and configurations of CD/DVD hardware, CD/DVD software, operating system (there are too many), but just be aware of sending 700Mb CD's out to people/clients with older systems as they might not be able to access the CD.

This issue is most likely caused by the fact that older CD's/systems/software have no support for the larger (and newer) 700Mb CD's.

At this stage I don't know if there is a difference between :

1) A 650Mb CD
2) A 700MB CD with 650Mb or less of data on it
3) Whether you write a 700Mb CD as a single or multi-session with 650Mb or less of data on it
4) Different brands of blank CDR/CDRW's
5) CD writing software (most people use Toast - latest version is 5.1.3)
6) CD Writer/Rewriter doing the actual CD burning

As you can see there are just too many variables to give you a definitive answer without extensive testing that I just don't have the time to do.

It may be worth buying some of the older 650Mb CD's and keeping a few aside in case this problem ever rears it's ugly head.

It might also be worth writing a full 700Mb CD and seeing if all your computer/s can access it just to see if you have any system that has a problem with this larger format.

If you want to see what hardware/software you actually have in your system goto the Apple menu and select :

1) Hardware
Apple System Profiler
Devices and Volumes
Expand the CD/DVD triangle
Should give brand and model here