Why is there a "Format..." option if I right click a CD-ROM?

[Guest]

Before I start the question, I had no idea under which category to publish this, so it could be in the wrong place.

So when I right click on a CD-ROM under This PC/Computer, there's a "Format..." option. What confuses me here is how can I format a CD-ROM if they are not writable or erasable?

 

[USAFRet]

Before I start the question, I had no idea under which category to publish this, so it could be in the wrong place.

So when I right click on a CD-ROM under This PC/Computer, there's a "Format..." option. What confuses me here is how can I format a CD-ROM if they are not writable or erasable?

When you click on that, it says:
Start
Format.......
Warning, blah blah
OK
"The disk is write protected."

The system detects a disk in there.
It's not until you attempt to write to it does it check to see if it CAN write to it.

 

[boosted1g]

Because RW disks can be formatted.

 

[Guest]

Before I start the question, I had no idea under which category to publish this, so it could be in the wrong place.

So when I right click on a CD-ROM under This PC/Computer, there's a "Format..." option. What confuses me here is how can I format a CD-ROM if they are not writable or erasable?

When you click on that, it says:
Start
Format.......
Warning, blah blah
OK
"The disk is write protected."

The system detects a disk in there.
It's not until you attempt to write to it does it check to see if it CAN write to it.

Thanks for the explanation!