Question The disc in the drive is not empty, but it is

[coffeebreakwhatever]

I am using SoThink to copy some videos from my hard drive and burn to a DVD. I am using Windows 10, SoThink Movie DVD Maker (have used it before and it worked). I create the design etc and click "Burn" and I get a error box saying " The disc in the drive is not empty . Please insert a blank disc in the drive and try again". I know this DVD-R is empty. New box of them!

What I have done so far:

1. I first formatted the disk then put it in the D: drive. I also scanned it with WebRoot.. just in case. The disk holds 4+gb and the videos I have are 1GB each. I have tried with 4, I have tried with 3 to accomodate space. Either way, I get this error message
2. I have gone to Device Manager and verified that the D: drive is current and up to date etc.

Why is it telling me the disk is not empty? Why won't it burn the videos?

 

[rgd1101]

what do you mean format the disk? did you try without formatting the disk?

 

[coffeebreakwhatever]

what do you mean format the disk? did you try without formatting the disk?

I was told to always "format" a disk before using it. So I right click on the drive the disk is in and then click on "format". I know it erases everytning on it but thought it then formats it with general "instructions" for the information to be burned to it. Is that not right? I will try to use one without formating first and see if that works. but still... I erase and format and it says the disk is full

 

[karenjoly]

DVD disks don't need formatting before use. As advised, try a burn without a format.

 

[coffeebreakwhatever]

DVD disks don't need formatting before use. As advised, try a burn without a format.

Thank you. It did work without formatting. Now I have to research ..when I do or don't have to format a disk!!

 

[rgd1101]

don't have to format, unless it tell you to.

 

[AllanGH]

Normally, you would only format re-writable optical media.

Perhaps the person who gave you the advice of "always formatting before use" was addressing the question from that perspective?

 

[coffeebreakwhatever]

Thankyou everyone. I will now not "format" unless told to do so! Thanks for your help