OK, I got this DVD-RW Disk in front of me, I popped it in, to install PortableApps Suite to it.

But, Windows wants me to chose "Live FIle System" or "Mastered" to "format" it I guess.

This disk "may" need to be used on/with Macintosh/95/98 machines, so "Live File System" doesn't seem to work there, so I'm thinking "Mastered" - but, from what Im reading, it sounds like using Mastered will not allow me to "re-write" the files.....even though it is a re-writable media?

Need some help here ;) I've had these DVD-RWs for a while now, figure I may as well put 'em to use (but don't really wanna waste them "experimenting" lol) but kinda confused by this jargon.

Would using "Mastered" on this DVD-RW "close" the disk, therefore restricting further data to be added to it would it?


And well, upon popping the disk in, it seems I can't just "install" directly to the disk, it wants to chose the formatting right away.


I just want to use it as a portable medium for storage/backups - as I would a portable harddrive or USB stick.

Sorry if this is the wrong forum ;) I wasn't sure if it would fit in the Windows, Operating Systems, or Hardware forum(s).

See if this helps:

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/2af64e60-60aa-4d79-ab6c-3a5db5806cbe1033.mspx

yea, I found that when doing some research myself

From what it appears:

Burning a DVD-RW (or any +/- "RW"......) as Mastered:

Works with all/most platforms (95/98/XP/Vista/most DVD/CD players)
Can't be re-written.

Burning a DVD-RW (or any +/- "RW"......) as Live Filesystem:

Works with only XP and Vista (and later I'd assume)
Add/erase files over and over (as if a USB flash drive or floppy disk)


Was just wondering if anyone else had any personal experience with these file systems and/or +/- RW disks.