A few questions about CD burners

[hop-frog]

1) Do these require certain maintenance? Are there cleaning devices for these that should be used periodically similar to CD-ROM cleaners?

2) What are the effects of write speed? Does write high speed mearly add convenience or are there other benefits or drawbacks? Does this effect the speed at which it is read?

3) Is there a method of obtaining an md5sum (or equivalent) of that data after it has been burnt onto disk, to check for errors during the burn or to check for scratches on the disk at a later date?

Thanks.

[XiaoKJ]

1) I haven't used any, but I think it is not too much to use the cd-cleaners for that too.

2) higher write speed is always welcomed. you won't want to wait so long for a cd.... but of course, with speed comes blunder, so sometimes you will get a cd-burner that burns with errors at its highest speed settings. its a give and take situation. However, my experience is that my cd burner can, sometimes, malfunction when I set it too low a speed... so you better test them yourself. it will vary.

3) of course there is. just go search... and you can just make an iso file from the cd and md5sum that. it is more troublesome but same effect is there.

[infiniphunk]

K3B always performs a md5sum test when burning an iso to a disc, isn't this the same thing?

[tlyons]

K3B does that automatic MD5 check on the source ISO, not the written disc.

Don't most burning programs have an option of verifying the written data after the burn is complete? I usually select no, then configure it to not to bother asking, but you can always turn that option on.

I've never been able to burn a disc with K3B (as of my most recent attempt a month ago, anyway), so I use Nero on WinXP in dual boot.

- T.

[infiniphunk]

I've never had a problem using K3B, tho I don't think it has an option to check the integrity of a file AFTER its been burned. Otherwise XiaoKJ's suggestion works. I really would give K3B another try if I were you, it has always woked much better for me than nero.

[rocketpcguy]

mdwatts look-a-like: you dual boot just to burn a CD??!? i seriously think you should try to fix this problem!

can you burn CDs with cdrecord or mkisofs?

[tlyons]

Originally posted by rocketpcguy
mdwatts look-a-like: you dual boot just to burn a CD??!? i seriously think you should try to fix this problem!

Ok, I fixed it.

ATTENTION EVERYONE: I am a lazy bastard. I admit! Rather than have my wife complain at me that I spend too much time at the computer troubleshooting a piece of software that doesn't work, I will occasionally escape her wrath/save time by using software I do know to work.

However, if people are going to whack me with "mdwatts look-alike" whenever they don't like something I say/do, I would appreciate it if they would direct their comments to this thread (http://justlinux.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=136916) to keep the flaming contained. :cool:

- T.

[XiaoKJ]

I also have no prob with K3b before too... just that nero had me in trouble once.... :D

anyway, thats what you will get for using mike's avatar. We just loved him too much. You are free to use it but you would have to live up to the standards to be happy.